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Wednesday, May 13, 2026
Office Hours
Monday - Friday 9am - 5pmClosed Sat. and Sun.
Preserving History Through Student Action
Join Sam Colon and the Students Uplifting Ancestral Spaces (SUAS) community in preserving history through hands-on student action.
May 13, 2026
Hello everyone, we are Students Uplifting Ancestral Spaces (SUAS), a student-led organization dedicated to honoring and highlighting the history of enslaved African people who labored in the Bronx, particularly through the cultivation of the Enslaved African & Kingsbridge Burial Ground in Van Cortlandt Park. In collaboration with the Van Cortlandt Park Alliance and other Bronx-based initiatives and artists, we host biweekly meetings at the grounds, fostering dialogue about the lives of marginalized populations in both the past and present.
Our mission is to empower students to serve with purpose and take part in preserving the legacy of those who came before them. As members, we clean and restore the space by growing a pollinator garden, planting native trees and flowers, and incorporating herbs and plants that enslaved Africans would have used for medicine and food. We also protect the surrounding areas by removing invasive species and restoring sections near Hester and Piero’s Mill Pond and the Parade Grounds. Alongside these beautification efforts, we host calming community events centered on reflection, remembrance, and collective care.
We invite you to take part in our weekly volunteer sessions at the Enslaved African & Kingsbridge Burial Ground in Van Cortlandt Park, held every Friday from 1–4 PM. Food, snacks, tools, and protective materials are provided, along with community service hours for participants. Our next event is May 1st, and all students are welcome to join, learn, and be part of this meaningful work.