21 Apr Keepers of the Flame Scholarship April 2022 Recipient: Candice Henderson

Candice Henderson | Founder & President, Friends of the Freedom House

Hi, my name is Candice Henderson. I am a black woman living in a National Landmark / Historic House Museum I purchased last year in 2021.

My goal is to bring this space back to life and offer it back to the community. Friends of the Freedom House is just that, friends of the “Freedom House.” The Freedom House is a newly formed nonprofit with a board of all Black Women and women-owned nonprofits. 

The Freedom House is the former home of Oretha Castle Haley. In this home activism work was done, organizing, mobilizing, and the Civil Rights organization CORE (Congress of Racial Equity) was born right here in this home.

In 2011 the Freedom House fell out of the family’s hands, but I was able to purchase the home from a white woman this year. With such rich history, it was important that this home be back in black hands. It’s my intention to turn the entire home into a museum, community space, and safe house for women refugees (which I have already begun to do).

The Keepers of the Flame Scholarship funds will act as seed money as we re-build the safe house on the property.

The scholarship will be tied to the Civil Rights Movement and heavily aligned with safety for women since the money goes directly to building out our safe house that will host refugees.

Friends of the Freedom House’ project is currently on its way. This seed money will help to ensure our project’s success.

We plan to pay it forward by opening up the house to women who do wellness work. Space matters and we plan on sharing ours with the community.

Thank you for considering our new nonprofit’s application and joining us in becoming a Friend of the “Freedom House.”