Category: Local Organizer
The Africatown Community, located in Mobile, Alabama, is best known for its connection to the U.S. slave ship Clotilda. This community was established by the very same Africans that were enslaved and brought to the U.S. illegally aboard the Clotilda in 1860. Since the establishment of the community, residents have shared an ongoing desire to create a community of academic excellence and economic prosperity. The Historic Mobile County Training School (MCTS) is located in Africatown. Despite these challenges Africatown community members have again and again accomplished outstanding successes and are looking towards leading cultural healing for the community, Alabama, and the entire USA.
Because of the resilient positive spirit and ever-enduring legacy of our community, the Africatown Heritage Preservation Foundation (AHPF) is devoted to promoting stewardship and awareness of the historic, cultural, and economic value of Africatown. AHPF will nurture and support healing and collaborative efforts related to Africatown.
OUR MISSION
The mission of the Africatown Heritage Preservation Foundation is to preserve and document the stories of historical Africatown and create cultural and economic transformation through education and partnerships that benefit the environment and mankind.
OUR VISION
Africatown, preserving the history, culture, and land of resilient people.
CORE VALUES STATEMENT
The Africatown Heritage Preservation Foundation Core Values are demonstrated through Mutual Trust and Respect of People, Environment and Education through an Inclusiveness with our Community and Respect of our Heritage. Africatown Heritage Preservation Foundation was established and founded as a 501c-3 Tax Exempt organization October 2019 by Joe Womack, Ruth Ballard and Anderson Flen.
About Us
ANDERSON FLEN
Founder
Anderson Flen has prided himself as a bridge builder in his personal and professional life. He was born in Magazine Point Alabama (Africatown) and is a 1968 graduate of Mobile County Training School (MCTS). He served in leadership roles in high school: President of the Student Government his Junior and Senior years, quarterback of the 1966 MCTS State Champions undefeated football team and co-captain of the undefeated 1968 baseball team. He was also a member of the Math and Science clubs in high school, and a member of the first Upward Bound Program at Spring Hill College in the summer of 1967. His education was directly impacted by the culture and history of the descendants of the slave ship Clotilda, founders of Africatown. Anderson has played a foundational role in the formation of all the current community organizations in the Africatown Community, including the Mobile County Training School Alumni Association (MCTSAA). He was the first Alumni Association President of the reorganized MCTSAA and wrote its incorporation papers for its federal 501c-3 status. Anderson played a key role in organizing the Africatown Community Development Corporation (ACDC), which was formed out of the MCTSAA. He assisted in the formation of Africatown C.H.E.S.S. which stands for Community, Health, Education, Sustainable, and Safe. He helped initiate the Africatown Connections Blueway Project with the National Park Service (NPS), as President of the MCTSAA, signing the technical assistance grant in 2016 with NPS. He is playing a role in helping to make sure the community churches begin to have the technical, educational and communication networks in place to respond better to the community and the world with their stories. Anderson is enjoying retirement after serving 30 years in Public Health at the North Georgia Health District. In his role as Director of Health Promotions and Planning, Anderson excelled at collaborations with all levels of government and community organizations representing academia, business, non-profits, healthcare and religious institutions. His commitment to promoting and implementing best health practices for State and Federal government led him to play a critical role in bringing together all of the above stakeholders through an annual regional health educational conference that included 13 counties in the North Georgia region. Anderson created the conference to share and recognize outstanding best practices, and recognize the extraordinary efforts of the honorees. Because of his unending commitment to the community of Africatown, Mr. Flen is one of the three founders of the Africatown Heritage Preservation Foundation upon its incorporation in 2019.