News
Hands That Nurture — North Country Devotion, Then and Now
The spirit of John Brown is at root in Hands That Nurture: Perceptions of Masculine Devotion, a new exhibition by artist and environmental psychologist Shawndel N. Fraser, opening June 6.
John Brown America250 at the Adirondack Almanac
We are grateful to the Adirondack Almanac for their recent article about our project John Brown America250.
The Librarians Documentary in the North Country
JBL! is co-sponsor of seven synchronized screenings of “The Librarians” across the North Country.
If you will stand by me—and I believe you will, for your freedom and honor are involved as well as mine—I say if you will stand with us in resistance to this measure, you will be the saviors of your country. I don’t respect this law—I don’t fear it—I won’t obey it!
It outlaws me, and I outlaw it!
—Jermain Loguen
Finding Joy, Community, and Birds
A rainy morning in Lake Placid became a powerful celebration of Black Birders Week, community connection, and nature’s quiet wonder.
Voices of Timbuctoo
Our program, Dreaming of Timbuctoo, has inspired numerous wonderful programs. Here’s a new one, an oratorio by Glenn McClure.
Friends Seminary at John Brown Farm
Students from Friends Seminary visited the John Brown Farm with JBL! and reflected on how Amy Godine’s book, Black Woods, helps students explore Adirondack history, citizenship, belonging, and the ongoing struggle for representation.
John Brown Lives! Joins International Coalition of Sites of Conscience
We’re honored to join this global network preserving sites of memory and action. Thank you Sun Valley News for the coverage!
Spirit of John Brown Freedom Awardees
Read a message from our Founder and Executive Director, Martha Swan, about this year’s John Brown Day celebration.
JBL! Lobbies NYS Legislators: “This History is the History of the World”
This February, JBL! traveled to Albany, NY to share the impact of the Connect Kids to Parks program on JBL!’s Hands-on History initiative. Read more about our involvement in Park Advocacy Day.
A World in Need of Tenderness: Remembering Ahmaud Arbery
On Sunday, February 23rd, 17 Adirondackers gathered for a snowshoe at the John Brown Farm in remembrance of Ahmaud Arbery.
Robert Shetterly’s Portraits of Courage
“Americans Who Tell the Truth” showcases 42 portraits by Robert Shetterly, honoring activists, artists, and leaders who have shaped history through courage, justice, and conscience.*
Adalyne Perryman’s Remarks on the Adirondack Family Book Festival
Read Adalyne Perryman’s remarks on the Adirondack Family Book Festival, delivered to the Lake Placid Rotary Club on January 2, 2025.
Martha Swan’s Remarks at the Ukraine Rally
On Saturday, March 8, 2025, over 200 community members joined together to support Ukraine and voice an urgent protest to the administration’s damnable policies.
CELEBRATING THE JOY OF READING AND THE FREEDOM TO READ
The Adirondack Family Book Festival returns August 16, 2025, at John Brown Farm, featuring sixteen acclaimed children’s and YA authors celebrating diverse stories and the joy of reading.
Washington’s Birthday Protest
On Washington’s Birthday—February 17—hundreds of North Country residents braved the snow and cold to voice their support for the Constitution, democracy, and each other.
Adirondack Film Kicks Off Winter Series with Ernest Cole: Lost and Found
Ernest Cole’s lost photographs resurface in Ernest Cole: Lost and Found, a gripping documentary by Raoul Peck, screening February 28 at Lake Placid Center for the Arts.
JBL! Co-Hosts “Help from the People Up North” – A Talk on Civil Rights Activism
The Box Project linked Black families in the South with white allies in the North, using the postal system to provide aid. Dr. Pamela Walker will speak on the subject at Grange Hall on Feb 25.
MLK Jr. Family Day at Snowfort
For MLK Jr. Day, we teamed up with Snowfort to host a “Familiy Day” event with a story hour, a trip to the Westport Food Shelf, and a delicious lunch.