The Globe Lane Initiative (GLI) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting history and cultural exchange, inspired by American freedom fighter Frederick Douglass. We cultivate partnerships, develop understandings and build connections to history across a broad range of communities to inspire change. We educate and empower through historical resources, cultural programming and community engagement opportunities highlighting enduring contributions to intertwined struggles for freedom, equality, liberation and justice.

GLI is women-led, directed by a diverse board and proudly rooted in Ireland. Our name honors the place in Cork where Douglass first spoke during his transformational 1845 visit, and our projects are guided by his powerful story. In 2020, planning for #DouglassWeek started in Cork, and the inaugural #DouglassWeek was held there (although virtually) in 2021. The street no longer exists, but the name Globe Lane provides a touchstone to our roots in Cork and the inspiration for our work, grounded on a small lane in Cork and connecting people globally and throughout the world.

We draw on Douglass’s example to help connect people of Irish/Irish diasporic heritage, celebrate intercultural exchange, connectedness and co-creation and harness history to address contemporary social challenges.