Residents, families, and vendors gathered at the 1887 Night Market in Historic Eatonville at dusk

About Us

Eatonville’s stories, told from our point of view.

1887 First is an independent media platform and creative agency rooted in Historic Eatonville, Florida. We report the stories affecting our land, people, businesses, culture, and future—while helping organizations connect with communities through strategy, advertising, content, and meaningful engagement.

Read Our Stories Work With Our Agency

Explore Our Story

Why we exist

Eatonville should have ownership over its story.

Eatonville has never lacked important stories. It has lacked consistent control over how those stories are documented, distributed, and understood.

Too often, decisions affecting our land, government, businesses, culture, and future are explained by institutions and outsiders before the people most affected are heard.

1887 First exists to help change that.

We are building an independent media platform that investigates, documents, preserves, and shares Eatonville’s truth from a perspective rooted in the community. Our goal is not simply to report what happened. Our goal is to help people understand what happened, who was affected, what is at stake, and where Eatonville goes next.

Our beginning

Our work began by standing up for Eatonville.

1887 First did not begin inside an advertising office. It began through advocacy, public information, community organizing, and the belief that Eatonville’s people should have a stronger voice in decisions affecting their future.

In 2022, 1887 First joined the fight for Hungerford, helping organize, inform, and amplify the community response to a development proposal involving land central to Eatonville’s history and future.

That work helped establish 1887 First as an active voice for residents, families, business owners, and the next generation.

Read The Land coverage

Residents standing together under umbrellas at a community gathering in Historic Eatonville — Photo: 1887 First

Our Mission

To document Eatonville’s truth, protect its history, strengthen its businesses, amplify its people, and create media that returns value to the community.

Our Vision

We envision an Eatonville where residents have greater ownership over their stories, economic opportunities, public record, cultural identity, and collective future.

Our story

From advocacy to independent media.

2022
The Fight for Hungerford
1887 First joined the community fight surrounding Hungerford, helping inform residents, amplify community concerns, and challenge the development proposal then being pursued.
Ongoing
A Voice for Residents and Youth
1887 First continued raising community concerns, sharing public information, documenting important conversations, and creating space for younger voices to participate in Eatonville's public story.
July 2024
The 1887 Night Market Launches
The 1887 Night Market transformed advocacy into economic opportunity by creating a recurring platform for Black-owned businesses, artists, farmers, families, and community organizations in Historic Eatonville.
2024–2026
Markets Create Pathways
The Night Market grew into an economic and cultural platform that brought businesses, visitors, employment, youth activities, and new investment into Eatonville.
Today
The 1887 First Media Agency
1887 First is expanding its mission through independent reporting, documentaries, digital storytelling, advertising, and community-centered marketing.

Our impact

Building more than a market.

The 1887 Night Market was created to do more than generate sales. It was built to create visibility, opportunity, employment, community connection, and pathways for Black-owned businesses.

Markets held

in Eatonville

200+

Black businesses

participated

500+

Children

in arts and agriculture activities

15,000+

Estimated visitors

brought to Eatonville

3M+

Social media views

People employed

Source: 1887 First Two-Year Economic Impact Snapshot.

Press

Featured In

Our work—and the fight for Eatonville—have reached audiences across the country.

1887 First has helped bring national and regional attention to Eatonville, the Hungerford property, community self-determination, economic justice, and the importance of protecting the town's cultural future.

The coverage below includes reporting that directly features 1887 First and Julian Johnson, along with broader reporting that documents the community's Hungerford fight.

A Florida Town, Once Settled by Former Slaves, Now Fights Over ‘Sacred Land’

National television and digital reporting · March 31, 2023 · By Martha Teichner

CBS Sunday Morning reported nationally on Eatonville's fight over the Hungerford property. The coverage features Julian Johnson discussing land as economic justice, shows his role in helping mobilize residents, and documents the Town Council's rejection of the requested development changes. The report was later updated after the prospective purchaser terminated the agreement and Orange County Public Schools announced that the sale would not move forward.

Directly features Julian Johnson
Links to 1887 First
Documents the Hungerford campaign

Read the CBS Story

Eatonville Residents Win Battle Over Hungerford Prep, Orange Schools Terminates Agreement

Local television and digital reporting · March 31, 2023 · Updated March 31, 2023 · By Treasure Roberts

ClickOrlando reported that the private developer agreement involving the former Hungerford Preparatory School property had been terminated. The coverage identifies Julian Johnson as president and founder of 1887 First Community Organization and includes his response to the community victory, his call for continued resident involvement, and his vision for development that benefits Eatonville.

Directly features 1887 First
Directly features Julian Johnson
Documents the 2023 Hungerford outcome

Read the ClickOrlando Story

Once an ‘All-Black Utopia,’ Eatonville Residents Say New Development Could Erase History

National digital reporting · March 27, 2023 · Updated December 4, 2023 · By Aallyah Wright

Capital B documented Eatonville residents' fight over the Hungerford property and the threat community members believed the proposed development presented to the town's history, affordability, and self-determination. The report describes Julian Johnson's formation of Land Back 1887, its partnership with community preservation advocates, its door-to-door information campaign, and its work encouraging residents to participate in public meetings.

Directly features Julian Johnson
Documents Land Back 1887
Documents the Hungerford campaign

Read the Capital B Story

Possibilities for Eatonville's Hungerford Land Could Bring Growth, Preserve Culture

Regional newspaper reporting · December 17, 2023

The Orlando Sentinel examined possible futures for the Hungerford property and the relationship between economic growth, development, cultural preservation, and Eatonville's future.

Broader Hungerford coverage
Eatonville development and preservation

Read the Orlando Sentinel Story

Subscription may be required.

Coverage is linked to the original publisher. Outlet names are used for identification only and do not imply endorsement of 1887 First.

Why a media agency

The next chapter is independent media.

We have fought for the land, built space for local businesses, and spoken up for residents and youth. Now we are building the media platform Eatonville deserves—one that follows the truth, preserves community memory, and tells our stories from our point of view.

The 1887 First Media Agency will cover the stories affecting Eatonville while helping responsible businesses, organizations, and movements communicate with the people they serve.

Through journalism, documentaries, digital content, advertising, and community-centered campaigns, we can strengthen Eatonville’s public voice while building a sustainable institution.

Read Our Reporting Work With Our Agency

What we do

One mission. Three connected platforms.

1887 First Media

Independent reporting, investigations, opinion, historical storytelling, interviews, documentaries, public records, and community voices.

Explore News & Stories

1887 First Agency

Marketing strategy, advertising, social media, content production, visual storytelling, community engagement, and event marketing.

Explore Agency Services

1887 First Commerce

Official merchandise, the 1887 Night Market, and connections to the wider Black-owned business marketplace.

Shop Official Merch Explore the Marketplace

The Founders of 1887 First

Founded from within the community.

Founder

Julian Johnson

Julian Johnson leads 1887 First and brings an extensive background in marketing. He founded 1887 First in 2022 in the midst of the fight for the historic Robert Hungerford property, carrying on the legacy of the late Mayor Abraham Gordon.

Julian is a community development leader, entrepreneur, and marketing strategist dedicated to expanding economic opportunity and strengthening community self-sufficiency. A first-generation Eatonville native and resident, his family moved to Eatonville in 1993 and purchased their family home in 1995, giving him a personal connection to the community's history, challenges, and future.

As President and Executive Director of The Ville CDC, Julian leads organizational strategy, partnership development, fundraising, and program implementation. He is the founder of 1887 First and creator of the 1887 Night Market, a community marketplace supporting small businesses, farmers, artisans, and entrepreneurs throughout Central Florida.

Co-Founder

Nia Williams-Brown

Nia Williams-Brown is a United States Air Force disabled veteran with a passion for service, leadership, and community impact. As Vice President of The Ville CDC, she supports organizational operations, strategic planning, volunteer engagement, and family-focused programming. Drawing on her military experience and commitment to service, Nia helps ensure programs are organized, accessible, and impactful for the residents and families served by the organization.

Nia has been working in Eatonville since 2023 and is a co-founder of the 1887 Night Market, where she serves as Market Manager — overseeing 50 to 70 vendors on a monthly basis.

Founder and leadership

Leadership of 1887 First.

Writers and editors

Editorial contributors covering Eatonville.

Photographers and videographers

Documentary photo and video contributors.

Community contributors

Residents, elders, and youth who contribute reporting, footage, and testimony.

Editors, writers, photographers, videographers, community contributors, and advisers are listed here as profiles are approved.

Vendor reviews

What vendors say

Body Oil Fragrances by CJ

Vendor at the 1887 Night Market

M Rochelle Jewels

Vendor at the 1887 Night Market

Loc Bar Studio

Vendor at the 1887 Night Market

Our values

What guides our work.

Truth: We verify before we publish and clearly distinguish reporting, analysis, opinion, and paid content.
Community Ownership: Eatonville deserves meaningful control over how its history, people, land, and future are represented.
Accountability: We document sources, correct meaningful errors, and remain answerable to the people our work affects.
Youth Voice: Young people are part of Eatonville's present, and they deserve meaningful space in its public story.
Economic Independence: We use media, marketing, commerce, and community engagement to help create sustainable local opportunity.
Cultural Integrity: We tell stories with context, respect, and an understanding of the community from which they come.

Editorial independence

Our reporting is not for sale.

1887 First operates both an independent media platform and a creative agency. That structure requires a clear boundary.

Agency clients, advertisers, sponsors, donors, public officials, and political interests do not receive control over our independent editorial coverage.

Purchasing advertising or agency services does not guarantee favorable coverage. Refusing to purchase services does not result in negative coverage. Sponsored material is clearly labeled so readers can distinguish paid partnerships from independent reporting.

Community reinvestment

Returning value to Eatonville.

We believe media, marketing, and marketplace work should return value to the community that makes it possible.

1887 First reinvests in the community through The Ville CDC, an independent nonprofit working toward Eatonville’s community development and long-term future.

The Ville CDC is a Florida-based 501(c)(3) community development nonprofit dedicated to strengthening communities through economic development, food access, entrepreneurship, arts and culture, and strategic partnerships. Founded to create lasting community impact, it develops programs that increase opportunity while preserving the rich history and cultural legacy of Historic Eatonville.

1887 First LLC and The Ville CDC are separate legal organizations.

Support The Ville CDC

Be part of Eatonville’s next chapter.

Read the stories. Work with the agency. Support the institutions building Eatonville’s future.

Read Our Reporting Start a Project Support The Ville CDC

Contact

Get in touch.

General

Jointhemovement@1887first.com 888-339-1887

1887 First LLC
P.O. Box 2263
Eatonville, FL 32751

Story tips

Submit a story tip Request a correction

Projects and advertising

Start a project Editorial standards

Eatonville’s stories, told from our point of view.

Eatonville should have ownership over its story.

Our work began by standing up for Eatonville.

Our Mission

Our Vision

From advocacy to independent media.

The Fight for Hungerford

A Voice for Residents and Youth

The 1887 Night Market Launches

Markets Create Pathways

The 1887 First Media Agency

Building more than a market.

Featured In

A Florida Town, Once Settled by Former Slaves, Now Fights Over ‘Sacred Land’

Eatonville Residents Win Battle Over Hungerford Prep, Orange Schools Terminates Agreement

Once an ‘All-Black Utopia,’ Eatonville Residents Say New Development Could Erase History

Possibilities for Eatonville's Hungerford Land Could Bring Growth, Preserve Culture

The next chapter is independent media.

One mission. Three connected platforms.

1887 First Media

1887 First Agency

1887 First Commerce

Founded from within the community.

Julian Johnson

Nia Williams-Brown

Founder and leadership

Writers and editors

Photographers and videographers

Community contributors

What vendors say

What guides our work.

Our reporting is not for sale.

Returning value to Eatonville.

Be part of Eatonville’s next chapter.

Get in touch.

General

Story tips

Projects and advertising

Send us a message

Eatonville, in your inbox.