ESNC PRESENTS
Legacy Reconnected: Maryland-Liberia Sister Relationship Announcement - Honoring 250 Years of America’s History
Join us for a powerful and inspiring event as we officially announce the establishment of a Sister State/County/City relationship between Maryland (with special focus on Cambridge and Dorchester County) and Liberia.
This special Maryland 250 event celebrates deep historical connections—including that of Cambridge native Stephen Allen Benson, who became Liberia's second president—and marks a new chapter in cultural diplomacy, shared heritage, and global bridge-building.
Saturday, February 28, 2026
2:00 p.m.
Waugh Chapel United Methodist Church
425 High Street
Cambridge, MD 21613
Waugh United Methodist Church (also known as Waugh Chapel United Methodist Church) in Cambridge, Maryland, serves as a meaningful and historically significant host for Black History Month events and observances.
As one of the oldest African American congregations on Maryland's Eastern Shore—founded in 1826 by free and enslaved Black individuals—the church has been a spiritual anchor and community hub for 200 years.
Its history is deeply intertwined with the region's Black heritage, from its early roots in the free Black Pine Street neighborhood, through Reconstruction-era education efforts, Civil Rights activism in Cambridge (a key site in the 1960s movement), to its role in establishing the Harriet Tubman Committee in 1983, which led to the creation of the Harriet Tubman Museum and Educational Center.
In 2026, as Waugh celebrates its bicentennial with monthly events throughout the year, its longstanding commitment to preserving Black history, fostering education, and "planting seeds of hope" makes it an especially fitting and authentic venue for Black History Month programming—connecting past resilience with present-day community outreach, social justice, and unity in Cambridge.
MD250, led by the Maryland 250 Commission, is the official statewide initiative commemorating the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States in 2026. Established under Governor Wes Moore's Executive Order in 2023, the Commission—chaired by former Governor Parris N. Glendening and vice-chaired by Judge Catherine Curran O'Malley—aims to create an inclusive, yearlong celebration that reflects on Maryland's profound contributions to American history, democracy, and civic life.
This event is presented in partnership with the Eastern Shore Network for Change and Maryland 250, bringing focused programming and community engagement to Dorchester County and the broader Eastern Shore region.
The Eastern Shore Network for Change is proud to partner with MD250 as we celebrate Maryland's rich history—honoring the resilience, contributions, and shared legacy of its people while inspiring continued civic engagement and positive change for the future.