Elmhurst African American Burial Ground in Conversation

On Thursday, October 29, we were pleased to host the dedicated volunteers of the Elmhurst History and Cemeteries Preservation Society (EHCPS) to join us for a virtual panel discussion moderated by our colleague Simeon Bankoff, the executive director of Historic Districts Council.

Marialena Giampino, EHCPS president, was joined by her colleagues James McMenamin and Jennifer Ochoa to talk about the work they’ve been doing to draw attention to the African American Burial Ground that was rediscovered in 2011. Thought to be nothing more than an empty lot, developers were prepping the site when an excavator unearthed the “woman in the iron coffin,” halting work and inspiring community activism to properly honor the people interred on that land.

Watch the full conversation below!