Andrea Barrow-Williams is one of the founders of Rise Up, a social justice and community ministry based out of St. Andrew & St. Luke Episcopal Church. She produced the 2023 documentary “Lines of Demarcation,” which captures the history of Beacon’s Black community from the 1950s through the ‘70s. Among other facets of Black life in Beacon during those decades, the film recounts the devastating impact of Urban Renewal, which saw the demolition of more than 200 homes in the city’s mostly Black West End.
Andrea grew up in Jamaica, Queens and moved to Beacon in 1998 in pursuit of a home her family could afford. She found the city charmingly close-knit, if a bit rough around the edges. She was amazed to be recognized in the post office.
In our interview she talks about the experience of raising a daughter in Beacon, how Rise Up has fought racist ideas since its founding in 2020, and the small but mighty congregation at St. Andrew & St. Luke, among other topics.