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MOTHERLAND CONNEXTIONS - THE TOURS
An Introduction
What better way to understand the Underground Railroad than by following in
the footsteps of those brave and hearty souls who took the secret passageways
north to Canada. When you experience an Underground Railroad tour with Motherland
Connextions, you experience the story of what may be this country's "first
multi-cultural humanitarian effort."
Our Underground Railroad Tour means talking about the courage of the Africans who
staked their lives for their freedom. It means talking about the many free and
enslaved African Americans, Native Americans and European Americans who risked
life and property to shelter and sometimes clothe the weary and frightened freedom
seekers.
As experience is the best teacher, the Underground Railroad tour on any of its
routes, ultimately means looking differently at things and people.
Dressed in period clothing our "conductors" will take you on tours that are more
than history lessons - they are life lessons! It's a tool of pride and a better
understanding of goodwill. Not just stop and go, our tours are stop and
feel - designed to be an emotional and educational experience for both
young and old. Embark on a lesson in the triumph of the human spirit so steal
away with us and walk the paths of freedom, courage and love all with the roar of
mighty at your feet.
View Our Tours.
For more information about Motherland Connextions, please contact:
Motherland Connextions Inc.
P.O. Box 176 Bridge St. Station
Niagara Falls, NY
14305
Toll Free: (866) 726-0864
Phone: (716) 282-1028
Fax: (716) 304-6813
Email: tours@motherlandconnextions.com
MOTHERLAND CONNEXTIONS - THE STATION MASTER
As a local Historian, Preservationist, Educator and Entrepreneur, Kevin Cottrell has been lecturing both locally and
nationally on the topic of the Underground Railroad especially as it relates to Western New York, and Southern Ontario. He has
written and collaborated on numerous articles both with national magazines and authors on the
Underground Railroad. Mr. Cottrell’s work has
been featured in the New York Times and national television programs (i.e. History Channel) as well as being featured on news
programs around the world. Mr. Cottrell has made citizen of the year twice in his home town of Buffalo, NY for his work in the
heritage tourism industry around the topic of the Underground Railroad and its economic potential to underserved
communities.
In 1993, Mr. Cottrell with eight other individuals, under the name of the Underground Railroad Committee of the Niagara
Frontier embarked on a 15 city, 18 day trek. Followed was one of the most famous Underground Railroad routes, the Old
Harriet Tubman Trail. The group traveled from Atlanta, GA to St. Catharine’s, Ontario. Noted historian and author, and
good friend Charles L. Blockson of the Blockson Afro-American Collection of Temple University served as a project
consultant. The project received national attention, and was part of a two hour PBS documentary that was narrated by
award winning actress Cicely Tyson.
Presently, Mr. Cottrell is Station Master (owner operator) of Motherland Connextions, a company specializing in Heritage
Tourism. Currently Motherland Connextions conducts tours with African-American Heritage as a theme throughout the country and
now the world. They have been featured in numerous trade publications around the heritage tourism topic.
He has also founded a African-American Preservation Corporation – The Michigan Street Preservation Corporation Inc.,
whose mission is to stabilize, restore and rehabilitate the Rev. Dr. J. Edward Nash Home in Buffalo, NY. The home is
representative of early 20th century Afro–American freedom fighters – some of it’s visitors were Booker T. Washington;
W.E.B. Du Bois; Adam Clayton Powell Sr.; Marcus Garvey; Mary Talbert and Marian Anderson to name but a few. The
corporations charge has been to preserve the home with all its contents as a house museum to the legacy of J. Edward Nash thus creating a destination based on the historic fabric of African-American
Life and History in downtown Buffalo. The area is also reflective of the 19th century and its connection to the
Underground Railroad (19th century freedom seekers) who hid at the historic Michigan St. Baptist Church -- the oldest
piece of property built, and continuously owned, occupied and operated by African-Americans in Western New York, dating
back to 1842. The ultimate goal of the organization is to create economic development to an area considered underserved
using its history as the backdrop with heritage tourism being the catapult.
Mr. Cottrell is an adjunct professor at the University of Buffalo's African-American Studies department. His course, "The
Underground Railroad Contemporized," uses Underground Railroad history/Afro-American Life & History from both the 19th and
20th centuries as a functional history that combines the disciplines of oral testimony; archeology; engineering; historic
preservation urban planning; community development; architecture and heritage tourism.
Based on the work around the Underground Railroad that Mr. Cottrell has been involved in for the past 10 years, in 1998,
Mr. Cottrell was appointed as a New York State Freedom Trail Commissioner, after Governor Pataki came to the site of the
historic Michigan Street Baptist Church (site of Cottrell’s preservation project) and signed the Freedom Trail Legislation
into law. The law states that the Underground Railroad must be taught in every school system and curriculum across New York
State. It also creates a freedom trail throughout the state dedicated to potential tourists who have an interest in these
sites. New York State was the first state in the country with this type of law.
Now that this law has been passed, Mr. Cottrell is currently working with groups around the state. He has set up county
freedom trail commissions, with a goal to create county commissions across New York State. This prepares groups by showing them how to start the historic preservation process
as it relates to Underground Railroad sites, and documenting and re-documenting sites in that particular county in preparation
for inclusion on the freedom trail, thereby creating a funding source for these properties. He also demonstrates the
by-product "Heritage Tourism."
On the national level, Mr. Cottrell was part of a National Coalition that successfully lobbied Congress on the passage of the
National Network to Freedom bill headed by the National Park Service and signed into law by President Clinton in August of
1998. Mr. Cottrell's was one of the first out there from a grass roots perspective around the Underground Railroad. His work
continues to be very comprehensive as it relates to the preservation, education and economics of the Underground Railroad.
Email Kevin at: tours@motherlandconnextions.com.
Or contact Motherland Connextions at:
Motherland Connextions Inc.
P.O. Box 176 Bridge St. Station
Niagara Falls, NY
14305
Toll Free: (866) 726-0864
Phone: (716) 282-1028
Fax: (716) 304-6813
Email: tours@motherlandconnextions.com
MOTHERLAND CONNEXTIONS - THE COMPANY
Dear Web Surfer:
Motherland Connextions is an Educational Company that uses tourism as a travelling or mobile classroom. We enhance Heritage Tourism with an Educational Flare; our specialty is interpreting the history of the Underground Railroad. The company was founded by educators, historians and preservationists who pride themselves on authenticity and attention to detail. Our tours are upscale, specialized, and heavily concentrated on educational standards. We inspire creative teaching using historic places, sites and locations.
Our tours are always memorable experiences for tourists, community based organizations, and student groups, including our guides dressed in period costumes. We have been featured in the 1997 issue of U.S. News and World Reports Travel Edition – "Great Vacation Drives American Classics." Back in 1999 Motherland Connextions' 2 –day tour of the Underground Railroad was designated as an official American Pathways 2000 itinerary as part of the White House's Millennium Trail Project.
Now in its 10th year of operation, Motherland Connextions currently covers the areas of New York State and Southern Ontario. Educational Tourism requires a fair amount of research and development, and we have added new additions to our product line for the 2001 season. We are offering outbound Underground Railroad Tours throughout the Northeast – Detroit/Windsor; Kentucky/Ohio; Baltimore/Washington; Boston, and Lancaster PA, as well as a blues, and a civil rights tours to Memphis Tennessee. Customized packages are always available. Then there is our (extremely popular among student groups) Underground Railroad Re-enactment. The Public Broadcast System (PBS) filmed one of our productions, and aired it throughout New York State in 1999. At your request we will gladly send you a free copy of our 10-minute demo tape sampling our URR Re-enactment, and general tours.
Please feel free to browse our website, and download anything of interest to you. We routinely work with school administrators and teachers putting together educational tour packages to complement their curriculums. We also design and service annual school field trips (field studies) while incorporating diversity. If you need additional information or have and questions, please do not hesitate to call us. We look forward to being your Motherland Connextion for a unique, Underground Railroad experience.
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For information on Motherland Connextions' Tours, please contact:
Motherland Connextions Inc.
P.O. Box 176 Bridge St. Station
Niagara Falls, NY
14305
Toll Free: (866) 726-0864
Phone: (716) 282-1028
Fax: (716) 304-6813
Cell: (716) 867-1028
Email: tours@motherlandconnextions.com
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Last modified: Tuesday, 06-Feb-2007 15:26:49 EST
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