About Us

Tallahassee, FL

Frenchtown Rising

Frenchtown is a historic African-American neighborhood in Tallahassee, Florida.

Frenchtown Historic Community


 

Frenchtown is a historic African-American neighborhood in Tallahassee, Florida. In 1831, historic plantations, churches, homesteads, educational institutions, businesses and residences filled this area. The community has long been occupied by free people of color and other persons of African descent, following the Civil War. Frenchtown developed into a thriving middle-class African American community, with Macomb Street as the hub of activity. Frenchtown declined in the 1960s and only a few original structures remain, but the area is currently undergoing revitalization.

Meet the Team

Laurise Thomas
Laurise Thomas
Executive Director
James Bennett
James Bennett
Event Advisor/Dee Jay
Shelia Morris
Shelia Morris
Event Adviser
Charles Hayes
Charles Hayes
Venue Director
Monica Smart-Gainous
Monica Smart-Gainous
Vendor Coordinator
Jeffery Mordica
Jeffery Mordica
Entertainment Coordination
K. Lennorris Barber
K. Lennorris Barber
Visionary Producer
2021 Staff:  Kenyon Barber, Virginia Miller, Tareq Salley, Imani Thomas, and Shiba Glenn
2022 Staff:  Kenyon Barber, Greta Brown, Virginia Miller, Tareq Salley, Imani Thomas, and Shiba Glenn