We’ve created a new CT Colored Regiment enlistment lookup on AlexBreanne.org!

With pride and humility in my heart, let me be the first to introduce you to the newest entrant to the Connecticut Freedom Trail; Riverside Cemetery and The Man Fortune.

I was informed by Ms. Francis Martin of the Mattatuck Museum that I had been selected by individuals at the Museum and Riverside Cemetery to deliver Fortune’s story at the 10 year anniversary memorial of Fortune’s burial, occurring on September 13th, 2023.

Wondering if there are any Connecticut Historians out there that can help me with this question. The Connecticut State Library has a page that lists all people who enlisted in the Connecticut 29th Colored Regiment, the Connecticut 30th Colored Regiment and the New York 31st Colored Regiment.

I was honored to speak at the Old Lyme Witness Stone installation on June 2nd, 2023.

John Mills will be one of 3 actors participating in an immersive project in Western Massachusetts!

Our work to honor Prince Mortimer has made headlines in the Middletown Press newspaper! The article includes interviews of myself, Dr. Jesse Nasta of Wesleyan University and JR Carnegie-Hargreaves, the developer at the prior location of the Middletown Connecticut Ropewalk where Prince Mortimer worked in the 1700's!

To celebrate Women’s History Month, we are providing gear specifically themed towards the leadership role African American Women played in school integration in America. We have items that list the names Sarah Harris, the six women of the Little Rock Nine and the New Orleans Four which included Ruby Bridges.

Dr. Jesse Nasta and I met with JR Carnegie-Hargreaves, the developer at the prior location of the Middletown Connecticut Ropewalk where Prince Mortimer worked as an enslaved individual in the 1700's. He gave us a tour of the property and talked to us about his plans!

I've now been informed that the State of Connecticut will be providing the developer $25,000 for the purpose of honoring Prince Mortimer as part of the property redevelopment effort!!! They are waiting for the outcome of my meeting with the developer as input into how that money is used in honoring Prince! What amazing news, especially as we head into Black History Month!

I came home to this email! Our first grant award!!! Alex Breanne Corporation has been awarded a $5,100 CT Cultural Fund Operating Support Grant from CT Humanities (CTH), with funding from the Connecticut State Department of Economics and Community Development/ Connecticut Office of the Arts (COA) from the Connecticut State Legislature!!!

It took me a while to accept it; but when God shows you the purpose in your path and why he blessed you with the gifts you have, you must then walk. I’m hopeful this montage provides some semblance of my heart and intent.

Last week, in viewing our non-profit corporation logo, a friend said. “Is this your wife’s silhouette? Curious about the back story!" I explained that it wasn't any particular person, just a generic image meant to represent the plight of the American enslaved. It was meant to highlight the largely unsung leadership role the African-American woman has always played, which is why I intentionally depicted the woman as leading. It’s in dark shades to represent the difficult in finding and seeing who they were due to lack of documentation.

Prince Mortimer was an 18th century enslaved individual and Revolutionary War vet in Connecticut who was sent to prison for life at age 87, accused of attempting to poison his enslaver as a means to free himself. He should have been freed 4 decades prior for his service in the Revolutionary War, but wasn’t. He also should have been freed in 1794 when his prior enslaver (Philip Mortimer) freed him in his will…a will that was overturned in the courts when contested by the enslavers son-in-law (George Starr), who became his new enslaver and the person he was accused of attempting to poison in 1811.

I've been digging, trying to find proof Prince Mortimer’s remains were sent to Yale for dissection.

Still digging hard to find Prince, but I persist while disturbed by an annoying splinter in my mind. It's rooted in the irony of having identifying documentation of Prince afforded us solely because he was sent to prison.