The Humanities Council of Washington, DC “Soul of the City” Program
1963: Raising the Conscience of a Nation
T
he Humanities Council of Washington, DC annually offers its youth-leadership development program, Soul of the City (SOTC). Since 2011, the Council has partnered with the D.C. Department of Human Services and works with its’ Summer Youth Employees to conduct SOTC. This year, marks the 50th anniversary of a climactic year of the Civil Rights Movement and a watershed moment in America’s history. In an that history, the Council has focused its SOTC program on the events that occurred across the nation in 1963. This year, Soul of the City participants took on the monumental task of learning about leadership through the lens of Civil Rights Activists. Youth participants in Soul of the City took part in an Oral History project that focused on 1963. As a result, participants had the from key individuals that were involved in the Civil Rights Movement and the March on Washington. Over a four week period this summer, students were engaged in lectures, workshops, enrichhistory project. Along the way, participants were guided by SOTC Lead scholar, Dr. Maurice Jackson, Associate Professor at Georgetown University and
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Michael L. Chambers, II SOTC Program Director. Conducting their own Oral History Project is where students really began to thrive and exhibit their own leadership skills. Students were assigned to teams in which they researched and developed their own interview questions for Civil Rights Activists that were involved with the Student Non-Violent Coordinating Committee (SNCC). Once prepared, participants were able to interview Mr. Courtland Cox, Ms. Dorie Ladner, Congressman John Lewis (D-Ga.) and Ms. Sharlene Kranz. The Council applauds the work of the 2013 Class of SOTC Participants : Andrew Baskerville, Tytesha Bookard, Shakera Bullock, Brandon Cuevas, D’Angelo Dunlap, Karen Hamilton, Delonte Jackson, Karisa Johnson, Marquan Lancaster, Janeya Lee, Ida Lightfoot, Eric Lindsey, Tecora Mickle, Tyler Richardson, Donte Roberts, Asia Steele, Jamal Sunkins, Rashad Yarbrough, and Monae Young. Segments of their Oral History project will be compiled into a documentary commemorating the 50th Anniversary of the landmark March on Washington! Please stay in touch with the Council for further details on this in the future. For more information on Soul of the City or other programs and grants we offer, please contact us at 202387-8391 or visit us at www.wdchumanities.org
Done Roberts and Brandon Cuevas SOTC Participants that were Co-Lead Interviewers for the team assigned to Congressman John Lewis. Photo at his office on Capitol Hill /Photo Credit: Joana Zhao
SOUL of the City program viewing the One Life: Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. exhibit at the National Portrait Gallery from left to right: Intern, Deborah Hillburn, Michael L. Chambers, II, SOTC Program Director, SOTC Participants: Karen Hamilton, Jamal Sumkins, Janeya Lee, Rashad Yarborough, Brandon Cuevas, Asia Steele, D’Angelo Dunlap, Donte Roberts, Shakera Bullock, Karisa Johnson, Tyler Richardson, Marquan Lancaster, Eric Lindsey and Dr. Maurice Jackson, SOTC Lead Scholar/ Photo Credit: Joana Zhao
THE HUMANITIES COUNCIL OF WASHINGTON, DC IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE ANDREW YOUNG FOUNDATION AND CRP INC. PRESENT “1963: RAISING THE CONSCIENCE OF A NATION” A SPECIAL COMMEMORATIVE PROGRAM HONORING THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE MARCH ON WASHINGTON. THE PROGRAM WILL CONSIST OF A FILM SCREENING AND DISCUSSION FEATURING AMBASSADOR ANDREW YOUNG, MONDAY, AUGUST 26, 2013 5:30 PM AT HOGAN LOVELLS, 555 13TH STREET NW, 13TH FLOOR, WASHINGTON, DC 20004. TO ATTEND, PLEASE RSVP ONLINE WWW.HUMANITIES1963. EVENTBRITE.COM OR CALL 202-387-8391.
MARCH ON WASHINGTON 50TH ANNIVERSARY COMMEMORATIVE EDITION / AUGUST 2013 / M-23