EASTON – The Frederick Douglass Memorial & Historical Association (FDMHA) is the oldest Fredrick Douglass organization in the world. It was charted by an act of Congress in 1900 with the persistent effort of Fredrick Douglass’ second wife, Helen Pitts Douglass and the National Association of Colored Women’s Club. Mrs. Douglass wanted to ensure her late husband, the eminent human rights leader’s legacy was preserved.

President of FDMHA, Moonyene Jackson Amis, Esq. says, “today, we are still looking to Frederick Douglass and Harriet Tubman for answers to eradicating slavery in the 21st century.” She welcomes you to join FDMHA and the ATLAS Network’s 197 birthday celebration lecture featuring distinguished writer and lecturer, Harvard graduate, FDMHA Trustee, Atlas Network Fellow, and Co-founder of Teach North Korean Refugees, Casey Lartigue Jr.

Mr. Lartigue is an American now living in Seoul, South Korea. In this lecture he will discuss North Korea’s brutality against citizens, and how Douglass’ ideas apply to the current discussion on the escape to freedom. This lecture is an opportunity for conversation on how to eliminate modern-day slavery by revisiting lessons the great orator taught us years ago, by answering the question, “what would Douglass do?” The program will also include first person testimony of Cherie Yang, a North Korean refugee who escaped with her parents and found asylum in the United States of America.

The lecture is free and welcomes all those interested in revisiting Douglass’s legacy for answers. It will occur on Feb. 14, from 5 – 7 p.m. at the ATLAS Network, 1201 L Street NW, Washington DC 20005. Light refreshments will be provided. To reserve your seat, please register at www.fdmha.atlasnetwork-birthdaypresentation.eventbrite.com, as seating is limited.

The mission of ATLAS Network is “to strengthen the worldwide freedom movement by cultivating a highly effective and expansive network that inspires and incentivizes all committed individuals and organizations to achieve lasting impact.” Part of FDMHA’s mission is to “initiate and support programs that perpetuate the legacy of Frederick Douglass.” Both organizations have united to host this lecture as a march toward Douglass bicentennial birthday celebration which occurs in 2018.

In addition to this lecture FDMHA has two signature programs. One is an academic scholarship essay contest for: public school educated, college bound, graduating seniors that live in the District of Columbia (or in surrounding Maryland and Virginia cities within a 50 mile radius.) The other program, Violins for Douglass, celebrates Douglass’ musicality and love for the violin, and rewards a promising student of music. Awarded applicants of financial need receive violin lessons for a year.

For more info on Fredrick Douglass Violin Scholarships e-mail: violins4douglass@gmail.com, and for more information on the academic essay mail: fdmhaessay@gmail.com.

And for more information regarding the lecture, please visit www.atlas.org  or www.fredrickdouglassmha.org.