VISIONARY ADRIAN HOLMES Inspires change

Adrian Holmes of Cambridge is a respected change agent in her community. The role is deeply rooted in her fearless passion for progress and reinforced with reverence and persistence, traits shared by her parents and American hero and Dorchester County native, Harriet Tubman.

IN THE BEGINNING | FOSTERING COMMUNITY AND CREATIVITY

Holmes grew up in Philadelphia, Penn., as the oldest daughter and one of five ‘preacher’s kids,’ as she says. She and her siblings attended public schools and regularly heard sermons from their father while attending Christ Baptist Church.

“My love for creativity began at a very young age,” Holmes said. “I learned to sew by hand and then on a machine from my mother, and I especially loved creating dolls made of paper and other materials, which is something I continue to do today.”

Her late parents, Mary and the Rev. John Green Jr., also taught her the importance of supporting women and children and providing economic stimulus through job training, summer camps, and after-school programs for children through the Rev. Green’s para ministry, Alpha Genesis, Inc.

She joined the military in 1984 and continued cultivating a life well suited for adapting to and encouraging change. Holmes served 15 years in the United States Air Force, during which her love for collecting art and a worldly perspective grew through two tours at San Vito dei

Normanni Air Station in Italy, and one at Tempelhof Air Station in Berlin, Germany.

Stateside, Holmes was stationed at bases in Texas and Maryland, serving as a staff sergeant in charge of 20-person units. After her military service, she lived in Upper Marlboro and Bowie and homeschooled her two daughters — Misha and Chanice — now in their 30s and living in Baltimore and Chicago, respectively.

“I remember we were working on a Maryland state history lesson on Harriet Tubman while we were living in Upper Marlboro,” said Holmes. “I couldn’t believe we were so close to where she was born and made such an impact. Maps were immediately pulled out and a day trip was planned to Dorchester County soon afterwards.”

A MOVE TO THE SHORE | SHARING LEGACY

Harriet Tubman Club leader. Holmes says Walker was instrumental to igniting her passions for learning and sharing more about Harriet Tubman.

Harriet Tubman — born enslaved as Araminta Ross in Dorchester County — is a hero of worldly, if not biblical proportions. A deeply spiritual person also known as the Moses of her people, Tubman dedicated her life to freedom as one of the most recognized Underground Railroad conductors, carrying herself and approximately 70 others away from slavery and into safety and freedom.

Art connects our experiences in profound ways

That trip was later followed by a permanent move to the Eastern Shore, beginning with a move to Hurlock in 2003 before making Cambridge her home in 2013. During that time, Holmes met Linda Pinder Walker, who was serving as North Dorchester Middle School

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Sharing Tubman’s legacy is also the driving force behind the nonprofit founded by Holmes, Alpha Genesis Community Development Corporation (CDC) — named in honor of her father’s ministry in Philadelphia.

A BEACON OF HOPE | INSPIRING COLLABORATION

“While America was taking down statues, we were putting another up,” said Holmes, reflecting on the nonprofit’s recent project and the enormous outpouring of community support behind the Harriet Tubman “Beacon of Hope” statue.

The statue was unveiled in September 2022 as part of the annual Day of Resilience celebration and stands on permanent display where enslaved people were once auctioned and sold at the Dorchester County Courthouse. Future improvement plans for the statue’s lawn include a memorial wall including the names of enslaved people from the region. It’s one of many collaborative projects in Holmes’s vision bringing diverse audiences of people together to build a unified community in Cambridge.

Adrian was the lead organizer of the historic Day of Resilience, commemorating the 400th anniversary of the transatlantic slave trade. The day also included a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the nationally renowned Harriet Tubman mural “Take My Hand” painted by local artist Michael Rosato. This mural has touched millions of people from around the world and has drawn thousands of visitors to Cambridge.

“The mural also reflects the power of our collective voice, our unity, and creativity which are essential to building a thriving community,” said Holmes.

Holmes serves on the board of Habitat for Humanity Choptank and is also spearheading a $20M revitalization plan for the historic downtown F. W. Woolworth Co. property where Alpha Genesis CDC currently operates. Fundraising for renovations to the historic building is currently underway, with the project recently awarded $4.5M in tax credits from the Maryland Historic Trust.

A $2M improvement plan for a new pavilion at the Harriet Tubman Mural, located at the neighboring Harriet Tubman Museum and Educational Center, is also part of the vision Holmes sees for Cambridge’s future.

A BRIGHT FUTURE | BUILDING THE VISION

Alpha Genesis CDC’s mission is to build a vibrant, thriving community by strengthening strategic partnerships through arts and culture in Dorchester County. The nonprofit is dedicated to enriching local neighborhoods by providing spaces to inspire conversation, embrace and celebrate diversity, and foster economic development while showcasing the community’s unique history and proximity to the Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad Byway.

“We provide programs that help connect our community through the shared experience of art and culture,” said Hughes. “We are working from within the community to build unity where there has been a long history of division.”

The nonprofit’s work is supported by hundreds of volunteers and the dedication of the nonprofit’s staff, including Executive Director Jermaine Anderson, and Sound Engineers Mike Bryan and Joe Manokey.

“I could not have achieved any of this without my Alpha Genesis Board, partner Jermaine Anderson, and my community at large,” Holmes said.

At the center of building unity through art and culture is North Star Village, the complex of businesses managed by Alpha Genesis at 420 B Race Street. The historic building has sections dating as far back to 1919 and pays homage to Tubman’s faith in and reliance on the North Star to guide enslaved people to their freedom.

North Star Village comprises 26,000 square feet of meandering spaces for ArtBar2.o, Café Underground, the Alley Bar, Great Escape, and Deeply Rooted. Proceeds benefit the cultural projects supported by Alpha Genesis.

The Alley Bar is accessible from Race Street, with exposed brick and warm, dramatic lighting that transcends the visitor to a place of cool vibes and great libations.

In the back is the ArtBar 2.0 Art Gallery and Event Venue, a large, airy space that seats 120 people comfortably, and feels more like a dance club. The name is a nod to the first ArtBar on High Street that closed in 2018.

Tucked away from the ArtBar2.0 is the private Great Escape room that can seat up to 80 people and gives the feel of a New York City clubroom. Café Underground is part of the complex facing Race Street, and offers breakfast, coffee, and more while guests check out mixed media and fiber arts at the adjacent Deeply Rooted retail space.

Throughout the entire space — just like in Adrian Holmes’ life — is the presence of creativity in the art that adorns the walls and spaces throughout the property. Brightly colored portraits of the Jackson 5 and that of a Rastafarian first capture the eye, before perusing the spaces for all the special touches and creative work at the core of inspiration for Alpha Genesis.

“Art connects our experiences in profound ways,” Holmes said. “Art has played an integral part in bringing Harriet Tubman’s stories and legacy to light, and I’m hopeful our work will bring more unity and understanding to larger audiences as we move forward together.”

Alpha Genesis CDC

PO Box 125, Cambridge, Md., 21663

410-490-1520 www.alphagenesiscdc.org

Art 2.0 Art Gallery & Event Venue @ the Harriet Tubman Mural 420 B Race Street, Cambridge, Md., 21663 443-988-1554 https://www.facebook.com/artbar2.0eventspac

Contact: adrianholmes@alphagenesiscdc.org, 410-490-1520