About CNLF

Our History

In July 2023, after years of seeking justice for Celia through separate efforts, Celia and Robert Newsom's descendants throughout the country joined forces with Fulton, Missouri, Community Leaders, Celia Art Historians, History Professors, and other Celia Supporters. They formed the “Justice for Celia Coalition.” The Coalition’s Celia Vindication plans sought to honor Celia through post-conviction relief, Celia history education, Celia memorials and art exhibits in Fulton and St. Louis, Missouri, the establishment of the Celia Newsom Legacy Foundation, and ongoing support of modern-day rape, domestic violence, and human trafficking prevention efforts.  On May 17, 2024, the Celia Newsom Legacy Foundation was formally launched to provide an ongoing, durable structure to advance Celia's vindication efforts, officially replacing the Coalition.

Our Mission

The mission of the Celia Newsom Legacy Foundation is to educate, inspire and advocate. By sharing Celia’s story of dehumanization, exploitation, and injustice, we hope to inspire others to:

  • Examine the world with greater insight

  • Advocate for and support modern-day rape, domestic violence and human trafficking prevention efforts.

Where We are Going

Our foundation succeeded in overturning Celia’s conviction, but that does not mean our work is over. Along with working to always grow in our Mission’s goals, we have organized our intentional steps into a five-point plan. Two of those milestones have been completed, and we are working hard at accomplishing them all!

Board of Directors

  • Pamela Westbrooks-Hodge, MBA, GCCC

    PRESIDENT
    Term: 5/17/24 - 5/17/27

  • Casondra Turner-Liwanga, Esq.

    VICE PRESIDENT
    Term: 5/17/24 - 5/17/27

  • India Hampton

    TREASURER
    Term: 5/17/24 - 5/17/27

  • Allen Jerome Turner

    ASSISTANT TREASURER
    Term: 5/17/24 - 5/17/27

  • Julia Gray

    MEMBER AT LARGE
    Term: 5/18/24 - 5/18/27

  • Jerome Gray

    MEMBER AT LARGE:
    Term: 5/18/24 - 5/18/27

The Presentation Team

The Presentation Team of the Celia Newsom Legacy Foundation regularly presents Celia’s story to community groups across the state of Missouri. These 60-to-90-minute sessions explore Celia’s short life, the court trial,  the fate of her enslaved daughters and modern efforts to honor Celia. The session also includes perspectives of white descendants of Robert Newsom and his wife, Elizabeth Gwinn Newsom who share Newsom DNA with Celia’s descendants. Participants will also hear from the creator of the Celia Portrait, Mr. Solomon Thurman, Jr. on his portrait journey and work with scholars across the country to leverage Celia’s plight to bring light to women’s issues.  
Complete the Contact Us form here to request a presentation.

  • Pamela Westbrooks-Hodge

    Pamela is the 2nd Great Granddaughter of Celia Newsom and her enslaver, Robert Newsom.  A native of St. Louis, Missouri, wife, mother and retired General Partner from Edward Jones Investments (Internal Audit) Pamela strives to live a life of purpose and service to others. As a member of the Missouri State Board of Education, the Governor’s School Funding Task Force and Founder of the Scholarship Solution, Pamela passionately advocates for equitable education opportunities for all Missouri children. Pamela is also a 35-year life member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., a member of the Links Incorporated and serves on the Board of Directors for Beyond Housing, a community development organization dedicated to uplifting the St. Louis region.

  • Nancy Fogle-Compos

    Nancy is the 4th great-granddaughter of Robert Newsom and his wife, Elizabeth Gwinn Newsom. A native of Kansas City, MO, Nancy Fogle-Compos serves as a Logistics Coordinator for Lineage Connect, a Kansas City-based logistics and Delivery Company.  However, her life’s work is transporting people into the past and helping them connect with their roots.  Inspired by her Grandmother, an avid researcher, Nancy is a passionate genealogist with a 25-year history of helping people research their family histories. Nancy uses these talents to locate Celia and Robert Newsom descendants across the country.

  • Solomon Thurman, Jr.

    Solomon is a native of St. Louis, Missouri, a husband, father, grandfather and great grandfather. He is a career artist, author, researcher, and teacher and was introduced to the Celia story by St. Louis civil rights attorney, the late Margaret Bush Wilson. She commissioned him to paint a portrait of “Celia”, a slave from Fulton, MO.  With no historical photo reference, he set out to find & paint the face of Celia in 1994. The painting was unveiled at the Missouri Historical Society in 1995. He compiled two booklets on Celia; the first, “The Face of Celia”, documents his experience while painting the portrait; the second, written ten years later, depicted Celia’s life, titled “Celia, V.S. the State of Missouri”. Celia’s digital image is on permanent display at the Equal Justice Institute (EJI) Legacy Museum in Montgomery, AL.  Solomon co-founded art galleries in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, and St. Louis, MO.

  • Dr. Nichol Allen

    A native of Truckee, California, Dr. Nichol Allen began her career journey by enlisting in the United States military after graduating high school. Her service career took her to various locations, and in 2008, she settled in the Midwest. She earned a PhD in History from Southern Illinois University, specializing in African American and American History. Today, she serves as an Assistant Professor of Museum Studies and History and the Coordinator of the Museum Studies Program at Westminster College in Fulton, Missouri.

  • Dr. Zachary Dowdle

    Dr. Dowdle is an Assistant Professor of History at Westminster University in Fulton Missouri and was awarded Distinguished Professor of the Year at William Woods. His work focuses on Missouri Law as it relates to enslaved people. He teaches Celia in his classes and is passionate about securing justice for her.