VIRA JONES — DREAM YOUR IDEA INTO REALITY (continued)
was a supercontinent called Pangaea that connected all the landmasses of the earth before they broke away 200 million years ago to form separate continents as they appear today. The most prominent place where this is visible is the northwestern coast of Africa and the eastern coast of South America. In that location the two continents look like they were once connected. That is why the museum staff believes that all cultures share similar “symbols” that bind people together and the museum’s exhibits will highlight these similarities. For example, when displaying South African Zulu baskets during street fairs, Native Americans would stop at the display to comment that the baskets resembled Navajo baskets from the mid-West. While selling beaded belts and masks, people from South America would stop to ask me what city in their country did acquire the beaded items. They would smile with amazement when I explained that the beaded artifact were from Africa. Next, critics have suggested that the museum would only thrive once moved to downtown Brooklyn that have enjoyed an economic renaissance. The answer is still “NO” and the museum will always reside in Bedford Stuyvesant. Secondly, I have been encouraged to remove the word “Bedford Stuyvesant” from the name. The name, the argument goes, makes the museum appear provincial instead of an inclusive international arts organization. My response has been that studies have shown that arts organizations attract a talented workforce, create living-wage employment and stimulate economic development in distressed neighborhoods. Therefore, the museum would make a substantial impact in low-income and minority communities by knitting community bonds, inspiring young people to create while building their self-esteem and stimulating economic development. Studies have shown that young people involved in creative endeavors are less likely to become a statistic in the criminal justice system. Critics have reminded me that I could not successfully manage a museum since I lack prior experience running one. My response has been that the rich experiences and challenges that I have faced during my lifetime on this earth have prepared me for this museum opportunity. I was born and raised in a small town outside Charleston, West Virginia. Most of my neighbors felt like members of my extended family and watched over me when my parents were not around (it takes a village to raise a child). 4
After high school and a journalism degree from Ohio University in Athens, Ohio, I joined the Peace Corps and spent two years in Ghana, West Africa teaching in a high school. I learned the local language, Twi (pronounced “tree”) and became a respected member of the community because of the respect a teacher enjoyed. In just six months I had adapted to a new culture, fell in love with the people, always craved the tasty local food and developed patience when faced with inconveniences such as a lack of electricity and water shortages during the dry season. It made me a stronger individual. Only after a year back in the U.S., I was offered an opportunity to teach English as a second language in The Peoples Republic of China. I taught intensive English conversation to university students who would be studying toward PhDs in science-related areas at some of America’s most prestigious universities. Despite living in a socially restrictive country, the classroom teaching very stimulating. Each day after I left class, I was on such a high that I felt I had taken a drug. The students were so excited to learn and that is where I learned to love being a college professor. After I returned from China, I decided it was time to become that award-winning writer that I had always fantasized about becoming. I applied and was accepted in to the graduate journalism program at Columbia University. Along the way I started a construction company. It has taught me how to manage people, resolve conflicts with angry clients and navigate difficult constructions projects toward completion. These skills will be invaluable while serving as executive director of the museum. The longer I live the more I realize that life is extremely short and I do not have immortality. When I move on to join my ancestors, I want to be remembered for creating a worldclass arts organization that people will enjoy for centuries to come. I want to leave this world knowing that I have stimulated young minds and built their self-esteem to the level where they feel that an opportunity or challenge can be achieved with a quality education, an open-mindedness toward grasping new ideas and perseverance. I have learned this important lesson while living and traveling in other countries--when young people have been taught to love and respect their own culture, they will find it easy to embrace and develop a curiosity about other cultures.