Frederick Douglass Resource Center

The FDRC works to inspire an embrace of the rich and deep ancestral roots of Mother Africa while directly connecting visitors to the contemporary roles Africans in America have and continue to play in the maturation of Our society.

At the core of Our work is cultural education. We seek to EMPOWER and INSPIRE all visitors and program participants. By embracing Our history in its entirety and by working within the historical framework of Frederick Douglass' legacy, tourists to and residents of Our city can immerse themselves in and celebrate the many contributions made by Douglass and those on whose shoulders he stood -- and we should stand on.

Cultural tours, dramatic interpretations and reenactments are made available to bring to life historic movements for POSITIVE change. The FDRC gives a voice to the soul of a People who, for too long, have gone unheard.

** Engagement **

Our programs for the commUNITY are culturally relevant, civic-related activities designed to enhance participant awareness of the many social and economic issues adversely affecting our commUNITY. Building bridges from our past is the critical driver in our work TO ensure connectivity to our cultural memory bank.

** Facility Brief **

The FDRC's main auditorium, Pitts Hall (named in honor of Dr. Juanita Pitts), has a seating capacity of 130 guests.

The center provides flexible, secure exhibit space in the Gantt-Frazier-Bracey Gallery (GFB Gallery). The gallery is also an ideal space for small-mid sized semi-formal to formal banquets. It also has a seating capacity of 130 for banquets or 275 persons in a networking format. (* Banquets require catering services. A suggested list of caterers is available for your consideration)

The FDRC's kitchen/pantry space is used to stage selections from lite finger foods to catered buffet lines.

The Polaris Computer Lab and the Alean Rush Reference Library are available as well to augment educational programming.

We welcome you to Rochester's Premier African American heritage and cultural home!