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The history of where we’ve been and the dreams of where we’re going have always been an important part of the shaping of who we have been and will become in Dublin, Georgia. We have a historical connection to Martin Luther King Jr., and we have dedicated community energy and space towards honoring this story. We also take time each year to remember and celebrate other Black Georgians who have contributed to the thriving culture of our city. Through the efforts of Visit Dublin GA, Downtown Dublin (an Accredited Main Street community), and other organizations, we are building an inclusive and welcoming community of support.
On April 17, 1944, the Colored Elks Clubs of Georgia held their state convention at First African Baptist Church in Dublin, Georgia, and sponsored an essay contest. A 15-year-old student at Booker T. Washington High School in Atlanta delivered a speech entitled “The Negro and the Constitution.” Little did the audience realize they were witnessing the first public speech by Martin L. King, Jr., and the start of the Civil Rights Movement.
The speech detailed the struggle for true equality, ending with the quote, “My heart throbs anew in the hope that inspired by the example of Lincoln, imbued with the spirit of Christ, they will cast down the last barrier to perfect freedom. And I, with my brother of blackest hue possessing at last my rightful heritage and holding my head erect, may stand beside the Saxon- a Negro-and yet a man!” In his autobiography, King recalls that the reading of this essay was his first public political speech, and he spent the next twenty-four years of his life fighting for the constitutional rights of the people of his race.
On the return trip to Atlanta from Dublin, young Martin Luther King, Jr. was asked, for the first time in his life, to relinquish his bus seat and stand in the rear of the bus with his teacher. Dr. King initially refused the demand but was later convinced by his teacher to give up his seat. A recounting of this experience can be found in The Autobiography of Martin Luther King, Jr. by Claiborne Carson.
This monumental historic event became known in 2010, thanks to the research of Scott Thompson, a local historian whose dedication and vision has preserved much of Laurens County’s history for future generations.
Today, the First African Baptist Church in Dublin, Georgia, continues to serve as a reminder of the power of just one voice. Each year in April, Dublin celebrates the speech-making tradition of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., when First African Baptist Church hosts an annual Oratorical Speech Contest, inviting youth from around the globe to put pen to paper and words into action and deliver speeches of action, inspiration, and hope.
When that rich history was discovered within the doors of First African Baptist Church, Visit Dublin Georgia, Georgia Department of Economic Development’s (GDEcD) Tourism Division, Downtown Development Authority (DDA), the City of Dublin, local historian Scott Thompson and the MLK Monument Park Committee worked together to build Dublin’s MLK Monument Park and share the story with the world.
On April 17th, 2017, the 73rd anniversary of King’s speech in 1944 at First African Baptist Church, Dublin revealed her new Martin Luther King, Jr. Monument Park, just across the street from the church, at the gateway to downtown. Located at the intersection of US Hwy. 441 and Church Street, the new park marks Dublin as the place where a fifteen-year-old Martin Luther King, Jr. gave his first public speech and is the result of over three years’ work, a project that garnered the support of over two hundred partners, donors, and contributors.
Featuring a painted mural, gateway to Downtown Dublin signage, interior wall photomural, and an audio box featuring stories pertaining to the local Civil Rights Movement as well as a modern recitation of young Martin Luther King, Jr.’s speech, the park is set to serve as a place of inspiration and reflection.
In 2018, the Georgia Department of Economic Development’s Tourism division awarded a development grant to Dublin Downtown Development Authority for the renovation of the Telfair Street building adjoining MLK Monument Park. The grant award from GDEcD catapulted the project into the public and private eye, drawing another grant awarded to Dublin DDA from Georgia Power for façade improvements to the building. Once the renovation was complete, local African American owned photography company, Betta Focus Photography leased the building, completing Dublin’s vision of bringing new life and more joy to a major gateway of downtown Dublin.
Dublin’s role in the Civil Rights Movement continued over the years as Dr. King and other leaders like Andrew Young, Reverend Abernathy, and Maynard Jackson would return to Dublin’s Dudley Motel where they could rest, eat, refuel, and plan action during the Civil Rights Movement.
The man and the story behind Dudley Motel, Hubert “Hub” Dudley, is so much larger than the three structures still standing at the corner of East Jackson Street and Truxton Street in Downtown Dublin, Georgia. As with each of Dudley's businesses, Dudley Motel was built to fill a void in the African American community
In 1958, Dudley Motel opened with much fanfare. Established to provide lodging, respite, and provisions to African Americans traveling US Highway 80, a primary thoroughfare across the Southeast, Dudley Motel, Cafe, and Amoco #2 service station were featured in the travel guides, “Go and Green Book,” “Negro Motorist Green Book,” & the Amoco Oil publication, “Go Guide to Pleasant Motoring.” The 12-room motel offered televisions, private bathrooms, and an adjoining café and Amoco Service Station #2
It was here at the Dudley’s Motel and Retreat Café, that a small group of men including Martin Luther King, Jr., Andrew Young, Ralph Abernathy, Maynard Jackson and others, would come for offsite meetings to relax and plan for activities that would change the course of civil rights. The “private dining room” was the reserved place for meetings and reflection on the non-violent social change agenda.
In the spirit of the preservation of history, Visit Dublin GA partnered with the Pearson family (descendants of Hub Dudley) to create the hubdudley.org website and also with Betta Focus Photography to create a four-part Hub Dudley video series which is available on the Visit Dublin GA Youtube channel.
In 2022, The Dudley Motel, Café and Service Station, located on East Jackson Street in Dublin, Georgia, was selected as one of the 2023 Places in Peril by The Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation with the intention of preserving the property and the history.
We continue our trip through Dublin’s African American history with some food for thought, soul food. Founded in 1955 by Lee and Ardessa Wright Miller, Miller’s Soul Food is the oldest Black-owned eatery in the city. This little restaurant sits tucked in the midst of Downtown Dublin where conversations are long, friends linger, and everyone has an opinion about what Miller’s cooks best. A Dublin institution in comfort food, family recipes and tradition have been carried on the Miller’s daughter Nadine, and other relatives. To preserve the taste of decades, in 2019 Visit Dublin GA produced a video capturing the Miller history.
The summer of 2022 American Express and the National Trust for Historic Preservation announced their list of the 25 U.S. historic independent restaurants that will receive $1 million in grant funding through the Backing Historic Small Restaurants grant program. Millers Soul Food in Downtown Dublin, Georgia, was the only Georgia restaurant awarded the allotted $40,000 grant.
In celebration of these many contributions of African Americans to our city, every January through February, the City of Dublin celebrates the cultural heritage and of its black citizens with banners that fly above the streets of our downtown commemorating the challenges faced, obstacles overcome, and strides being taken. Over twenty years ago, Dublin’s first black history banners came as a result of City Council attending a National League of Cities convention where the meeting space was decorated with banners from around the world. Dublin City Councilman, Gary Johnson, returned to Dublin with an idea for celebrating black heritage and history with banners downtown.
With local African American history banners fluttering proudly over the streets of Downtown Dublin, the Dublin Laurens Martin Luther King Jr. Parade takes to the streets every second Saturday in January, in celebration of Martin Luther King, Jr.’s birthday. Now in its 27th Year, the Dublin MLK Parade has in the past been heralded the second largest in Georgia!
Take a walk through the Civil Rights Movement in Georgia with Georgia Tourism’s Footsteps of MLK Trail. Announced April 9th, 2018, Georgia’s Footsteps of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Trail, was created in partnership with The King Center and was launched as part of the memorial service commemorating the 50th anniversary of Martin Luther King, Jr.’s death. When you come see us, Dublin has two stops on the trail: First African Baptist Church and Martin Luther King, Jr. Monument Park.
A child eventually became a legend of the Civil Rights movement, a businessman became a hero of his family, city, and all that crossed his path, and a grandmother fed many a hungry soul. We spend each day wishing for a better tomorrow and highlighting the need for future generations to carry Dr. King’s message of peaceable change onward through the years.
Community Heart & Soul, a Main Street America Allied Member, is this quarter's Main Spotlight advertiser. For more information about what they do to support Main Street organizations, click here.
Main Street America is pleased to announce the launch of a $1.8 million sub-grant program as part of our partnership with the U.S. Department of Transportation's (USDOT) Thriving Communities Program.
Beloit, Kansas © Shane Hampton
Erin Barnes spoke to Frances Jo Hamilton at Heritage Ohio about the importance of stepping up for our communities.
It is important to make sure that the growth of your community does not result in displacement or marginalization. Putting equity at the core of your transformation strategy helps you work towards measures of success that benefit everyone.
Creating real change in business ownership starts with local communities leading the way, backed by strong partnerships and collaborations.
MSA President and CEO Erin Barnes explores how a holiday market in a public park brought a new focus on growing humanitarian needs in downtown city centers.
Learn how Main Street America's work with the DOT's Thriving Communities Program is supporting transformative efforts with community partners like the Shoalwater Bay Indian Tribe.
Learn how Pikeville Pride partners with Pikeville Main Street to fostering a welcoming and inclusive community in their rural Kentucky town.
May is Jewish American Heritage Month! We collected ideas and resources to help you explore Jewish American history on your community and work toward a more inclusive Main Street.
At Fort Vancouver in Vancouver, Washington, Native Hawaiians played a critical role in the success of the Hudson Bay Company. Today, Vancouver’s Hawaiian history and heritage plays a crucial role in efforts to reenergize the city’s historic downtown.
Urban Impact Inc., harnesses strategic investments and collaborative efforts to foster a vibrant and sustainable future, from visionary adaptive reuse ventures to transformative development grants for small businesses and property owners in Birmingham, Alabama's historic 4th Avenue Black Business District.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced $20B in federal Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund (GGRF) awards distributed to eight national non-profit consortiums. Main Street America looks forward to partnership and engagement with awardees and local programs to identify projects and expand impact throughout our network.
Hillsboro, Oregon © Alicia Gallo
Main Street America Program Officer encourages communities to advance equity for women to grow a more inclusive Movement.
Learn how this Louisiana town has used an accessibility-first approach to build a welcoming and inclusive community.
Downtown Ruston, Louisiana. Photo by Henry McCoy.
Tasha Sams, Manager of Education Programs, shares highlights of phase one of the Equitable Entrepreneurial Ecosystems (E3) in Rural Main Streets Program and the biggest takeaways from the workshop experiences.
In this video, learn more about the Williams’ family story, how the business is helping to revive downtown Helena, and the impact they’re having on a national level.
Learn how Main Street Now 2024 host city Birmingham, Alabama, is deepening their commitment to creating a welcoming and inclusive environment.
© Mayor Randall Woodfin
In this episode of Main Street Business Insights, Matt sits down with Derrick Braziel, owner of Pata Roja Taqueria and co-founder of MORTAR, in Cincinnati, Ohio.
Learn how micromobility can increase access, equity, and inclusion in your Main Street with examples from local programs across the network.
Learn how Albany, Georgia, recognizes their civil rights legacy and supports the African American community today.
Celebrate this traditional Mexican holiday with Gardnerville, Nevada.
Gardnerville, NV © Main Street Gardnerville
Tasha Sams shared their experiences at this unique Appalachian cultural festival.
Learn how this community in Oklahoma celebrated Dia de la Independencia with a big festival.
Tulsa, OK © Kendall Whittier Main Street
Learn how Rio Grande City is building a welcoming and inclusive city for both Mexicans and Americans.
Rio Grande City, TX © Rio Grande City
Learn how the Little Santo Domingo neighborhood of Miami is working with the Truist Foundation to strengthen pathways to small business ownership.
© Allapattah CDC
Learn how this Massachusetts community uses their farmer's market to increase access to fresh food.
Every year, H2BE holds their Juneteenth Mobility Stroll and Roll in Dearborn, MI, which celebrates Black Americans and improves local connections. Learn more about the event and why Juneteenth is important to this community.
Dearborn, MI © H2BE
Do you want to support the next generation of Main Street leadership! Start a youth board! Learn how Historic Downtown Clinton set theirs up and how your organization can benefit from one.
The Main Street Movement is a proud ally of the LGBTQ+ community. We spoke to Main Street leaders about how they support the LGBTQ+ community during Pride and beyond.
Steps you can take to engage your local Jewish community and make your Main Street feel welcoming for individual Jewish locals or visitors.
On May 9, the National Trust for Historic Preservation released its list of America’s 11 Most Endangered Historic Places for 2023 which included a cultural district located within a designated Main Street America community.
Miami, FL © NTHP
The annual Cinco de Mayo Parade and Fiesta in the Mexicantown Main Street district offers a great example of collaborative partnerships that honor the community’s cultural heritage and support local businesses through events.
Meet Kavi, the first Indian American Girl of the Year doll and a (fictional) resident of 2023 Great American Main Street Award winner Metuchen, New Jersey!
Metuchen, NJ © Lauren Beischer Photography
Community Development Block Grants are powerful tools for Main Street programs. Learn more about how CDBG's can be applied to our work and how you can advocate for the program
Main Street America was awarded $5.9 million to support 20 communities in the Main Streets Community of Practice through the Department of Transportation's Thriving Communities Program over the next two years.
We spoke to Debbie Ho, Executive Director at Chinatown Main Street, to learn about the history of women in Boston Chinatown.
Boston, MA © Kyle Klein
Meet the newest recipients of this grant program to build stronger, more prosperous small towns and rural communities
Learn the unique history of Folsom, New Mexico, and how they are working with New Mexico MainStreet today.
Learn about the City of Boston’s efforts to invest in economic equity.
Downtown Sheridan Association partners with the Crow Tribe to host the annual First People’s Pow Wow event during the WYO Rodeo Week.
We spoke to three women who were awarded Inclusive Backing grants to learn more about their passions, their businesses, and their advice for other women.
Wixom, MI © Carissa Serylo
Storytelling is a critical part of the placemaking work that we do in Main Street districts. But are we sharing every story equally?
Jonesborough, TN © Jay Huron
Main Street Franklin is leading the way in showing how women business owners can be a powerful force for change in their communities.
Anette Landeros, President and CEO of Fort Worth Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, shares the importance of supporting Hispanic business owners and communities.
#EquityRising, Old Algiers Main Street Corporation's new job training program, seeks to combat rising cost of living by helping residents train for careers that will allow them to stay in their neighborhood.
We spoke to three Black business owners who were awarded Backing Small Businesses grants from Main Street America and American Express to better understand their challenges, successes, and the kinds of support that have helped them the most.
Camden, AR © Kimberly Moore Davis
June is Pride Month. Learn how Erie, PA, Emporia, KS, Frederick, MD, Macon, GA, and Billings, MT, celebrated the LGBTQ+ community.
Erie, PA © Dave Tamulonis
Stockbridge Main Street has made significant strides in exploring and sharing the story of Martin Luther King, father of civil rights hero Martin Luther King Jr.
Stockbridge, GA © Stockbridge Main Street
Juneteenth is the anniversary of the final emancipation of enslaved people in the US. Here are five examples of examples of community celebrations from Main Streets across the network.
Charles Town, WV © Elizabeth Ricketts
Learn how Downtown Florence has partnered with local Francis Marion University to provide opportunities for both students and local small businesses.
Learn about The Bottom, a historic African-American community in Thomasville, Georgia, and efforts to preserve it's history and share it's story.
Thomasville, GA © City of Thomasville
Learn how four Main Street communities celebrated Black History Month.
Oklahoma is home to the headquarters of nearly 40 federally recognized Native American tribes, and many of their offices, cultural sites, and museums are located close to or within Main Street districts.
El Reno, OK © El Reno Main Street
Kendall Whittier is one of the most diverse neighborhoods in an ever-diversifying Tulsa. Learn how they are making efforts to engage their large Hispanic community.
Tulsa, OK © Kendall Whittier Main Street
We spoke with two Black entrepreneurs in UrbanMain commercial districts: L. May Creations in the Austin neighborhood of Chicago and The Four Way in south Memphis, Tennessee.
Memphis, TN © Four Way
Heart of Biddeford shares the strategies they developed to support Black-owned businesses in their community.
Biddeford, ME © Heart of Biddeford
This May marked the 100th anniversary of the Tulsa Race Massacre in the Greenwood neighborhood of Tulsa, Oklahoma. We explored the impact and legacy of this tragic event.
Tulsa, OK © Dr. Tiffany Crutcher
Main Street communities across the nation are celebrating Juneteenth, the oldest national commemoration of the ending of slavery in America and the nation’s newest federal holiday!
Learn about the various programs and initiatives that Fremont is using to promote inclusive economic development.
Fremont, CA © Fremont Economic Development
From small business owners to public artists to local leaders, join us this month to amplify the impact of the LGBTQ+ community in your Main Street district.
San Luis Obispo, CA © Downtown SLO
Brooksville Main Street’s Women Leading the Way Campaign celebrated the legacy of the trailblazing women who made history in their community.
Brooksville, FL © Brooksville Main Street
For Black History Month, we want to recognize and celebrate the Black business owners and entrepreneurs who have overcome challenges and obstacles in launching and running their own businesses, thanks to resilience, creativity, and hard work.
In remembrance and in honor of Dr. Marin Luther King Jr., over 900 streets in the United States were named after him. Many are located predominantly in African American communities.
Milwaukee, WI © Historic King Drive BID
Downtown SLO has kept the magic of their holiday lights installation alive by evolving their winter wonderland into a dual celebration of Valentine’s Day and Lunar New Year, or Chinese New Year.
San Luis Obispo, CA © Downtown SLO
Main Street programs around the Network have created engaging and COVID-safe ways to honor and celebrate the histories and lives of Black Americans in their commercial districts.
Meet some amazing women business owners!
Learn how the Allapattah Collaborative in Miami, Florida, implements a range of initiatives to expand equitable development and ensure current businesses can not only remain in the corridor but also flourish.
Read the results of our survey aimed at understanding how business owners are managing the recovery from COVID-19 and responding to recent protests and social unrest related to police violence against Black Americans.
Our research team dug into some of the data about the state of Black-owned businesses on Main Street, the structural challenges they face, and how Main Streets can support them.
Since 2013, Try This West Virginia has sought to improve health environments in local communities as a collaboration of organizations working together to combat the health challenges facing West Virginians.
Supporting new and existing small businesses, and the entrepreneurs who run them, represents a vital aspect of the revitalization of downtowns and neighborhood business districts.
The Equitable Economic Development Fellowship is a two-year, one million-dollar effort funded by the Surdna Foundation and the Open Society Foundations to help equity, transparency, sustainability and community engagement become driving forces in local economic development efforts.
The Zuni Pueblo MainStreet is the nation's first (and so far, only) Native American Main Street community.
As part of the Edward Jones Placemaking on Main Challenge, Downtown Brattleboro created a pop-up, mobile mini-museum.
History and architecture play an active role in educating and immersing the next generation of preservationists in Le Mars. From museum visits, scavenger hunts, to "show and tell," involving the youth and senior communities is a priority for this Main Street.
Across the county, communities are embracing the arts as a catalyst for revitalization—of buildings, businesses, and local culture.
From walkability and transportation connectivity, to access to nature and availability of fresh food, place is inextricably linked to achieving positive health outcomes in rural America.
Appealing to mobility-challenged shoppers yields benefits beyond the store.
Main Street America is committed to helping build inclusive communities. Homelessness is an increasingly important issue facing Main Street communities big and small, urban and rural.
To understand the role that immigrant business owners play in Boston’s small business ecosystem, you need only to walk through any Boston Main Streets district.
New arrivals have made Shaw more diverse.
Preserving diverse populations, not just buildings.
