OUR WORK
The Gasaway Sisters stand at the intersection of past and future—honoring the legacy of their ancestors while building pathways for generations to come. Their work spans three interconnected pillars: preserving the history and heritage of Scotland and its neighboring communities, nurturing young minds through education rooted in truth and excellence, and weaving together Montgomery County's historically Black communities into a stronger, more unified network. Each initiative reflects a deep commitment to restoration—of stories, of connection, and of power.
Heritage Preservation & Legacy
The Gasaway Sisters are committed to reclaiming land once taken from Scotland families under eminent domain and to protecting the legacy their ancestors built. A powerful symbol of this work is the Scotland Juneteenth Heritage Festival’s Family Carnival—held in Cabin John Regional Park, a place that was once part of Scotland. For that one day, thanks to strong partners in Montgomery County Parks, the community feels the land return to them. Through advocacy, restoration, and unwavering love for their roots, the sisters ensure that Scotland’s story continues to live where it was born.
Rooted in the vision of their great-great-grandfather William Dove—who as a formerly enslaved man purchased 36 acres in what is now Potomac, Maryland—these sisters are now working with purpose to restore land ownership for his descendants and the broader Scotland community. They envision homes and gardens on this reclaimed land, giving Dove’s descendants a tangible place to build generational equity, sow roots, and carry forward the legacy of ownership and belonging.
Education & Literacy
Rooted in a belief that every child deserves a strong start and a true understanding of their history, the Gasaway Sisters are reshaping what education looks like in Montgomery County. As founders of Minds in Motion Child Care, the largest Black-owned child care centers in the county, they provide high-quality learning environments—including state-accredited pre-K for three- and four-year-olds—that nurture curiosity, confidence, and academic readiness for children each year.
Their commitment goes beyond the classroom. Through their children’s book, Three Sisters and the Story of Scotland, they make local Black history accessible to young readers everywhere. And after successfully advocating for Scotland’s story to be added to the county’s curriculum, they are ensuring that future generations learn about the community’s resilience, contributions, and legacy.
Together, their work strengthens early education while preserving the stories that shape identity, pride, and possibility.
Building Community
At the heart of the Gasaway Sisters’ mission is a commitment to strengthening the bonds among Montgomery County’s historically Black communities—Scotland, Tobytown, Stewartown, Sandy Spring, Lincoln Park, Emory Grove, Ken-Gar, Jerusalem, and beyond. Together, these neighborhoods form what the Sisters call the Kinship Communities: a network of families, elders, and descendants whose stories are deeply intertwined. Through shared gatherings, cultural events, and intentional relationship-building, the Sisters are creating spaces where these communities can reconnect, honor their histories, and chart a shared path forward.
Their recent Kinship Communities Dinner marked a powerful step in this work. Leaders and elders spoke about their memories, their challenges, and the preservation efforts happening today—highlighting how much strength exists when these communities come together. The Sisters hope to continue this momentum year-round by supporting each other’s programs, uplifting each community’s ongoing work, and ensuring that no story or neighborhood is ever forgotten again. Through collaboration, celebration, and collective care, they are building a future where every remaining Kinship Community thrives and no Community is forgotten.