OUR MISSION
To uplift and document the stories of the African Americans who contributed to the growth of Somerville and preserve the community’s African American history. The Ubuntu Cultural Pavilion was established to augment the history of Somerville to include its history of contributions of Black and African American residents whose involvement and impact have been overshadowed, like much of American history involving formerly enslaved peoples, by the town’s Revolutionary War connections. It is the mission and purpose of UCP to challenge this neglect and change this tradition.
OUR VISION
Ubuntu Cultural Pavilion will work to change the museum experience and the conceptions about museums. We believe that local history has a place in the community, local history matters! When most people think about history and the work of local museums, they often do not see themselves as being a part of that history, or the legacy of the community. It is our vision that the community sees themselves and their stories as an extension of our community cultivating space. UCP offers the opportunity to experience the greatness that we see in our community members.
OUR STORY
Ubuntu Cultural Pavilion has been organized to provide educational experiences through a museum (once a site has been secured) and traveling exhibits beginning with a local presence to expand throughout the state of New Jersey. By conducting this work, UCP will provide information on social justice initiatives, arts, culture, and history, thus increasing the community's collective knowledge and improving community members' lives.
A major component of our work will center on the life and legacy of Paul Leroy Robeson. Up until this time, the early formative years in Somerville, NJ have far too long been overlooked. Significant efforts will be dedicated to incorporating Somerville as a crucial, though frequently overlooked, element in more precisely chronicling and commemorating the life and legacy of Paul Robeson.
Why the Acorn?
The acorn, a small and unassuming seed, holds profound symbolism that beautifully parallels the creation of our local community museum. Just as an acorn is the humble beginning of a mighty oak tree, our museum represents the seedling from which a rich and enduring legacy of community history will grow.
The acorn symbolizes the potential within each of us, waiting to be nurtured, shared, and celebrated. In our community, the acorn represents the stories, artifacts, and contributions of our residents, many of which have remained hidden, like seeds in the earth, waiting to sprout into the vibrant tapestry of our heritage. Just as an acorn takes root and grows into a towering oak, our museum serves as the fertile ground for these untold stories to take root, thrive, and reach for the sky. As we cultivate our museum, we nurture the potential within our community to unite, to learn, and to cherish the history that makes us who we are. Just as the oak stands as a symbol of strength, so shall our museum stand as a beacon of the enduring strength and resilience of our community’s history, enriched by the contributions of all who call it home.
OUR BOARD
Where Passion and Dedication Meet
S. Kendall Hall
UCP Founder and President
Community Historian & Lead Curator
Born and raised in Somerville, New Jersey, Kendall Hall comes from a family whose local roots span seven generations. That connection to place—and her recognition that many Black stories remain overlooked—shaped her commitment to ensuring that no story is left behind.
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She founded Ubuntu Cultural Pavilion, Inc., a mobile “museum without walls” that preserves and shares Black and African American history through archival research, oral histories, exhibitions, and public programs.
Kendall earned a B.A. in Economics from Rutgers College and is a co-founder and President Emeritus of the Rutgers African-American Alumni Alliance. During more than 20 years of service, she helped expand the organization’s presence and supported the Class of 1971’s efforts to establish Paul Robeson Plaza at Rutgers–New Brunswick. Her leadership has been recognized with the Loyal Sons and Daughters of Rutgers Award, RAAA’s Keepers of the Legacy Award, and the 2026 Somerset County Juneteenth Leadership Award.
Davie Lyn Jones
UCP Secretary
Retired Educator & Community Advocate
Davie Lyn Jones-Evans serves as the UCP Board Secretary and brings a wealth of educational and historical expertise to the organization. An elementary school teacher, local historian, and workshop presenter, she is deeply committed to community education and preservation.
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Her public presentations include Freedom Denied: Enslaved People During the Revolutionary Era, Paul Robeson: Do You Know Him?, and What Happened to Lucy’s Son. She actively serves on the Board of Trustees for the New Cemetery of Somerville and as the Community Engagement Chair for the Somerville Education Association.
A committed local historian, her At Home with History blog was honored with the 2024 Somerset County Historic Preservation and History Publication Award for its outstanding preservation of African American history in Somerville, NJ. She holds a BA in History and American Studies from Douglass College, Rutgers University, and an MA in Elementary Education from Seton Hall University.
Valerie Anderson
Retired Executive Director, Associate Alumnae of Douglass College. She is a Senior Manager with experience in the profit and nonprofit sectors. A visionary leader who stays focused on achieving results. Broad experience in organizing and directing projects, achieving business priorities, facilitating operations, cultivating relationships, generating revenue growth and alumnae engagement.
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A forward thinker who collaborates with others to gain consensus among business associates, staff and executive management in the development and introduction of new initiatives, strategic planning, processes, and procedures.
Rhonda Stewart
A retired educator whose nearly 40-year career in New York City and Franklin Township included classroom teaching, literacy coaching, science instruction, and school administration. Working with students and educators from prekindergarten through middle school strengthened her belief in lifelong learning and in education’s power to build stronger communities—a perspective she brings to her service with Ubuntu Cultural Pavilion.
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Rhonda earned a B.S. in Elementary Education from St. John’s University and an M.A. in Elementary Education, summa cum laude, from Adelphi University.
A passionate volunteer, Rhonda is a lifetime member of the Raritan Valley Section of the National Council of Negro Women. She also serves on the board of the Diamond Foundation and as a trustee of the Lost Souls Memorial Project. Through UCP, she continues to support education, historical preservation, and meaningful community engagement.
UCP Treasurer
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UCP Board Member
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We are a non-profit organization that aims to bring the local history and culture of Somerville, NJ to life.
