Upcoming Events

FEBRUARY IS BLACK HISTORY MONTH

There are six area events celebrating Black History month.

Carson Newman University students, with support from African American Heritage Alliance, has put together an exhibit in recognition of the 50th anniversary of the 1965 Voting Rights Act.  The exhibit opens January 31st at 3:30pm and extends through the end of the term.

From Africa to Appalachia Foundation (FATA) and the Rose Center are sponsoring a month-long exhibit of the work of artist, Sammie Nicely. The exhibit opens on February 7th at 2:00pm at the Rose Center.

Blues musician, Wallace Coleman, will be appearing at The Bunk House in Bulls Gap, Tennessee on Friday, February 12th. He will appear in a Valentine’s Day Concert at the Rose Center on Saturday, February 13th.

For detailed information about these four events, click here Four Events-Feb 2016

In addition, ARTE Gallery and Studio, 207 Arnold Avenue (on the corner of E. Morris Blvd. and Arnold) is offering an exhibit: “Hallowed Ground: Sites of African American Memories.” The exhibit will be open February 1 – 28. Call 423-839-2516 for more information.

Lastly, Walters State Community College will offer three performances of  the play, “Oh, Freedom: The Story of the Underground Railroad.” The play was written by Peter Manos and is being performed by the WORD Players from Knoxville. Performances are February 18 @ 4:30 at the  Claiborne County Campus and at 10am on February 22 at the Sevier County Campus.  The performance at the Morristown Campus is at the Student Service Building on February 25 at 2:30pm. Admission is free.

Calendar

Beginning in the last century, the Congress or a President of the United States has designated certain months of the year in recognition of the heritage and/or contributions of different segments of our society.

Those designations are listed in simple form below. For a more detailed description of the history of the designation, click here: National Heritage Months

February is Black History Month

March is National Women’s History Month

May is Asian/Pacific-American Heritage Month as well as Older Americans Month and Jewish American Heritage Month.

June is Gay and Lesbian Pride Month

September is National Hispanic Heritage Month (Sept. 15 – Oct. 15)

October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month and National Italian-American Heritage Month

November is National American Indian Heritage Month

December includes International Day of Persons with Disabilities.

Lakeway Latino Celebration

Beginning in late April of this year and extending through May, the Rose Center, MTFD, the Citizen-Tribune, Tennessee Arts Commission and HOLA Lakeway cooperated to sponsor a series of events celebrating the gifts of Hispanic culture.

Latin Fusion,an exhibit of fine art provided by several Latino artists opened in the main gallery of the Rose Center.

Another part of the series was devoted to learning about the life and plight of those who were part of the Bracero Program, a federal work program which operated in our country between 1942 and 1964. A display of the farm implements and posters used in the Bracero Program were part of the exhibit, Bittersweet Harvest, which remained at the Rose Center throughout the month of May.

 

Bracero Exhibit- Tool Display

There were two, separately scheduled, community discussions, one in English and one in Spanish. The title of both discussions was “Life on the Fence.” Dr DeAnna Pendry and Christina Barroso from the University of Tennessee shared historic information about the place of Hispanic people as U. S. workers and immigrants from 1843 through the Bracero Program. Present were members of families whose parents were part of that program. They talked about that experience. Then the discussion progressed to issues facing Latino families in the Lakeway region today.

Dr DeAnn Pendry and Cristina Barroso lead discussion

In late May, fourteen bi-lingual, local young people were involved in the dramatic production of Esperanza Rising, an adaptation of the book by Pam Munoz Ryan. The play was directed by Pedro Tomas, who lectures in the University of Tennessee Department of Foreign Languages. The story is about a wealthy Mexican girl whose privileged existence is shattered when tragedy strikes, and she and her mother must flee to California. Forced to work in a migrant labor camp. Set in the turbulent 1930’s, Esperanza Rising is a poetic tale of a young girl’s triumph over adversity. The production was performed four times on the weekend of May 29 and May 30.

Pedro Tomas directing “Esperanza Rising”

Lastly, Knoxville Mayor, Madeline Rogero was the speaker at the last event of the month. She spoke of her work with Caesar Chavez in the early 1970’s, a movement that finally brought Congressional legislators of both parties to pass legislation to address the inhumane conditions and treatment of migrant workers across the nation.

Knoxville Mayor Madeline Rogero speaks

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