Civil Rights Saturday

Press Release: May 1, 2014

For Immediate Release

Contact: Audrey Davis, 703.746.4356

 Civil Rights Saturday - A Free Interactive Activity

Teaching Families about the Civil Rights Locally and Nationally

The Alexandria Black History Museum, in cooperation with the Living Legends of Alexandria/Family Legends Project, will present Civil Rights Saturday on May 24, 2014, from 2 to 4:30 p.m. This educational and fun event is free and open to the public.

This event will feature a book signing for Fire on the Bayou: True Tales from The Civil Rights Battlefront, written by Howard Feinstein. This new book chronicles Mr. Feinstein’s experiences as a federal hate crimes prosecutor in the deep South. Guests are invited to hear a reading from the author, and he will be available to sign copies of the book.  Fire on the Bayou: True Tales from The Civil Rights Battlefront has been nominated for a 2014 Dayton Literary Peace Prize.

Afterwards, join acting Director Audrey Davis for an overview the featured exhibition, “Sit Down and Take a Stand: Samuel Wilbert Tucker and 1939 Alexandria Library Sit-in.” The 75^th anniversary of this historic event occurs in 2014, and was one of the earliest civil rights actions in the United States.

To conclude the program, families may join artist Sushmita Mazumdar for storytelling / book making activity. Share a story of a personal civil rights experience. Participants will make a book they can take home which can become a family keepsake.  This activity is suitable for adults and children 10 years and over.

Space is limited, and reservations are recommended. Participation will be limited to the first 20 people who reserve. For information and reservations, please call 703-746-4356.

The Alexandria Black History Museum is located at 902 Wythe Street, Alexandria, Virginia 22314, in the Parker-Gray Historic District.  The Museum is five blocks from the Braddock Road Metro Station on the Yellow or Blue lines. Street parking is available. For more information, please visit www.alexblackhistory.org . 

 

Civil Rights Saturday

A Free Interactive Activity – Teaching Families about the Civil Rights Movement

The Alexandria Black History Museum, in cooperation with the Living Legends of Alexandria/Family Legends Project, will present Civil Rights Saturday on May 24, 2014, from 2 to 4:30 p.m. This free interactive event is open to the public. 

This event will feature a book signing for Fire on the Bayou: True Tales from The Civil Rights Battlefront, written by Howard Feinstein. This new book chronicles Mr. Feinstein’s experiences as a federal hate crimes prosecutor in the deep South. Guests are invited to hear a reading from the author, and he will be available to sign copies of the book. The book has been nominated for the 2014 Dayton Literary Peace Prize.

Afterwards, join acting Director Audrey Davis for an overview the featured exhibition, Sit Down and Take a Stand: Samuel Wilbert Tucker and 1939 Alexandria Library Sit-in. The 75^th anniversary of this historic event occurs in 2014. It is thought that Alexandria’s 1939 sit-in was one of the earliest civil rights actions in the United States.

Then join artist Sushmita Mazumdar for storytelling and a book making activity. Adults and children can tell a tale of someone they know who had an experience during the fight for civil rights in America. Participants will make a book they can take home. Suitable for children 10 years and over.

Space is limited, and reservations are recommended. Participation will be limited to the first 20 people who reserve. For information and reservations, please call 703-746-4356.

The Alexandria Black History Museum is located at 902 Wythe Street, Alexandria, Virginia 22314, in the Parker-Gray Historic District.  The Museum is five blocks from the Braddock Road Metro Station on the Yellow or Blue lines. Street parking is available. For more information, please visit www.alexblackhistory.org . 

2014 Alexandria Women’s History Guided Tour - May 3

The Alexandria Commission for Women, the Friends of the Alexandria Commission for Women, Historic Alexandria and the Living Legends of Alexandria invite you to attend the 2014 Alexandria Women’s History Guided Tour, Sunday, May 3.

The Women’s History Tour covers many different sites in a one mile abbreviated tour. The tour highlights the achievements of women in Alexandria. Through the dedication and advocacy of Susan Lowell Butler, the Commission for Women, and Friends, the stories of Alexandria’s women, from past to present, are highlighted during the Alexandria's Women’s History Tour.

The tour will meet at 1:30 p.m. at the Alexandria Visitors Center at Ramsey House 221 King Street, Alexandria, VA 22314, it will also include a stop at The Living Legends of Alexandria Portraits of Women Legends: 2007-2013 exhibit which is a photo-documentary project to identify, honor and chronicle Alexandria's history makers. The  exhibition is presented by Prudential PenFed Realty.  A small reception with light refreshments will be held after the tour at the Lloyd House located at 220 N. Washington Street.  The event is free.

Please RSVP online or by email: friendsofalexwomen@gmail.com by May 2, 2014.

"Highlights" Video

 

The “Highlights” video produced by students Paul Shalonis and Dario Baguena under the direction of associate professor Joe Small, Northern Virginia Community College, was accepted in the current student Photography and Media Show, The exhibition was juried by Kathleen Ewing who has operated the Kathleen Ewing Gallery for 30 years. Ewing selected 117 pieces of 236 entries and commented that the video was “really well done.”  We, of course, agree!

The video was aired at the Meet the Legends reception on April 20.  watch-v=U4QmgouQf9o&feature=em-upload_owner

 

The exhibition may be seen at the Tyler Gallery, Tyler Building, NVCC, Alexandria Campus.

2014 Living Legend of Alexandria

See the portraits of 2014 Living Legends of Alexandria:  Mike Anderson,  Char McCargo Bah, Rose Enevoldsen Berler, Lee Fifer, Charles "Ton" Gee, Richard "Rick" Allyn Glassco, Ramona K. Katten, Gregory "Gregg" Murphy, Tricia Rodgers, Shirley N. Tyler, Converse "Connie" West and Donnan "Donnie" Chancellor Wintermute in the Market Square Lobby of City Hall.

Meet the 2014 Legends in person at the "Meet the Legends" reception, Thursday, March 20, at the Patent & Trademark Madison Building lower atrium, 6 p.m. 

Register online at http://meet-the-legends.eventbrite.com/ or mail check by March 13 to Living Legends of Alexandria, 400 North Washington Street, Suite 300, Alexandria, VA  22314.

 

"Experience Alexandria!"

The 2014 Living Legends of Alexandria have been announced.  This class of visionaries and action-takers will be honored at the annual “Meet the Legends” reception on Thursday, March 20, 2014, 6 p.m. at the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office (AlexandriaLegends.com).  

The proceeds from this event enables us to continue to identify, honor and chronicle individuals who have made significant contributions to the quality of life in Alexandria.

The theme for this year’s reception is again “Experience Alexandria!”  Please lend your support by donating unique and exciting items, particularly experiences, for our Silent and Live Auctions.

Need some ideas? Consider these:

*Host a meal at your favorite restaurant (lunch or dinner for 2 - 4) 

*Host a brunch or dinner at your home
*Host a visit to a museum
*Host a wine tasting experience 
*Provide a luxury car ride (Bentley, Austin Martin, Maserati, etc.) or a boat trip

*Host a cultural or sports outing (Theater, Symphony, pro game/college/bowl/classic sports, or a bowling afternoon) 

*Beautify a home or office with flowers (arrangement or plant a month for 3 months) 
*Donate professional services (legal, medical, dental, cleaning, event planning, etc.) 
*Donate a week or weekend at your cabin or beach house

The list of ideas is only limited by your imagination!

Will you help? Call our Event Director, Joe Shumard, with questions, to donate an item or experience or to arrange pick-up of your donation. He can be reached on 703.549.7662.

Thank you in advance for your help. 

Pam St. Clair

President

www.AlexandriaLegends.com

2014 Gold and Silver Sponsors: Alexandria Commission for the Arts, Alexandria Toyota, Club Managers Association, Dominion, Goodwin House, Inc., Linda Hafer, Gregg & Monica Murphy on behalf of Senior Services of Alexandria, Nina Tisara

2014 Legends Introduced at GW Birthday Breakfast

 

The 2014 Living Legends of Alexandria were introduced at the George Washington Birthday Breakfast sponsored by the Friendship Veterans Firehouse Association.  Pictured from left are Connie West, Rick Glassco, Ruth Berler, Gregg Stephens, Char Bah, Shirley Tyler and Donnie Wintermuth.

2011 Living Legends Fran and Gant Redmon received the Association's Rev. Ben Lynt Distinguished Service Award.

Photos by Nina Tisara