The Arts Council of Princeton (ACP) will hold a Story Slam, the second in a series of public programs focusing on the history and transition of the Witherspoon-Jackson Neighborhood on Saturday, March 28, at 3 p.m.

The event is part of the “The Witherspoon-Jackson Neighborhood Stories Project,” which recognizes the importance of preserving the rich cultural heritage of Princeton’s historically African-American Witherspoon-Jackson neighborhood.

The purpose of the project is to collect personal stories and create a permanent record and directory that will tie together photographic and historical collections currently housed by the Arts Council, the Princeton Public Library, Princeton University Center for African American Studies, Paul Robeson House, and the Princeton Historical Society.

The Arts Council of Princeton’s Paul Robeson Center for the Arts is located in Princeton’s Witherspoon-Jackson neighborhood, a historically African-American community with a rich history dating back to the 18th century.

Residents of the Witherspoon-Jackson neighborhood, which was named for its original boundary streets, were involved in the Civil Rights movement and social justice activism. The house directly across the street from the Robeson Center was the birthplace of the renowned singer, actor, film star, and human rights activist Paul Robeson.

As Princeton becomes more gentrified, residents fear that the rich cultural history of their neighborhood will be lost. Through the Witherspoon-Jackson Neighborhood Stories Project, the ACP aims to not only highlight, document, and preserve the personal stories of longtime residents, but to also create an appreciation for the influence the neighborhood has on Princeton as a community.

Project partners include the Arts Council of Princeton, Paul Robeson House, and the Historical Society of Princeton. Funding for the Stories project is provided, in part, by a grant from the New Jersey Council for the Humanities.

The Story Slam aims to provide an opportunity for further community engagement. All are invited to share a story, poem, or song about the Witherspoon-Jackson neighborhood or Women’s History Month, along with invited speakers Dr. Cecelia Hodges, Princeton High School’s poetry group, and several other neighborhood residents.

The event is free and open to the public. Parking is available in the Spring and Hulfish Street Garages and at metered parking spots along Witherspoon Street and Paul Robeson Place.

For more information, call (609) 924-8777, or visit www.artscouncilofprinceton.org.