Rebirth In Action

Telling the Story of Freedom 

What's the Rebirth In Action Initiative?

A multi-year initiative to preserve, celebrate, and reinvest in Houston’s Freedmen’s Town

The Rebirth in Action Initiative is a collaborative initiative that tells the story of freedom through art, cultural experiences, and community investment—elevating Freedmen’s Town as a monument of Black community, agency, and heritage.

Launched in 2022 by Houston Freedmen’s Town Conservancy (HFTC) and Contemporary Arts Museum Houston (CAMH), in partnership with the City of Houston and artist Theaster Gates, the initiative weaves together infrastructure resilience, archaeological preservation, and artist-led storytelling to ensure Freedmen’s Town’s past is honored and its future is secured.




In Collaboration with:

  • African American History Research Center
  • Houston Public Library
  • Texas Southern University
  • University of Houston
  • Rice University

Funded By:

  • The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation
  • National Endowment for the Arts

Key Stakeholders / Partners

  • Contemporary Arts Musueum Houston
  • Houston Freedmen’s Town Conservancy
  • City of Houston Public Works Department
  • Rebirth In Action Advisory Council