About Access to Change

Who We Are

Access to Change was founded to address the long-term consequences of historical erasure, institutional neglect, and generational disconnection—particularly where harm has been normalized rather than repaired. 

We believe that truth is not abstract. 

It is documented. It is lived. And when it is ignored, communities bear the cost for generations. 

ATC works alongside descendants, families, educators, and community partners to ensure that history is acknowledged, harm is addressed, and future generations are equipped to lead with integrity. 

What We Do

Access to Change advances advances its missions through three interconnected areas of work:

1. Historic Preservation & Descendant Advocacy

ATC leads and supports efforts to protect historically Black cemeteries and burial grounds that have been neglected, damaged, or threatened by redevelopment. 

Through the Brutontown Descendants Heritage Initiative (BTDHI), we: 

• Document historical and land-use records

• Support descendant engagement and stewardship

• Pursue preservation pathways such as Consulting Party status, local designation, and Nationa Register eligibility, and

• Advocate for lawful, ethical treatment of sacred sites

This work ensures that ancestral burial grounds are recognized not as expendable land—but protected cultural heritage. 

2. Leadership & Development

Access to Change invests in youth by strengthening behavior, identity, and leadership capacity at critical stages of development. 

Through programs such as STEP Academy and embedded behavioral support services, ATC helps young people build: 

• Emotional regulation and self-awarness

• Discipline, accountability, and respect for structure

• Leadership skills rooted in confidence, clarity, and responsibility

Our behavioral support work is preventative, restorative, and developmentally grounded. We partner with educators, families, and program leaders to address behavioral patterns early—supporting healthy coping strategies and reinforcing positive behavior in real-world settings.

Rather than treating behavior in isolation, ATC addresses the whole child, recognizing that behavior reflects environment, unmet needs, and systems of support. This approach equips youth to lead themselves before they are asked to lead others. 

3. Community Education & Accountability

ATC engages communities through education, documentation, and public-facing advocacy that connects historical harm to present-day outcomes. 

We believe accountability begins with understanding—how systems operate, how harm becomes normalized, and how communities can respond with structure rather than reaction.

Our work supports: 

• Informed community engagement

• Intergenerational dialogue

• Pathways for lawful, ethical change grounded in documentation and process

Our Commitment

Access to Change is committed to doing work that lasts. 

We pursue solutions that protect the dignity of the past, strengthen the clarity of the present, and secure the future generations to come. 

This is not about symbolism.

It is about responsibility.