Three sisters are fighting to reclaim land that was stolen from their family over a century ago. LaTisha Gasaway-Paul, Teresa Gasaway-Gleaton, and LaTrice Gasaway-Johnson are working to restore their great-great-grandfather’s legacy. Their ancestor, William Dove, purchased 36 acres in what’s now Potomac, Maryland, in the late 1800s for $210.
Over the decades, discriminatory practices stripped that land away through eminent domain. Montgomery County and private developers swallowed up the acreage. By the time the Gasaway sisters were born, the family’s property was completely gone.
William Dove’s Land Purchase Represented Freedom and Belonging
William Dove was formerly enslaved when he made his remarkable land purchase. The 36 acres represented an investment in a future he would never see. His purchase proved that he and his family belonged in their community.
The land deal demonstrated the power of ownership for formerly enslaved people. Dove understood that property ownership meant security and generational wealth. His vision extended far beyond his own lifetime to benefit descendants he would never meet.
Growing Up Hearing Stories of Pain and Determination
The Gasaway sisters grew up hearing these stories from their grandmother. “I could hear the pain in her voice,” LaTisha recalls. “But I also heard something else: determination. She made us promise we wouldn’t forget.”
The sisters kept that promise and are now taking action to right historical wrongs. Their grandmother’s stories planted seeds that grew into a comprehensive restoration plan. The emotional weight of their family history fuels their current activism and business ventures.
Building Economic Power Through Montgomery County’s Largest Black-Owned Childcare Business
The three sisters now run the largest Black-owned childcare business in Montgomery County. They also organize the region’s largest Juneteenth festival, which has drawn thousands since 2021. Their most ambitious project is reclaiming county-owned land that once belonged to William Dove.
Teresa explains that the childcare business provides more than just quality care for families. “The business has given us something our ancestors didn’t have: economic power,” she says. The revenue funds their Juneteenth festival and provides financial stability to fight for the land.
Reinvesting Every Dollar Into Scotland’s Historic Black Community
The sisters follow a deliberate blueprint for community restoration and wealth building. Every dollar they make gets reinvested into Scotland, the historic Black community where their family has lived. Five generations of their family have called Scotland home over the decades.
Scotland is one of about 40 communities in Montgomery County founded by formerly enslaved African Americans. Most of these communities have disappeared entirely over time. The sisters are working to preserve Scotland’s memory while also reversing what was taken from families.
Plans for Affordable Housing With Beautiful, Intentional Design
“When I envision that reclaimed land, I see homes,” LaTrice says. “Beautiful homes where descendants of William Dove can raise their families.” She envisions gardens where children play on the same soil their ancestor tended generations ago.
LaTrice is adamant that whatever they build must be beautiful and designed with intention. “This won’t look like every other development. It will look like us,” she emphasizes. The plan includes offering first right of refusal to descendants of the original enslaved land settlers.
Building Support Through Government Officials and Community Leaders
The path toward reclaiming the land hasn’t been easy for the sisters. They’ve spent years meeting with government officials and business leaders to build support. Recognition has come from Montgomery County Council, Governor Wes Moore, Congressman Jamie Raskin, and Senator Angela Alsobrooks.
“Let me be clear: it isn’t easy, and it isn’t a handout,” Teresa says. “We’re fighting this fight every single day.” However, they’re powered by attorneys, architects, and their village of supporters. Each day brings them one step closer to their goal.
Juneteenth Festival Transforms Celebration Into Revolutionary Activism
The sisters’ Juneteenth festival has become central to their restoration work. For LaTisha, celebration itself is activism. “When we gather thousands of people in Montgomery County to celebrate Juneteenth, we’re doing revolutionary work,” she explains.
People come to eat and dance, but they also learn about Scotland’s history. They discover the story of William Dove and what was stolen from Black families. “When you celebrate together, you build power together,” LaTisha says. Festival attendees become advocates who sign petitions and attend county meetings.
Historic Church Receives $1 Million to Support Community Restoration
The Scotland African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church received major support in 2024. The Willard and Alice S. Marriott Foundation donated $1 million to the church. This significant gift gave the community’s restoration efforts new momentum and resources.
The donation demonstrates growing recognition of Scotland’s historical importance. It also validates the sisters’ efforts to preserve and restore the community. The funding provides crucial support for multiple restoration initiatives throughout the area.
First Kinship Communities Dinner Unites Historic Black Neighborhoods
The sisters recently organized what they believe is Montgomery County’s first Kinship Communities Dinner. The event brought together leaders from over ten historic Black communities facing similar struggles. These communities have dealt with displacement and erasure for decades.
One elder in his seventies told them he’d never seen anything like it before. These communities have been fighting in isolation for too long. Now they’re building a coalition to support each other’s restoration efforts.
Land Ownership Changes Family DNA and Shapes Worldview
“Land ownership is everything,” LaTrice says with conviction. “My great-great-grandfather understood that land is the one thing they can’t take from you without a fight.” Even when land is taken, the memory of ownership changes a family’s DNA forever.
Growing up knowing they came from landowners shaped how the sisters moved through the world. It made their vision clearer and their determination stronger. LaTrice emphasizes that “knowledge without tangible ownership only takes you so far.” That’s why reclaiming William Dove’s land matters so deeply.
Creating a Model for Other Displaced Historic Black Communities
The sisters want Scotland to become a model for restoration nationwide. If they can succeed, other historic Black communities can do it too. They envision an intergenerational community with multiple community-serving facilities and programs.
Plans include childcare centers, community gardens, and a Scotland Heritage Center. They also plan economic development that benefits Black residents instead of displacing them. The vision encompasses permanence, equity, and proof that restoration is genuinely possible.
Investing Everything to Honor a $210 Legacy
“Our great-great-grandfather invested $210 in our future,” LaTisha says. The sisters are now investing everything they have in return. They’re dedicating their time, resources, and very beings to this mission.
Their goal is making sure William Dove’s investment pays dividends for generations to come. The fight continues daily, but their determination never wavers. Through business, activism, and community building, they’re reclaiming what was stolen and honoring their ancestor’s remarkable legacy.
