Save Nick Chiles Buildings

07/07/2024

Three Topeka buildings once owned by early Black newspaper editor Nick Chiles are on a list put out Monday of the state's Most Endangered Buildings.

11/18/2023

******* Please Share - Casting Call *******

🖤🖤🖤 BROTHERS OF THE DUST 🖤🖤🖤

The First-Time KANSAS PREMIERE of Darren Canady’s award winning drama, BROTHERS OF THE DUST requires an ALL BLACK CAST of three men, three women, and one teenager.
It is a family drama that takes place on a farm in 1954 Arkansas.
As an influential member of the community, we are asking for your help to insure as many Brothers and Sisters from the African Diaspora audition on December 5th at Washburn University Theatre.
The Topeka (KS) Chapter of The Links, Incorporated is co-sponsoring this Black History Month production.
Please help spread the word. More info below.
We are looking for expressive, reliable, committed and proud Black people of various ages to help mount this extraordinary play by Topeka’s own Darren Canady.
——————
Washburn University Theatre and The Topeka (KS) Chapter of The Links, Incorporated
A Black History Month 2024 Production
AUDITION NOTICE
Cast Calling for Upcoming Play
Please Share
Tuesday, December 5th
5:30 pm - 8:00 pm
for
Darren Canady's
American Theatre Critics Association's Osborn Award-winning Play
BROTHERS OF THE DUST
A Drama
Casting Call Is For
3 Black men, 3 Black women, 1 Black teen
Neese-Gray Theatre
130 Garvey Fine Arts Center
17th & Jewell
Topeka Kansas

02/26/2023

👇🏿👇🏿👇🏿👇🏿👇🏿👇🏿👇🏿👇🏿👇🏿👇🏿👇🏿👇🏿👇🏿👇🏿👇🏿

09/30/2022

👇🏿👇🏿👇🏿👇🏿👇🏿🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤👇🏿👇🏿👇🏿👇🏿👇🏿

🙌🏾90-year-old Ellouise Lewis from Gulfport, Mississippi has finally received her GED certificate after seven decades have passed since she had to drop out of school. A graduation ceremony was held at her nursing home.

08/17/2022

"Over the past few months, a trio of decaying downtown buildings in Topeka, Kan., have become a window into charged local debates around historical memory and urban redevelopment. Situated between 112 and 118 SE Seventh Street, they are named for African American journalist Nick Chiles and once housed the newspaper Chiles founded, the Plaindealer.

In late 2021, local development firm AIM Strategies announced its intention to tear down the Chiles buildings and rebuild on the site. However, local activists quickly mobilized against this decision, stressing the historical significance of the buildings and the need to see them restored to once more serve Topeka’s Black residents.

Such public outcry is a testament to the Plaindealer’s historical significance for Topeka’s Black community. At the height of its influence, the paper boasted the largest circulation of any Black periodical west of the Mississippi River. The Plaindealer was one among hundreds of Black-owned newspapers and magazines that collectively formed the Black press — a critical institution that gave voice to people who were voiceless and helped to disseminate news of Black attitudes and achievements within and beyond African American communities."

These sites were more than media hubs — they were community crown jewels.

06/25/2022

As the Roe v. Wade supreme court case is overturned, some may argue we're set back 50 years. Women of all ethnicities, can only hope we don't meet the same fate Mary Glass did just over 100 years ago.

03/10/2022

Congratulations Candidates

Introducing the 2022 Miss Juneteenth Candidates!

03/08/2022

A potential buyer could be in place to keep a piece of Topeka history alive.

02/26/2022

20th-century Black Newspaper Editor, Businessman, Political activist, and Abolitionist Nick Chiles arrived in Kansas with honorable intentions to build a prosperous and thriving black community socially, politically, and economically in Topeka.

Mr. David Lee Brewer is one of three direct descendants on the Nick Chiles committee. Brewer and his kin plan to build upon the Nick Chiles Legacy by investing in the future of Topeka. Members of the Chiles family will be arriving in Topeka in early March 2022.

In this 2015 Interview, Mr. Brewer, who is the co-creator of Destiny’s Child and artistic developer of many of the worlds most exciting talents, returned to his hometown in Omaha, Nebraska, as part of a nationwide search for singers.

Brewer plans to continue his recruitment efforts in the entertainment industry, in addition with his efforts to EMPOWER Topekans socially, politically, and economically through educational and social organizations and institutions.

David Lee Brewer is back in town and he is looking in Omaha for the next big star. Subscribe to KETV on YouTube now for more: http://bit.ly/1emyaD5 Get mor...

02/23/2022

The Nick Chiles Project is beginning to circulate Globally.
Check out David Brewers interview from The Topeka Capital Journal, published 02/22/2022.

The future of the formal Chiles Hotel buildings will consist of international partnerships from multiple countries around the Globe.

Internationale Opernsängerin und Gesangslehrerin David Lee Brewerein Verwandter des frühen Topeka-Zeitungsverlegers Nick Chiles, beabsichtigt, die alternden Gebäude in der Innenstadt von Topeka zu kaufen. In ... Read more