FEBRUARY 23, 2026 UPDATE: This event is now cancelled due to the winter storm.

Talbot Family Network will host a community screening and discussion of excerpts from the documentary film Descendant as part of its ongoing Conversations on Race series. The event will take place Monday, Feb. 23, 2026, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Eastern Shore Conservation Center, 114 S. Washington St., Easton. A light dinner and refreshments will be provided.

The February program, presented in partnership with ShoreRivers, will explore environmental justice by examining how environmental conditions, historical inequities, and access to decision-making power continue to shape health, opportunity, and belonging in communities.

Descendant tells the story of descendants of survivors of the Clotilda, the last known ship to carry enslaved Africans to the United States. The documentary follows members of the Africatown community in Alabama as they uncover their ancestors’ story, preserve cultural traditions, and confront environmental and economic challenges tied to industrial development in their community.

The film highlights themes of resilience, environmental stewardship, and the ongoing impact of systemic inequities.

Film is a powerful way to engage people in conversations that might otherwise feel difficult to approach,” said Nancy Andrew, executive director of Talbot Family Network. “By watching and discussing Descendant together, we hope to create space for meaningful dialogue about how history, environment, and community well-being are connected, both nationally and here on the Mid-Shore.

Following the screening, participants will engage in a facilitated discussion designed to encourage reflection and community dialogue.

ShoreRivers will provide local context by helping participants consider connections between the environmental justice issues highlighted in the documentary and challenges faced by communities on Maryland’s Eastern Shore.

Environmental justice is closely tied to who has a voice in decisions that affect land, water, and public health,” said ShoreRivers Senior Community Engagement Coordinator Maegan White. “This conversation offers an opportunity to connect a powerful national story to local experiences and to better understand the environmental challenges our Eastern Shore communities face.

The event is free and open to the public. Advance registration is required, and seating is limited. Registration is available at bit.ly/feb26convo.

The Conversations on Race series is held monthly from September through May, typically on the last Monday of each month. Each session is designed to stand alone while contributing to an ongoing community dialogue about race, equity, and inclusion. Partners for the 2025-26 series include Shore Lit, the Water’s Edge Museum, the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum, and additional community organizations.

ShoreRivers works to protect Maryland’s Eastern Shore waterways through science-based advocacy, restoration, education, and engagement, with a vision of thriving rivers cherished by all Eastern Shore communities. More information is available at shorerivers.org.

Talbot Family Network serves as Talbot County’s Local Management Board, established by the state of Maryland to improve coordination of services for children and families. The organization identifies local priorities, directs resources, and promotes collaboration among agencies and community partners. More information is available at healthytalbot.org/about/talbot-family-network/.

Register Here

Participants in the upcoming Conversations on Race series will view a CBS 60 Minutes feature on the Clotilda—the last known ship to bring enslaved Africans to the United States—and explore the experiences of their descendants in Africatown, Alabama.

The story examines how families connected to the Clotilda are grappling with questions of legacy, power, and reconciliation generations later.

The screening begins at 5:30 p.m. on Monday, December 8, in the Easton Room of the Talbot County Free Library and includes a shared discussion, refreshments, and a light meal. You can save a seat by registering here. 

The Clotilda segment shares the story of the ship’s 1860 voyage, which illegally transported 110 captive Africans to Mobile, Alabama, more than 50 years after the transatlantic slave trade was outlawed. The vessel was later burned and sunk in an effort to conceal the crime.

Its wreckage, discovered in 2019, renewed attention to the descendants of Africatown’s founders—a community built by survivors and their families.

The segment explores the experiences of both the descendants and the families whose ancestors enslaved them as they grapple with questions of inheritance and healing. The longer Netflix documentary Descendant and Zora Neale Hurston’s Barracoon: The Story of the Last “Black Cargo” also delve into the Clotilda story.

Nancy Andrew, executive director of the Talbot Family Network, said the Conversations on Race program is designed to create meaningful community connections through shared learning.

“We chose this impactful film because it explores issues of legacy, generational wealth, and personal agency,” Andrew said. “Each session stands on its own, but together they deepen our understanding of race and history.”

Dana Newman, executive director of the Talbot County Free Library, said hosting the series aligns with the library’s mission to foster dialogue and inclusion.

“Public libraries are one of the few truly shared spaces in any community,” Newman said. “Hosting Conversations on Race helps us bring people together to learn from one another and confront history with empathy and understanding. It’s how we build a stronger, more connected Talbot County.”

The event is free, with space limited. Advance registration is required at bit.ly/dec8convo.

The Conversations on Race series is free and open to the public, held monthly from September through May, typically on the last Monday of each month. Partners for the 2025–26 series include the Water’s Edge Museum, Shore Lit, the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum, and others.

The Talbot Family Network serves as Talbot County’s Local Management Board, established by the state of Maryland to improve coordination of services for children and families. TFN identifies local priorities, targets resources, and fosters collaboration across agencies and communities. More information is available here.