Welcome to Scott Bishop‘s new series, Brought to the Light. Scott’s guest on this first of ten podcasts is Lee Blake. She has over 30 years of experience as a teacher and administrator in urban education and historic preservation. Lee has taught African American and Women’s Studies at the high school and university level in New Bedford and in New York City.

She served as the director of Education for the City of New York for 8 years. Lee Blake has been awarded five National Endowment for the Humanities awards to provide professional development to teachers across the country on African American history. Her program, Sailing to Freedom: New Bedford and the Underground Railroad, is breaking new ground as it highlights the sea and whaling as an escape route for African American freedom seekers.

Currently, Lee serves as president and chief development officer for the New Bedford Historical Society. During her 15 years as a volunteer at the Society, Lee has successfully raised funds for after-school programming, building preservation and restoration projects, as well as funds for art

Although Lee Blake says, “I am not an artist, but I work with artists to fund public art pieces and spaces that have changed the narrative of the City of New Bedford.” New Bedford Historical Society has been responsible for the vast majority of public art in New Bedford that focuses on Black history and the Black experience.

“The Society has been responsible for illustrating the history of our people through several projects: Lewis Temple Monument, Abolition Row Park, the Frederick Douglass statue, 54th Massachusetts Mural and 54th Massachusetts Regiment Park, the Jazz Mural, and other projects.

Lee spoke with The Artists Index Scott Bishop on his new series, Brought to the Light. They discussed her love of history, African American culture, New Bedford, and more.

Lee Blake

New Bedford Historical Society

21 Seventh Street
New Bedford, MA 02740

508-979-8828

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This podcast is funded in part with a grant from the New Bedford Cultural Council, a local agency supported by the Mass Cultural Council, a state agency