Impact Report 2017 2018 Board of Directors NOW IS the TIME Jeanne Cyriaque, Chair College Park by Jamil Zainaldin, President Emeritus Gary S
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Impact Report 2017 2018 Board of Directors NOW IS THE TIME Jeanne Cyriaque, Chair College Park By Jamil Zainaldin, President Emeritus Gary S. Hauk, Vice Chair Atlanta We need the humanities now more than ever. Now is the time to think, Daniel J. Thompson Jr.,* Treasurer Atlanta discuss, engage, reflect, read, listen, empathize, and imagine. It’s time to tell Karla Heath-Sands, Secretary Albany James E. Toney, stories, to hear others’ stories, to find meaning and common purpose. It’s time for conversation, for recognizing the human need to be heard and understood. Immediate Past Chair Loganville Now is the time to lean in, not withdraw. Keith S. Bohannon* Carrollton Kathy Bradley Statesboro And yet, my time at Georgia Humanities has now come to a close. In retiring Annie Hunt Burriss Madison from twenty years of exploring the stories of Georgia, I aim not to recede but to Patricia J. Bush Sparks review. What have I learned from the minutes of this journey? What is it about Thomas E. Daniel Atlanta Georgia, “what knowledge haunts each body, what history, what phantom ache,” J. Truitt Eavenson Savannah as poet Natasha Trethewey expresses it? P. Toby Graham Athens Stories give us direction, teach lessons, issue reminders and wakeup calls. Jodie L. Guest Atlanta Jamil Zainaldin Our best stories call us to account. I am powerfully pulled by the story of President Emeritus Ira Jackson Jr. Marietta Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., a Georgia story from beginning to end. I am moved T. Marshall Jones* Albany and enlightened by Lillian Smith, who seemed to be 500 years ahead of her time. Ruth A. Knox* Thomson Those two alone hold up the world for me—King’s understanding of justice and In a spirit of collaboration, Kevin Langston Peachtree Corners destiny, Smith’s the necessity of always learning and breaking down walls of bigotry. Loretta Parham Decatur Georgia Humanities gathers, preserves, When I think of Georgia, I think of James Oglethorpe, who I rank as the first Merryll Penson Athens great civic philanthropist of the Western World—principally for his stand on slavery and shares our state’s distinctive Clint Rucker Fairburn and the vision that imbued his city plan, which to this day is utilized worldwide. Claudia Seyle Savannah I ask, would W.E.B. DuBois have become the person he became—the Phillip R. Smith* Watkinsville stories through a range of cultural and cofounder of the NAACP—without his long spells of residence at Atlanta William H. Verner Atlanta University? And what of the Atlanta University Center? What would the city educational programs and resources. Lisa L. White Savannah of Atlanta—for that matter, the world—be today without it? Pamela Whitten Athens Donald Wildsmith Bethlehem What would have become of Franklin D. Roosevelt without the influence of Warm *Governor’s Appointee Springs and the people of Georgia? Without Warm Springs, there would have been no New Deal, not to mention FDR’s leadership in the crucible of World War II. Georgia Humanities Staff The inspirational story of the north Georgia Cherokee and New Echota makes Alicia Cabrera, Office Administrator a tremendous impression on me, and their fate was an unspeakable catastrophe Kelly Caudle, Vice President, Communications that is inseparable from the racism that continues to stain the state and nation. Camile Matthews, Program Coordinator & Office Manager Laura McCarty, President The stories of Flannery O’Connor, the art of Lamar Dodd and Benny Andrews, the music of Ma Rainey, James Brown, Otis Redding, Allman Brothers Band, and Latonda Milner, Fiscal Officer Johnny Mercer—all are stories that move us and make us, as Georgians and Americans. Arden Williams, Senior Program Coordinator Jamil Zainaldin, President Emeritus Although I am leaving this organization, I am not retreating from Georgia or from the humanities, for we remain connected by our commitment to the values Consultants the humanities reveres. Now is the time to let curiosity, wonder, and connection Shelley Parnes, CPA, Accounting guide my path. And also yours? New Georgia Encyclopedia Staff Managing Editor Edward Hatfield, Jamil Zainaldin retired in January 2018. The Board of Directors designated him President Emeritus, in John Inscoe, Founding Editor recognition of his long and distinguished leadership of Georgia Humanities as well as his eminent stature among humanities leaders nationally. Laura McCarty succeeded him as president in February 2018. Georgia Humanities 2017 Impact Report | 1 TAKING A STAND From Inspiration to Presentation The National History Day experience. Students First place winners Alex Szymanski and Sophie take a journey, from idea to research to analysis Mullaney, of Midtown International School in to presentation, in the process discovering and Atlanta, created a website for their research project on NHD developing skills that will prove invaluable for smallpox, “Calling the Shots: Taking a Stand Against 2017 Winners college and surely beyond. At regional (within the Speckled Monster.” The students conducted Georgia) and state contests, middle- and high research and interviews at the Centers for Disease Congratulations to Team Georgia on their school participants engage in friendly competition Control and Prevention archives to learn about excellent showing at the National History Day within several categories (website, performance, Dr. William Foege, a CDC scientist credited with Led by co-state coordinators Laura McCarty of Georgia national competition, held June 12–15, 2017, exhibit, and more), hoping to be selected for a helping to eradicate smallpox through a method he Humanities and Dr. Kevin Shirley of LaGrange at the University of Maryland. chance to compete in the national contest against devised known as “ring vaccination.” Dr. Foege went College, National History Day Georgia is a program their peers from around the country. Each April, on to found the Task Force for Global Health, the of Georgia Humanities and LaGrange College. The Gold Medal / NEH Scholars Award the National History Day state contest is held on largest nonprofit organization in Georgia today. state competition host is Mercer University. Regional • Junior Group Website: Sophie Mullaney and Alex the campus of Mercer University in Macon. competition hosts include Augusta University; Szymanski, Midtown International School, Atlanta, Clayton State University/National Archives-Atlanta; “Calling the Shots: Taking a Stand Against the Those who make it to the national competition Coastal Georgia Historical Society/College of Coastal Speckled Monster” (about the eradication of smallpox) in College Park, Maryland, enjoy being a member Georgia; East Georgia State College; Fort Valley State of “Team Georgia.” In 2017 the team included University; Georgia College; Georgia Southwestern Finalist, 4th place students who attended public schools, private State University; Kennesaw State University; Thomas • Senior Individual Performance: Susie Dorminy, Sola schools, and homeschools around the state, County Schools; Troup Historical Society/LaGrange Fide Home School, McDonough, “A Study in Black and their research projects explored the theme College; and the University of Georgia. and White: Integration in the Southern University” “Taking a Stand in History.” “Silent hero” eulogized at Normandy. DeKalb Finalist, 7th place Early College Academy student Sydnie Cobb and • Junior Individual Paper: Sage Olson, M.D. Roberts her teacher, Jason Butler, traveled to Normandy, Middle School, Jonesboro, “Disney Animators Take France, as part of the Normandy Institute, a student- a Stand: The Stories of the Disney Strike of 1941” and-teacher program of National History Day. For Outstanding state entry, junior division her research project, Cobb chose Sergeant Willie L. Collins, an African American soldier from Georgia. Finalist, 10th place “I was instantly drawn to Sgt. Collins because • Junior Individual Website: Gabriela Johnson, he received a college education, a feat that was Georgia Connections Academy, Woodstock, especially impressive for an African American man “ There is an incubation period “A History of Hope: Atlanta Housewives Stand living in the Jim Crow South,” Cobb says. for ideas as well as for viruses. for Public Education” ” Collins was killed at the Battle of Normandy. Cobb Outstanding State Entry, Dr. William Foege had the great privilege of honoring her “silent hero” by writing and delivering a eulogy for Sgt. Collins at his Senior Division gravesite. “Eulogizing Sgt. Collins at the Normandy • Senior Group Website: Aditya Bhave and Emily American Cemetery was one of the most moving Goncalvez, South Forsyth High School, Cumming, experiences of my life,” Cobb says. “I felt truly honored “A Stand Against the Soviet Union: Kennedy and Top: Alex Szymanski, Sophie Mullaney, and NEH Acting Chair Margaret Plympton to shed light on the bravery and pioneering spirit that the Missile Crisis” Bottom: National History Day teacher workshop at LaGrange College Sgt. Collins displayed throughout his life. I am proud Facing page: Student Sydnie Cobb at the Normandy gravesite of Sgt. Collins to say that my ‘Silent Hero’ is silent no more.” GH 2 | Georgia Humanities 2017 Impact Report Georgia Humanities 2017 Impact Report | 3 HOMETOWN TEAMS Local Pride in Local Stories In 2017 the exhibition Hometown Teams: How Sports A particularly moving story took place in Monroe Shape America traveled to six Georgia sites, where the during a “Reunion Day” event. Monroe site director host communities contributed local programs and Sadie Krawczyk says that at that event “we recognized Georgia stories to accompany the national content of the championship teams our community has produced. the exhibition. Exploring the themes of community, One very significant team was the first, fully integrated pride of place, and the cultural traditions associated football team to play for Monroe Area High School. with sports, Hometown Teams brought together city As the men and coach gathered on our historic and county officials, businesses, educational and courthouse steps for a photo of the 1969 team, the Many thanks are due to The Coca-Cola Company, cultural organizations, and ordinary citizens (young coach asked to say a few words to the crowd.