Seeing Our Humanity: A Signature Event of "Justice for All"
Join us for Seeing Our Humanity, a free public gathering at Oatlands in Leesburg, Virginia on July 25, 2026 from 1-4:30 pm. This event brings together descendants, scholars, musicians, preservationists, and community members for an afternoon of reflection and connection.
The program features Academy Award-nominated actor and humanitarian Djimon Hounsou and Brent Leggs, president and CEO of the National Trust for Historic Preservation, alongside musical performances by Washington Revels' ensemble Jubilee Voices and thought-provoking discussions on memory, memorialization, reconciliation, and our shared future.
Reserve your spot today!
Admission is free, but registration is required and seating is limited.
This program is a part of “Justice for All” programming presented by four National Trust Historic Sites in Virginia as part of the commemoration of America’s 250th.
Partner
Tentative Agenda
July 25, 2026
1:00 pm–4:30 pm
Welcome: Washington Revels' ensemble Jubilee Voices
Including a performance by the Washington Revels, a cultural institution in the greater Washington area for over 40 years. Washington Revels is dedicated to reviving, sustaining, expanding, and celebrating cultural traditions—in music, dance, storytelling, and drama—that bind people together in spirit and joy.
Welcome Remarks
Keynote: A Conversation with Brent Leggs and Djimon Hounsou
- Brent Leggs, President and CEO of the National Trust for Historic Preservation
- Djimon Hounsou, Academy Award-nominated actor and humanitarian
Break
How We Remember: Memorials and the Stories We Tell
Moderator: Nakita Reed, Senior Director for Preservation Operations, African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund
Panelists
- Rev. Larry Walker, Jr., President of the Montpelier Descendants Committee
- Henry Anglin, Memorialization Committee Chair of the Montpelier Descendants Committee
- Le Shaun Quander-Mosley, Co-Chair Emeritus of the League of Descendants of the Enslaved at Mount Vernon
- Tressa Bell-Burton, Descendant of the Enslaved at Belle Grove Plantation
- Ann Chinn - Founder of the Middle Passage Ceremonies and Port Markers Project
Break
From Reckoning to Repair: Paths Toward Justice and Belonging
Moderator: Tiffany Tolbert, Co-Director, African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund
Panelists
- Michelle Oliver, Founder of Genconcept, LLC
- Elizabeth Woodson, Executive Director of Reckon With
Closing Session
Farewell and Mansion Walkthroughs
Mansion walkthroughs end by 5:30 pm. Site closes at 6:00 pm.