ALBANY — A small group of people committed to perpetuating the telling of Black history — its struggles and triumphs — gathered on Monday at the Livingston Avenue building that was once a home to abolitionists Harriet and Stephen Myers.

The group celebrated a $30,000 grant secured by Assemblywoman Gabriella Romero, an Albany Democrat, for the Museum Studies Teen Program at the Underground Railroad Education Center.

The program had been threatened by Trump administration cuts.

Lacey Wilson, who introduces high school students to careers in the museum field, said the goal is to “put the leadership of our stories …  in the hands of our young people.”

Mary Liz Stewart, who founded the center with her husband, Paul, said, “It’s not just about yesterday. It’s about human rights work that informed the lived work of those who we call abolitionists today but it carries on through history as the first civil-rights movement informing … other works for justice.”

She said the same issues that abolitionists like the Myers struggled with — housing, health care, jobs, and education — are still issues today.

In developing the museum program, Stewart said she was inspired by the words of Shirley Chisolm, the first Black woman elected to Congress: “If they don’t give you a seat at the table, bring in a folding chair.”

Mayor Kathy Sheehan called the Myers’ brick rowhouse, which the Stewarts saved from collapse, one of her favorite places in Albany.

Sheehan said she had just returned from visiting Albany’s sister city, Nijmegen, in the Netherlands.

“They know what this looks like and they know how this ends and they are very fearful for what is happening in this country now,” Sheenhan said of Nijmegen leaders following news of the Trump administration.

Sheehan spoke of the need to “push back … on the lies” and said of the education center, “This is a place where the truth is told.”

Dorcey Applyrs, Albany’s chief city auditor and the Democratic candidate for mayor, said, “Showing up for causes like this means becoming a target.”

She said that, even though it is painful, it is important to honor “those who fought, bled, and died.”

“This is the right thing to do,” said Carolyn McLaughlin, who chairs the Black Caucus for the Albany County Legislature.

She spoke of the importance of different levels of government — city, county, and state — working together to fund initiatives like the Underground Railroad Education Center.

“They are not giving up so we can’t either,” she said.

Sam Fein, who serves on the center’s board of directors and is also a county legislator, spoke on the need for the center as he reflected on the Trump administration and “what they’re doing to people seeking freedom in this country.”

“Democracy is under attack ….,” said another county legislator, Danielle Gillespie. “Many of our unalienable rights are under attack.”

She said the Myers serve as inspiration and urged, “We cannot forget their courage nor can we all grow complacent.”

Gillespie urged, “We must stay vigilant …. When we forget, we are more likely to repeat the terrible things that have happened in our past. We cannot forget.”

A third county legislator, Susan Pedo, called cuts in federal funding “a broken promise.”

She spoke of lessons from the Underground Railroad Education Center that her children had learned at Stephen and Harriet Myers Middle School.

“We will not break the promise,” said Pedro.

Tabetha Wilson, vice president of the Albany School Board, called the education center “a beacon for truth-telling, resilience, and community empowerment.”

She said, “We recommit ourselves to carrying forward the values of courage, justice, and equity that this center represents.”

As Romero presented a giant check to the Stewarts, she called the center “truly a gem in the city of Albany … that needs a lot more investment.”