Memorial at the Legacy Museum, Montgomery, Alabama, honoring victims of racial terror lynchings between 1865 and 1876. Five hundred documented victims and more than thirty massacres during the Reconstruction era are memorialized here.
SEMC Officers & Directors 4
Executive Director’s Notes Zinnia Willits 9
President’s Address Calinda Lee 15
Membership Corner Opening Doors, Shaping Futures:
The SEMC–AUC Collective Partnership Carla Phillips 19
Programs Corner Introducing the SEMC2025 Career Hub Heather Nowak 25
Programs Corner Honoring Legacy
Through Tour Opportunities Heather Nowak 31
SEMC Intern Full Circle: A Student's Return
to the Museum Field Candice Lawrie 39
Our Montgomery Alex Colvin and Erik London 43
Dexter Avenue, Montgomery, Alabama.
view of
Installation
Entangled in the Mangroves at Artis–Naples, The Baker Museum.
semc
Alabama North Carolina
Arkansas South Carolina
Florida Tennessee
Georgia Virginia
Kentucky West Virginia
Louisiana U.S. Virgin Islands
Mississippi Puerto Rico
staff
Zinnia Willits
Executive Director
Carla Phillips
Manager of Communications
and Member Services
Heather Nowak
Program Administrator
contact semc
SEMC | P.O. Box 550746
Atlanta, GA 30355-3246
T: 404.814.2048 or 404.814.2047
F: 404.814.2031
W: www.SEMCdirect.net
E: membershipservices@SEMCdirect.net
Inside SEMC is published twice a year by SEMC. Annual subscription is included in membership dues.
Design: Nathan Moehlmann, Goosepen Studio & Press
The deadline for the Winter 2026 newsletter is December 1, 2025. To submit information for the newsletter, please contact Zinnia Willits (zwillits@semcdirect.net) or Carla Phillips (cphillips@ semcdirect.net).
semc officers
Dr. Calinda Lee President sources.lee@gmail.com
Principal, Sources Cultural Resources Management, LLC, Atlanta, GA
Ahmad Ward Vice President award@exploremitchelville.org
Executive Director, Historic Mitchelville Freedom Park, Hilton Head Island, SC
Deborah Rose Van Horn Secretary Deborah.vanhorn@gmail.com
Senior Curator, Walt Disney Imagineering, Lake Buena Vista, FL
Scott Alvey Treasurer Scott.Alvey@ky.gov
Director, Kentucky Historical Society, Frankfort, KY
Matthew S. Davis Past President mdavis4@wlu.edu
Director of Institutional History Museum, Washington and Lee University, Lexington, VA
semc directors
Eboni Belton eab714@gmail.com
Lead Gallery Attendant, Center for Civil Rights History and Research at the University of South Carolina,Columbia, SC
Tafeni English-Relf tafeni.english@splcenter.org
Director, Alabama State Office, Southern Poverty Law Center/Civil Rights Memorial, Montgomery, AL
Katie Ericson-Baskin kericso@emory.edu
Director of Education, Michael C. Carlos Museum, Atlanta, GA
Matt Farah Matt.Farah@hnoc.org
Exhibition Coordinator, Historic New Orleans Collection, New Orleans, LA
Alicia Franck
Alicia.franck@nationalww2museum.org
Vice President and Chief Development Officer, The National World War II Museum, New Orleans, LA
Tamara Herring therring@morrisheritagecenter.org
Executive Director, Morris Center for Lowcountry Heritage, Ridgeland, SC
Felicia Knise
Felicia.Ingram@dncr.nc.gov
Director of Interpretive Strategies, North Carolina Museum of Art, Raleigh, NC
Brigette Janea Jones Brigette@arabiaalliance.org
Assistant Executive Director, Arabia Mountain National Heritage Area, Stonecrest, GA
Katy Malone kmalon15@utk.edu
Manager of Education and Community Engagement, McClung Museum of Natural History and Culture, Knoxville, TN
Michelle Schulte mschulte@lsu.edu
Chief Curator of Exhibitions and Collections, LSU Museum of Art, Baton Rouge, LA
Deitrah J. Taylor dtaylorhistorian@gmail.com
Public Historian/Dramaturg/Playwright, Douglass Theatre and Joyeful Time Traveler LLC, Milledgeville, GA
Scott Warren Scott.warren@dncr.nc.gov Director,
President James K. Polk Historic Site, Pineville, NC
Jeffrey Gibson (b. 1972), Migration, 2016, acrylic and graphite on canvas, 70 x 57 1/8 in. Art Bridges. Image courtesy of the Artist and Roberts & Tilton, Los Angeles, CA. Photography by Peter Mauney.
semc executive director’s notes
Dear SEMC Members:
As we move through another transformative year in the museum field, I want to take a moment to express my deepest gratitude to each of you. Across the Southeast, museum professionals continue to meet challenges with extraordinary creativity, resilience, and passion, meeting uncertainty with resilience, serving communities with empathy, and leading with purpose. Whether you work in a large institution or at a small historic site, your commitment to preserving stories, sparking dialogue, and creating inclusive spaces is the beating heart of our field. Thank you for your continued hard work, creativity, and courage navigating shifting resources, deepening community partnerships, expanding access, and preserving the histories that matter most. Your dedication is noticed, supported, and celebrated among your SEMC family. Thank you for all that you do, every day, to keep our institutions thriving and relevant.
After a wonderful summer that included inspirational participation at the Association of African American Museums Annual Meeting in Charleston, South Carolina, I am looking ahead and excited for the
SEMC 2025 Annual Meeting this fall in Montgomery, Alabama. Montgomery is a city layered with history, culture, and momentum. As the birthplace of the modern Civil Rights Movement, it holds sacred ground where generations have fought — and continue to fight — for justice and equality. From the foot soldiers who marched and organized in decades past, to today’s activists, educators, and museum professionals who champion inclusive histories and equity, Montgomery stands as a powerful reminder of the essential work we do.
We are honored to gather in a city that invites deep reflection and bold thinking. SEMC2025 attendees will have the opportunity to engage with iconic institutions that tell these stories with authenticity and power, including the Legacy Museum, the National Memorial for Peace and Justice, the Rosa Parks Museum, and the Dexter Avenue King Memorial Baptist Church where Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. once served as pastor. These institutions are not only places of remembrance; they are spaces of learning, dialogue, and inspiration.
Our meeting will also spotlight the contributions of the Alabama Department of Archives and History,
Calinda Lee, Brigette Jones, Zinnia Willits, Eboni Belton and Ahmad Ward at the 2025 Association of African American Museums Annual Meeting in Charleston, South Carolina.
whose work in preserving and sharing Alabama’s complex story has a national impact. Their ongoing efforts to confront hard truths and expand public understanding exemplify the kind of leadership we strive to support across the SEMC network.
In addition to its profound historical landscape, Montgomery also offers a thriving and dynamic arts scene. The Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts, an anchor of creativity and community, will be a highlight of our time in the city. With an outstanding collection and a vibrant slate of exhibitions and programs, MMFA beautifully reflects Montgomery’s unique energy, artistic vision, and cultural depth.
Several features in this edition of Inside SEMC offer a glimpse into Montgomery’s past, present, and future from local perspectives on what to see and do, with additional reflections on the city’s evolving identity. I hope these articles help spark your excitement and offer insight into the spirit of the place we will soon explore together. Be sure to check out the webpage that Experience Montgomery has developed for SEMC2025
to encourage you to explore the City beyond the conference sessions!
None of this would be possible without the incredible volunteers, sponsors, partners, and planning teams who are working behind the scenes to ensure that SEMC 2025 will be not only a dynamic professional gathering, but also a meaningful and joyful experience for all. Their dedication is shaping what promises to be an unforgettable meeting, rooted in reflection, connection, and forward momentum.
As always, I remain inspired by this community of museum professionals who show up, speak out, and lead with heart. I cannot wait to welcome you to Montgomery and share in the learning, laughter, and collaboration that define every SEMC Annual Meeting. See you soon!
Warmly,
Zinnia Willits , SEMC Executive Director
Hours
Tues. to Sat. – 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. (last admittance 4:15 p.m.)
Admission
Adults (18+) – $5.00
Children (8-17) – $2.00
Children 7 & under – Free
SOUTH CAROLINA CIVIL RIGHTS CENTER
FORT MONROE VISITOR & EDUCATION CENTER
FLORIDA MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY
LODGE MUSEUM OF CAST IRON
semc president’s address
My Dear SEMC Members:
As we turn the page to a new season, I want to extend my gratitude to each of you for holding fast to the “work on purpose” that defines our field — safeguarding, collecting, stewarding, interpreting, and sharing our communities’ cultural resources for now, and, with hope and diligence, in perpetuity. These are not just professional obligations; they are commitments of heart and mind that ripple far beyond our own institutions.
We are living through times when uncertainty can feel like the only constant. SEMC is no different than many of your organizations which continue to stare down economic challenges with shifts in funding we all once depended on, but we are also learning new paths forward. Please remember that SEMC is with you, as always, in this terrain. We will
not step back from being a resource to help you navigate with resilience, and with as much style and grace as we can muster together.
At the same time, we look to you. Our future as a mission-driven organization depends on the strength of our membership, the exchange of ideas, and the mutual care that keeps us all upright. I like to think of SEMC as a bridge: built for passage, maintained with purpose, and strong enough to bear the weight of our shared aspirations. It connects us across geography, experience, and circumstance, allowing us to move forward together, no matter how turbulent the waters below.
And this October, we’ll gather on that bridge in Montgomery, Alabama, for what promises to be an incredible conference. We’ve heard your interests and concerns. This year’s program
offers time to plan, share, and celebrate the ingenuity and perseverance that sustain our work. The 2025 conference theme, Future Forward: Reach, Remember, Reclaim, “reflects the way … museums are looking toward the future by embracing new voices and new interpretations. We must reach into the community, remember and reconcile our past, and reclaim our community stories and spaces.” Our program invites us to reflect, reimagine, and reconnect in ways that will carry us forward with renewed purpose. Whether you are driving, flying, or local to the area, I promise you’ll learn something new about what Montgomery has to offer — and you’ll be thrilled. Take a look at this special SEMC-conference-focused guide: Get to Know
Montgomery. It’s full of events, attractions, cultural resources, and short jaunts that will be of particular interest to our attendees.
I can’t wait to see you there. Let’s make this gathering one that energizes our spirits, strengthens our network, and reminds us why we do this work together, and on purpose.
Wishing you every good thing,
Calinda Lee , SEMC President and Principal, Sources Cultural Resources Management, LLC, Atlanta,
GA
Valda Harris mural, Montgomery, Alabama. Courtesy of Bryan Carter.
MEMBERSHIP CORNER
Opening Doors, Shaping Futures: The SEMC–AUC Collective Partnership
At its heart, the Southeastern Museums Conference is about connecting professionals, ideas, and institutions across the Southeast to strengthen the museum field. An exciting and impactful example of this type of connection is the growing partnership between SEMC and the AUC Art History + Curatorial Studies Collective, an initiative based at the Atlanta University Center.
The AUC Collective, anchored at Spelman College in partnership with Morehouse College and Clark Atlanta University, is committed to preparing the next generation of African American museum and art professionals. Its mission aligns with SEMC’s goals of promoting equity, cultivating emerging leaders, and expanding access to opportunities in our field.
The partnership between SEMC and the AUC Collective began with an email and a simple but powerful idea:
to help build a more inclusive and representative museum workforce, organizations should purposefully invest in pathways for students of color early in their careers. Since 2022, SEMC has worked closely with the Collective to provide access, exposure, and support for its students as an internship host ensuring conference participation and dedicated networking opportunities at the annual meeting to engage with African American museum leaders from across the Southeast.
The regional networking program connects AUC Collective students with museum professionals from the SEMC network who serve as guides, advocates, and role models. These intergenerational connections are both professional and personal. Mentors share their career advice but also their lived experiences navigating the museum field as Black professionals. These relationships help students feel seen, supported, and empowered to envision themselves in leadership roles.
It is impactful for the students to see reflections of themselves through these professionals who understand where they are and where they hope to go. The conversation is often about career goals, but also about how to stay grounded and confident in spaces where they are often underrepresented.
SEMC endeavors to grow this networking program to bring together students of color from the AUC Collective as well as from the broader Southeast region for in-depth discussions and personal reflections designed to expose students to diverse museum career paths. The success of this initiative is not just about what happens during a summer internship or at the SEMC conference, it is about building a more equitable and dynamic museum field for the long term.
The SEMC–AUC Collective partnership is a model of what is possible when professional organizations collaborate with academic institutions in meaningful ways. Together, we are building bridges and forging connections that will shape the future of museums in the Southeast and beyond.
When we open the doors for new voices, our entire field becomes richer, stronger, and more reflective of the communities we serve.
At SEMC, we have long embraced the Annual Meeting as more than just a conference, it is our professional homecoming. Each year, we gather to share ideas, spark innovation, and strengthen our connections across the museum field. However, as our sector continues to evolve in complex ways, so must the spaces we create to support one another.
That is why we are excited to introduce a new feature this year: the SEMC2025 Career Hub! It will be a dedicated space for attendees to ask tough questions, receive guidance, and explore future possibilities with trusted peers and seasoned professionals.
Born from conversations at our March 2025 Program Committee meeting, the Career Hub reflects a shared commitment to meeting our members where they are, whether navigating career transitions, rethinking professional goals, or seeking clarity in uncertain times. We know the challenges are real. This is one response.
What to Expect at the SEMC2025 Career Hub
MORNING SESSION: 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM General Career Questions and Resume Review
Whether you are navigating a career crossroads or simply looking to sharpen your professional edge, our team of seasoned experts will be ready to support you. From general career guidance to salary negotiations and interview strategies, from self-advocacy and relocation considerations to HR insights and decoding museum budgets, the Career Hub is here to help you tackle it all with confidence.
Need your resume reviewed? Drop it off before heading to a session and come back to thoughtful feedback and actionable suggestions.
AFTERNOON SESSION: 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM
Cultivating the Leader Within:
Taking the Next Step Toward Your Doctorate
Is higher education your next career step? Visit the SEMC2025 Career Hub to find out!
From 1:00 to 2:00 pm, join Ann Rowson Love to learn about a new fully online EdD in Museum Education through Florida State University, the only program of its kind in the Southeast. Designed for professionals who want to stay active in the field, this three-year, ninesemester program blends coursework and dissertation work around real-world museum challenges. Meet faculty and current students, explore application tips, funding strategies, and self-care tools, all while planning your next academic step.
From 2:00 to 4:00 pm, visit with professionals who have or are going through a doctoral program. Gain insights and revelations about the process to determine whether it is right for you.
Why It Matters
The SEMC2025 Career Hub is more than a resource. It is a space of encouragement, honesty, and growth. Whether you are considering a big leap or just need a sounding board, we invite you to stop by, connect, and be supported.
All conversations are confidential. This is your space to be bold and curious. Let the SEMC2025 Career Hub provide you with clarity, renewed focus, or be where your future takes shape.
Heather Nowak , SEMC Program Administrator hnowak@semcdirect.net
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PROGRAMS CORNER
Honoring Legacy Through Tour Opportunities
Each year, the SEMC Annual Meeting brings together museum professionals from across the Southeast to learn, connect, and grow. We look forward to the dynamic sessions and workshops, the vibrant evening events, the chance to meet industry partners in the Expo Hall, and, of course, the invaluable networking opportunities that strengthen us and our field. However, SEMC2025 in Montgomery, Alabama, promises to be more than just another great gathering; it offers a profound opportunity to reflect on and connect with history.
This year marks the 60th anniversary of the 1965 Voting Rights Act, a landmark piece of legislation that transformed the landscape of American democracy. Designed to dismantle systemic barriers that prevented African Americans from exercising their right to vote, the Act was a monumental achievement of the Civil Rights Movement. Montgomery and nearby Selma played a critical role in this history, serving as organizing hubs for activists whose courageous efforts helped bring about lasting change.
To honor this legacy, SEMC2025 will feature tour opportunities that invite attendees to walk in the footsteps of those who helped shape our nation’s future. These immersive experiences will allow us to deepen our understanding of the past while considering its relevance to our work today.
Leading the tours is Wanda Battle, Founder and CEO of Legendary Tours and a Montgomery native. Born during the 1956 Montgomery Bus Boycott and raised amidst the fervor of the 1960s Civil Rights Movement, Wanda carries with her a profound sense of place and purpose. Her storytelling is infused with personal history, musical artistry, and a heartfelt dedication to community-building.
Wanda describes her work as an act of legacy by channeling the strength of her ancestors and the spirit of resistance to offer tours that are as moving as they are informative. Utilizing her background in music, she shares everything from the non-violent movement led
Brown Chapel AME Church, Selma, Alabama.
by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., to the Human Rights Movement, and many other historical facets that made indelible marks on Alabama’s and America’s history.
For SEMC2025, Wanda is offering two immersive experiences! Attendees can choose from the following tours:
Selma to Montgomery Tour Sunday, October 19th | 9:00 am – 5:00 pm
Embark on a powerful journey through history as you explore the iconic landmarks of Selma, delving into its pivotal roles in both the Civil Rights and Civil War eras. Along the way, you will experience:
Tabernacle Baptist Church: Founded in 1884 to serve Selma University students, faculty, and the city’s growing Black middle class, it played a pivotal role in the Civil Rights Movement. Its congregation helped cultivate the grassroots leadership that fueled the Voting Rights Movement. On May 14, 1963, the church hosted the first mass meeting of the movement, in partnership with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Brown Chapel A.M.E. Church: Founded in 1866 and joined the A.M.E. denomination in 1867, Brown Chapel became a global symbol of the Voting Rights Movement.
In 1965, it served as the starting point for the Selmato-Montgomery marches, including the pivotal Bloody Sunday march. It was designated as the beginning of the Selma to Montgomery National Historic Trail in 1997 and continues to stand as a beacon of social change and spiritual leadership.
Live Oaks Cemetery: Established in 1829 as West Selma Graveyard, the site was renamed in 1879 after Col. N.H.R. Dawson planted eighty live oaks and magnolias. It is the final resting place of notable Selmians, including Elodie B. Todd (half-sister of Mary Todd Lincoln), Vice President William Rufus King, and Benjamin Sterling Turner, Alabama’s first African American U.S. congressman and a formerly enslaved man.
Lunch at Reflections Coffee Shoppe: Black owned and operated by Jackie Smith since March 2024, who saw a need for locals and visitors alike to find a place of rest and refreshment.
Walk across the Edmund Pettus Bridge: A National Historic Landmark, the bridge was the site of Bloody Sunday in 1965, when peaceful voting rights marchers were violently attacked by law enforcement. The televised brutality shocked the nation and galvanized support for the movement, leading to two more marches and lasting change.
Edmund Pettus Bridge, Selma, Alabama.
Civil Rights Memorial Park: Located steps from the Edmund Pettus Bridge, this park honors the 1965 Selma-to-Montgomery marches that helped lead to the Voting Rights Act. Its monuments pay powerful tribute to generations of activists and the ongoing fight for justice and voting rights.
Viola Liuzzo Memorial Site: This site honors Viola Liuzzo, a white civil rights activist and mother of five from Detroit, who was killed by the Ku Klux Klan after the Selma-to-Montgomery march in 1965. Moved by Bloody Sunday, she joined the movement, sacrificing her life for racial justice.
To learn more about each location, visit this Selma to Montgomery Tour Guide. Capacity is limited, so do not wait! For $95, your registration includes tours, transportation, and lunch.
My Montgomery Civil Rights Tour
Wednesday, October 22nd | 2:00 – 4:00 pm
Take a sweeping journey through Montgomery’s Civil Rights history with Wanda as your guide, bringing her city’s past to life. Hence, her “My” Montgomery Civil Rights Tour.
Visit the Centennial Hill and Westside communities of Montgomery, where the historic events of the 1955–1956 Montgomery Bus Boycott and the 1965 Selma-toMontgomery March took place, as the marchers passed through on their way to the Alabama State Capitol. You will experience the following sites:
In the Centennial Hill Community, you will visit:
The Dexter Avenue King Memorial Baptist Church minister’s home: Martin Luther King, Jr., lived in this
Dexter Avenue King Memorial Baptist Church Minister's Home, Montgomery, Alabama.
parsonage when he was minister of the church between 1954 and 1960. On January 31, 1956, following the successful Montgomery Bus Boycott, the home was bombed by local segregationists. At the time, King was at a meeting, but his wife, Coretta, was at the parsonage with her ten-week-old daughter, Yolanda Denice.
The Harris House: Visit the home of Dr. Richard and Vera Harris, a vital site in the Civil Rights Movement. Dr. Harris was a pharmacist and the owner of Montgomery’s oldest Black drug store. In his home, he sheltered 33 Freedom Riders, including John Lewis, after they were violently attacked at the Greyhound Bus Station in May 1961. The house served as both a refuge and a strategic meeting place during this pivotal moment in the fight against segregation.
The Ben Moore Hotel: Built in 1945, the Ben Moore Hotel was one of the few places in Montgomery that welcomed African Americans, offering lodging, meals, and a safe space for meetings during the early Civil Rights era. It hosted key interracial discussions and a
lively social scene. On the first floor, Malden Brothers Barber Shop served the community, including Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., who received one of his final haircuts there.
In the City of St. Jude, visit:
The Fourth Campsite for the Selma-to-Montgomery March: In 1965, this site provided refuge to Dr. King and 2,000 Selma-to-Montgomery marchers. The night before the final leg, marchers camped on its grounds and held the “Stars of Freedom Rally” featuring Joan Baez, Harry Belafonte, and others. It was at the hospital in St. Jude where doctors tried to save Viola Liuzzo, fatally shot while driving marchers back to Selma.
Holt Street Baptist Church: In the first days of the Montgomery Bus Boycott, Rev. A.W. Wilson offered Holt Street Baptist Church for the first citywide planning meeting. Around 5,000 people gathered and launched one of the most successful boycotts in history, led by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. The event marked the
The Ben Moore Hotel, Montgomery, Alabama.
birth of the modern Civil Rights Movement and set a model for activism nationwide.
Rosa Parks Apartment: Visit the home of Rosa Parks. During the Montgomery Bus Boycott, Rosa Parks lived with her husband and mother in Cleveland Court (now Parks Place), a public housing community that offered her a place of safety. While there, she was active in church, mentored youth, and maintained close ties with civil rights leaders. In 1957, after the boycott, the Parks family relocated to Detroit.
Learn more about each location by visiting the My Montgomery Civil Rights Tour Guide. This must-do experience is $55 and includes transportation. Space is limited.
You do not want to miss these unforgettable opportunities to walk in the footsteps of so many who had a tremendous impact on the world we live in today. The following tours and events are also available throughout the Annual Meeting:
October 19 | 8:00 am – 5:00 pm These Montgomery area museums will be open for on-your-own, self-paced tours. Utilize this Sunday Museum Guide to find out more.
October 20–22 | 9:00 am – 3:00 pm A selection of Montgomery area museums will be open for attendees to visit on their own.
October 21 | 7:00 – 8:00 am Montgomery Fun Run. Supports SEMC Travel Scholarships! Pre-registration required, $25 — includes conference t-shirt!
October 21 | 7:30 – 8:30 am Downtown Montgomery Walking Tour. Pre-registration required, $25.
October 21 | 1:00 – 4:00 pm Montgomery Civil Rights Museums Tour. Pre-registration required, $35 — includes three museum experiences and transportation.
October 22 | 2:00 – 5:00 pm SERA Behind-theScenes Tour: Alabama Department of Archives and History. Pre-registration required, Free- space is limited, transportation provided.
October 22 | 2:00 – 5:00 pm Montgomery Civil Rights Museums Tour. Pre-registration required, $35 — includes three museum experiences and transportation.
Explore the SEMC2025 Preliminary Program for a look at what’s in store. Secure your spot and take advantage of the best rates. Do not wait, register today!
Rosa Parks Apartment, Montgomery, Alabama.
SEMC INTERN
Candice
Lawrie ,
Rising
Senior, Art History, Clark Atlanta University
Full Circle: A Student’s Return to the Museum Field
This summer, I had the opportunity to support the Southeastern Museums Conference (SEMC) through a hybrid internship focused on conference planning and research. I attended weekly team check-ins where social media, member engagement, and preparations for the 2025 Annual Conference were discussed. One of my primary assignments was a comparative analysis of five regional museum associations, examining their mission statements, past conference schedules, structural formats, offsite events, and registration offerings. This research helped inform future planning efforts for SEMC’s upcoming events.
I also proposed a series of creative engagement activities for conference downtime, ultimately recommending five fun activities. Attendees will have the opportunity to find out which activities made the conference cut!
My final research included internal data analysis of SEMC’s past conference attendee demographics to support ongoing evaluation and planning. I also had the chance to attend two Lunch & Learns hosted by staff at the Atlanta History Center, where I connected with museum professionals and gained insight into different paths in the field.
As a non-traditional student returning to complete my degree after stepping away for two decades, I bring a unique perspective shaped by life experience. Now entering my senior year at Clark Atlanta University as an Art History major, this internship deepened my understanding of museum professions and reminded me to keep my career goals broad and flexible in an evolving field. Special thanks to Zinnia, Carla, and Heather for their mentorship and encouragement. I am looking forward to supporting the SEMC team at the fall conference!
843.881.3128
hello@hwexhibits.com
hwexhibits.c om
Dexter Avenue, Montgomery, Alabama.
Our Montgomery
Alex Colvin , Exhibits, Publications, and Programs Coordinator, Alabama Department of Archives and History; SEMC 2025 Local Arrangements Co-Chair
Known as the “most historical short street in America,” Dexter Avenue’s history mirrors the triumphs and turmoil of the nation. The Montgomery street played a pivotal role in the cotton economy that defined the region, including the sale and transportation of enslaved people. When Montgomery became Alabama’s state
Erik London , Museum Services Coordinator, Alabama Department of Archives and History ; SEMC 2025 Local Arrangements Co-Chair
capital in 1846, the Capitol was built at the top of Dexter Avenue, which was known as Market Street until the 1880s. In Alabama’s Capitol building, in 1861, seceded southern states met at a convention to form the Confederacy and made Montgomery its first capital. A century later, Dexter Avenue Baptist Church, mere
yards from the state capitol building, became a central location for the Civil Rights movement. The steps of the Capitol have been the site of numerous protests and demonstrations. Most famously, it was where the Selma to Montgomery march concluded in March 1965. There, Martin Luther King Jr., advocating for equal voting rights, said, “the arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice.” The history of Dexter Avenue, and the city, has inspired generations to reflect on where we have come from while continuing to move forward.
The theme of SEMC’s 2025 Annual Conference, “Remember, Reach, Reclaim ,” is reflected in Montgomery’s past and present, most especially in the work of its museums. Across the city, museums and historic sites preserve and interpret the complex history of the city and state. Visit sites like the Freedom Rides Museum, the Museum of Alabama at the Alabama Department of Archives and History, Old Alabama Town, the Rosa Parks Museum, and the Selma to Montgomery National Historic Trail to see how they tell untold stories, reclaim historic sites, and share diverse perspectives. Montgomery’s cultural sites, including the Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts, State Council on the Arts, Hank Williams Museum,
and Zelda and F. Scott Fitzgerald Museum, promote art and culture throughout the city and the region.
Montgomery serves as the headquarters for the Equal Justice Initiative (EJI) and Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC), two nationally prominent organizations whose work focuses on legal advocacy for underserved communities. In the past decade, the EJI has opened three interpretive sites that tell the stories of racial violence, enslavement, mass incarceration, freedom, and resiliency. The SPLC’s Civil Rights Memorial Center, located across the street from their headquarters, is a local landmark and serves as a center promoting civil rights history education. Both institutions argue that we must confront the past to promote understanding and reconciliation.
The schedule for SEMC2025 includes several tours of these sites and special events at the Montgomery Riverfront, Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts, and the Museum of Alabama at the Alabama Department of Archives and History. We look forward to hosting you in Montgomery and hope that you find time to fully engage with the city’s rich history and culture.
Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts.
SEMC
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A SPECIAL THANKS
SEMC Endowment Contributions
Many thanks to our endowment contributors this year (January 1, 2025 – July 31, 2025) for investing in the future of SEMC! When you are thinking of honoring or remembering someone, please consider a contribution to the SEMC endowment. For more information, contact Executive Director
Zinnia Willits at 404.814.2048 or zwillits@semcdirect.net.
THE PAST PRESIDENTS CIRCLE
Members of the Past Presidents Circle
contribute $150 annually for at least two years to the endowment fund:
George Bassi
Sharon Bennett
David Butler
Charles “Tom” Butler
Tamra Sindler Carboni
Matt Davis
Micheal A. Hudson
Darcie MacMahon
Douglas Noble
Robert Rathburn
Graig D. Shaak
Robert Sullivan
Heather Marie Wells
Zinnia Willits
Kristen Miller Zohn
THE WILLIAM T. AND SYLVIA F. ALDERSON ENDOWMENT FELLOWS
Many SEMC supporters have made commitments of distinction as Alderson Fellows. Their investment of at least $1,000 each is a significant leadership gift, reflective of a personal commitment to the professional association that has meant so much to each of them.
Platinum Alderson Fellows
(minimum $5,000)
Sylvia F. Alderson
Bob Rathburn
Graig D. Shaak
Nancy & Robert Sullivan
Medallion Alderson Fellows
(minimum $2,500)
George Bassi
Sharon Bennett
David Butler
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The current SEMC Vice President Ahmad Ward and Past President Matthew Davis at the 2024 annual meeting.
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SEMC Active Memberships
SEMC thanks all our active members, including those who have recently joined (in bold). Without your support and participation, we could not provide region wide services such as our awards, and scholarship programs, as well as our outstanding Annual Meetings and nationally acclaimed Jekyll Island Management Institute. If you are an individual member and your museum is not an institutional member, please encourage them to join. For information on memberships and benefits visit semcdirect.net, email memberservices@semcdirect.net, or call 404.814.2047. For your convenience, the last page of this newsletter is a membership application.
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Riverside, The Farnsley-Moremen Landing, Louisville, KY
Robert C. Williams Museum of Papermaking, Atlanta, GA
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Thomas County Historical Society, Thomasville, GA
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Life by the River Film Documentary
Nancy Strickland Chavis
,
Museum Director and Curator at Museum of the Southeast American Indian, Pembroke, North Carolina
Life by the River Canoe Song
Rawetyáhnę Creator (Iroquoian)
Mani: kichi winina kuse Gives us life (Siouan)
Emani: in:nagi The water is alive (Siouan)
Iswą tiiriksa yakcare’
We sing of the beautiful river (Siouan)
Kauwets’a:ka
People of the water (Iroquoian)
Yauh-he
Our Relatives (Siouan)
Ye_`’ s-be_`’ ki_ manu’a
Our ancestors’ land (Siouan)
Emą:ti mani: agi
Our home is at these waters (Siouan)
As part of the mission of the Museum of the Southeast American Indian on the campus of the University of North Carolina at Pembroke, the Life by the River Project (LBR) was curated with the goal to share North Carolina’s Indigenous peoples ancient and deeply meaningful connection to their ancestral waters. The project is about culture and identity; it asked Indigenous peoples from across North Carolina one essential
Swamp.
question: What do your ancestral waters mean to you?
As riparian peoples, I expected the response echoed my own powerful relationship with the Lumbee River, the water that my own tribe is named for, but what myself and colleague and fellow Lumbee, Alica Thomas experienced on this journey humbled and inspired us both in ways we could have never imagined. Nine sovereign Indigenous tribal communities share their ancestral waters and homelands with us in ways that felt like pulling back a thin veil that obscured the original and true meaning of these bodies of water. Indigenous placenames, memories, traditions, reclamation, and raw, intentional storytelling have made me realize there is so much more to the Native South than imagined. Rivers, lakes, sounds, and ocean shores hold deep meaning to thousands of Indigenous peoples in North Carolina. The Life by the River documentary allowed them to tell this story in their own words, in their own voice.
There are four program elements to the project: revival of canoe songs, exhibition, community collaborative dugout canoe, and film documentary. The primary focus of the Life by the River Project was the film documentary. Due to release in the spring of 2026, it offers a unique understanding of North Carolina’s original peoples.
The museum hired acclaimed filmmaker Steve Rutherford from Rutherford Media Group as part of the
Alicia Thomas in Three Sisters
team. We started in earnest in 2021 with the Lumbee community. On a summer morning, we met at the home of Carmichael Locklear whose property in Pembroke, North Carolina sits on a bend of the Lumbee River. His father R.L. and son, Logan joined us. On the first day of filming, Steve carefully loaded his camera equipment onto a canoe paddled by Carmichael. I climbed in another canoe paddled by R.L and we pushed off the bank into the blackwater of the Lumbee River. Within a few powerful paddle strokes, R.L. had guided our canoe to a place I had never been, a river lane shaded by ancient cypress trees. Within moments, the outside world became quiet, and the river world came forward. A Piliated Woodpecker called in the distance as if to offer a welcome, leggy water bugs gently skimmed the water, and the occasional sound of R.L’s ore against the boat reminded me where I was and who I was with. R.L. rhythmically paddled the boat from one side to the next. I looked into the water to see his ore dip into a small whirlpool, and he pushed out of it. The river was so familiar to him, it was like he was driving the street in his neighborhood, and guiding us home; in essence, he was. As I sat quietly, R.L. gently broke the silence, “I left this river years ago when I moved to the other side of the county. I always felt a longing, and I never knew what it was until I came back five years ago. This river called me back. The moment I stepped on the riverbank,
I was whole again. I wondered why I left and stayed gone so long” he smiled and said, “it won’t happen again. This river knows us; it knows you and me. We come from here.” In those few, calm words he summed up my immense feelings, a deep sense of belonging, and overwhelming sense of place. Although I had found solace along the shores many times throughout my life, being on the river made me feel I had connected to my true self. It was that moment that impressed even more on me what an important project this would be.
The next visit was with several of my favorite people from the Coharie Tribe and the Nature Conservancy. Greg Jacobs and Philip Bell met us at the Black River in Ivanhoe, North Carolina, just outside of their tribal headquarters in Clinton, North Carolina. Phillip paddled a canoe with Steve while everyone else kayaked. This river was powerful and beautiful with water clear as glass. Giant cypress towered above us. We glided over sandbars and deep waters; verdant, flowy aqua plants reached for sunlight from the river’s bottom. The landscape looked surreal, the water was cool, and the fall air was crisp. Greg and Phillip were guiding us to a special place for the Coharie, a place that they have
Steve Rutherford, filmmaker.
Phillip Bell on the Black River in Ivanhoe, North Carolina.
held sacred for many generations. Down the river on a bend is Three Sisters Swamp. There, the crystal water was shallow enough to stand in and it moved around islands of cypress trees. The cypress stand together as sentinels. The oldest among them is a cypress that is the fifth oldest tree in the world and the third oldest tree in North America. “Methuselah” as the tree is known, is dwarfed among the others as a grandmother shielded by her descendants. Scientists believe the cypress dates to 605 B.C. estimating the age at 2,624 years old. It took about thirty minutes to reach Methuselah. Phillip and Greg guided us to Three Sisters as if driving us to the local market. There were so many creeks and coves in the river, it was amazing to see them expertly navigate each bend and turn. Many visits and blood memory guide their way every time. I floated my kayak in front of her as Greg and Philip made the introduction for all of us. I took in my surroundings. Isolated and other-worldly, an impenetrable space, I was humbled to tears that we were invited to witness, welcomed into this sacred place, and introduced to one of the most significant natural wonders on the planet — all done with hospitality, grace, and goodwill. I looked at Gregg and Phillip with a heart swell of gratitude as they shared their stories and traditions of Methuselah. The folks from the Nature Conservancy had formally bought the land where the ancient cypress lives and partnered with the Coharie for stewardship and to maintain accessibility to this
sacred place for their tribe. To be welcomed to this place and to share their story on film, filled all of us with both gratitude and the gravity of what was recorded.
“We weren’t allowed to come here. We are Waccamaw Siouan people our origin story is thousands of years ago, a falling star created this lake, and our people came from this water. We have lived here for thousands of years; our history and archaeology establish these facts. But when Jim Crow Laws came into effect, we had to leave. The only day we were allowed to return to the lake was July 5th, the dirtiest day of the year. Isn’t that an injustice?” Waccamaw Siouan leader, Pamalea Howell gazes at her mother while she speaks. They both sat on metal foldout chairs on the pier at Lake Waccamaw. The warm sun rayed down on her mother who was visibly uncomfortable and saddened by her lived experience during that era as her daughter lamented the outrage of the recent past. A common thread in filming the LBR documentary was inaccessibility to ancestral waters. Almost every tribal community we interviewed across the state faced some form of inaccessibility. This was a theme I naively had not anticipated. Whether ecological transformation from the reintroduction of beaver on the Coharie river, industry pollutants in the Chowan that prevented the Meherrin healthy fishing, the loss of the creek itself to a nuclear dam as with the Sappony Tribe whose ancestral
The Carmichael Family.
Mayo Creek was turned into a Mayo Lake losing the traditions and memories that are now underwater, or the exile of the original peoples of Lake Waccamaw due to Jim Crow Laws, inaccessibility proved to be an obstacle many tribes bravely challenged head on. Maintaining connection to ancestral waters is not a desire of Indigenous peoples, it is an essential tie to our being, a metaphysical core of who we are. Building on the scholarship of Jicarilla Apache scholar Viola F. Cordova, Miranda Belarde Lewis (Zuni/Tlingit) explains the concept of bounded space, “In Native American philosophy, bounded space is the natural environment one exists in; and the relationships one has with that space. Cordova believed this space affects everything about a person: their language, culture, spirituality, and their aesthetics (how they believe something should look, or their ideas of beauty.)” In this experience, over time, inaccessibility to North Carolina’s tribal people impacted their culture and identity. Regaining meaningful connections to their ancestral waters was reclamation. This too humbled me as Alicia, Steve, and myself held space with Pam and her mother. We
all stood together with the alligators watching from the grassy marsh behind us and the pier extending yards into the water like a triumphant stage for these female leaders to reclaim their waters. Even though their presence at Lake Waccamaw is legal today, it still felt like an act of defiance, victory, and power.
We traveled over a thousand miles for two years to respectfully ask and be welcomed into tribal communities. We honored the land and water to which we were welcomed. We intently listened, we cried — over and over again, we laughed, shared meals, we hugged, and we gave thanks and gratitude for what was so generously offered to us: true, raw, authentic experiences and stories. The untold Southern stories that are unfamiliar to most but define so many generations today. What is my feeling from this experience? Grateful. Humbled. Inspired. Moreover, the answer to “What do your ancestral waters mean to you?” revealed an untold Indigenous story that is admirable, ancient, contemporary, and deeply defines North Carolinas Indigenous peoples.
Brás-Feliciano , Ph.D.,
Dianne
Curator of Modern Art, Artis–Naples, The Baker Museum, Naples, Florida
Entangled in the Mangroves: An Invitation to Listen, Learn, and Act
Entangled in the Mangroves
After years of working independently in the arts, I arrived in South Florida four years ago seeking stability, while remaining true to my values. My purpose has become clear: to use art to share underrepresented stories, always grounded in community.
What I did not anticipate was how deeply the Greater Everglades would move me. Through weekend hikes and quiet encounters with its wildlife, waters, and
mangroves, I became captivated by its immense beauty and disturbed by the threats it faces. Learning of the human impact on this ecosystem compelled me to curate an exhibition not just about the Everglades, but for it: a labor of love and a call to collective care.
Entangled in the Mangroves , organized by Artis–Naples, The Baker Museum in collaboration with the Miccosukee Tribe of Indians of Florida, brings together the work of nine South Florida-based artists: Nathalie Alfonso, Jennifer Basile, Amalia Caputo, Beatriz Chachamovits, Deryn Cowdy, Rev. Houston R. Cypress, Lisette Morales, Donna Ruff and Gretchen Scharnagl. Through varied media, each explores aspects of the region’s biodiversity, climate vulnerabilities and
OVERLEAF Installation view of Entangled in the Mangroves title wall and Amalia Caputo. Courtesy Artis–Naples, The Baker Museum. Photo: RoseBudz Productions.
Installation view of Beatriz Chachamovits’ Gallery in Entangled in the Mangroves. Courtesy Artis–Naples, The Baker Museum. Photo: RoseBudz Productions.
cultural histories. The exhibition is a tribute to the lands and waters that have safeguarded Native peoples for centuries (most notably during the Seminole Wars) and to the Miccosukees, who continue to protect these ecosystems as a constitutional responsibility.
The exhibition’s ecological text panels were developed in collaboration with Kevin Cunniff, chief sustainability officer for the Miccosukee Tribe, and all curatorial and design aspects were created in close consultation with William “Popeye” Osceola, secretary of the Miccosukee Business Council.
Originally set to close in September 2025, the exhibition has been extended through November 30 due to
overwhelming interest, and it is now preparing to travel. We welcome inquiries from other institutions ready to engage audiences in this timely dialogue about the environment, history, and the power of community-led art. This exhibition is not just about the Everglades but about the stories we choose to honor, the ecosystems we fight for and the futures we imagine together.
Learn more about the exhibition and its programming: https://artisnaples.org/baker-museum/ exhibitions/2024-25/entangled-in-the-mangroves. Write to Dianne Brás-Feliciano for more information: dfeliciano@artisnaples.org
The Good Work of Many: Georgia Museum of Art Helps Preserve Charlot Murals on Campus
Kelsey Schoenbaum , Student, University of Georgia
As you walk down Baldwin Street on the University of Georgia campus, you may spot the striking facade of the Fine Arts Building. Above the building’s three sets of front doors are frescos that show personifications of music, theater, and the visual arts. Renowned muralist Jean Charlot (1898–1979) painted them during his three-year residency at UGA in the 1940s, but they were not his only work on the campus. Just around the corner, less known but no less striking, are his murals inside Brooks Hall on Herty Drive. Thanks to a newly completed restoration project involving people from all over campus, the preserved murals are back to their original vibrancy and will be enjoyed for decades to come.
Creating the Murals
Charlot’s multinational heritage was an obvious influence on his works. He was born in 1898 in Paris, France. His father was a Russian exile, and his mother was born in Mexico of French and Indigenous American descent. This ancestry gave Charlot a life-long interest in pre-Columbian American history. After moving to Mexico City, he became a significant contributor to the Mexican Muralist movement, both through his own works and as an assistant to artist Diego Rivera.
Charlot moved to New York City in 1928 to begin a teaching career. Among his students was a young Lamar Dodd. A decade later, Dodd became head of the UGA art department, and in 1941 he invited Charlot to visit Athens. For the next three years, Charlot gave informal lectures and talks while working on his murals with assistance from UGA art students.
Christy Sinksen, Annelies Mondi, and Libby Hatmaker in front of a Charlot mural in Brooks Hall at the University of Georgia.
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At the time, Brooks Hall housed the journalism school. Charlot consulted with its dean, John Drewry, on potential subject matter for murals at the building. Given a 68-foot-long hallway bisected by a door, he created two murals. Charlot chose to pay homage to and highlight the role of journalists and documentarians. In the left mural, the Indigenous Aztecs meeting Hernán Cortés’ conquistadors include artists rendering the invaders to inform their emperor. The mural is captioned in headline jargon: “ANNO DMI. 1519. EMPEROR MONTEZUMA’S SCOUTS COVER AMERICA’S FIRST SCOOP. CORTEZ IN MEXICO.” For the right mural, Charlot observed military paratrooper drills in Alabama for reference and created a dynamic depiction of the soldiers in the moments before they land. Accompanying them are war reporters, their cameras, and notepads out while their parachutes trail from their shoulders. The caption reads “ANNO DMI. 1944. PRESS AND CAMERAMEN FLASH ON THE SPOT NEWS. WORLD WAR II.”
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Above the center door, Charlot included a poignant personification of Time as a Hellenic statue with an open bag filled with symbols of history. “All things that happen in time are cast together in Time’s poke,” he wrote in 1945. “The good with the bad: kings, emperors, poets, klu klux klans [sic], scholars, painters, richmen, poormen, soldiers, a lamb beside a lion. The dove of peace perches outside, waiting for its turn to get in.” Below her is written “TIME DISCLOSETH ALL THINGS,” a timely reminder of truth in the historical record.
Charlot’s murals are not the only ones in the building. Lorraine Harris created “The History of Bookmaking” (1945), a painting in true fresco in the entryway on the left. On the right is “The Freedom of the Press” (1947), an oil painting on plaster by John Chalmers Vinson. The two earliest paintings are in the stairway. On the right is Dorothy Douglas Greene’s “Contemporary Journalism” (1942), for which she sketched the offices at the Athens Banner-Herald. On the opposite wall are the remaining
fragments of Edith Hodgson’s “Communication of the News” (1943). Both Greene and Hodgson created their murals as thesis projects toward the completion of a Master of Fine Arts degree in painting
Restoring the Murals
Annelies Mondi, who retired from the Georgia Museum of Art in 2023 after a long career in various roles, has always had a soft spot for the Brooks Hall murals and has been involved with their preservation over decades. While leading a tour for staff at UGA’s Office of Institutional Research, whose offices are in that building, she noticed a section of paint peeling in Hodgson’s mural. Her sharp eyes and the collaboration of many people and units across campus mean that the murals are now back to their original luster. The newly completed project is a testament to the UGA community’s dedication to preserving campus history. "If you have a chance to visit Brooks Hall to view the murals, you will not be disappointed," said Mondi.
Libby Hatmaker, a painting conservator for the Georgia Museum of Art and Lamar Dodd School of Art lecturer, was at the helm of the restoration of these works. She previously helped restore them after a fire at Brooks Hall in 1995 caused significant damage.
“I would like to thank Libby Hatmaker for her thorough and professional conservation treatment of the murals, said Mondi. “As always, she went above and beyond in her job and repaired numerous losses not originally identified in the initial proposal. I will always be thankful for the time and care she has devoted to these murals and am grateful for her patience and expertise.”
The project was funded in part by the Georgia Museum of Art and the estate of Pat Dietz. Many museum staff, including Noelle Shuck, Hillary Brown, Lisa Conley and Ryan Woods, also deserve thanks for their efforts to help with this project, said Mondi.
Mondi believed the murals needed signage to explain their meaning and highlight the preservation efforts.
She credits Lamar Dodd School of Art director Joe Peragine with the funding, fabrication and installation of the new signage. “It is my hope that by understanding the murals a little more, viewers will also help protect them,” said Mondi.
Jeff Benjamin, associate vice president of Facilities Management, and his staff were integral to the project. “They were always willing to share their knowledge and experience to find a solution to any challenge,” Mondi said. They inspected the roof, repaired the window in the stairwell, repainted the non-mural areas of the stairwell, installed a new chair rail in the foyer and holdbacks for the stairwell door. They also made sure Hatmaker had access to the site and were eager to provide advice and help with signage installation. Mondi thanked facilities staff members Lynn Hix, Carol Van
Sant, Richard Piotrowski, and Joshua Kuyrkendall for their help.
While Mondi was initially the project coordinator, Christy Sinksen, the museum’s associate registrar, stepped in after Mondi retired. “I was confident that Christy would adeptly handle the various moving parts to this project with tact and thoroughness and she did so with great success,” said Mondi.
“The [work] by Jean Charlot and the accompanying murals done under his advisement are an integral part of the university’s history,” she said. “Their message about the importance of communication is just as pertinent now as it was 80 years ago when the paintings were created. These murals were created through collaboration and live on because of the good work of many.”
The Walker Art Gallery. Image by Pete Carr.
Florida Museum Director Douglas S. Jones Retires
Douglas S. Jones, director of the Florida Museum of Natural History, has retired following 28 years of service. Jones led the museum through nearly three decades of consistent growth and expansion, including the establishing of a new building in 1998 for the museum’s exhibits and public programs at Powell Hall. He also oversaw the creation of the McGuire Center for Lepidoptera and Biodiversity in 2004 and the Special Collections Building in 2022. A curator
of invertebrate paleontology, Jones helped grow the museum’s collections to more than fifty million specimens and objects, ranking first among university museums in the U.S. He also served as board president for the Florida Association of Museums (FAM), the Association of Science Museum Directors (ASMD), and the American Alliance of Museums (AAM) and received the Distinguished Service Award from the AAM in 2024.
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There is Always a Reason to Return to Montgomery, Alabama's Capital City
The Team at Experience Montgomery
Discover exciting openings and revitalized spaces that are set to transform the cityscape in 2025! From innovative outdoor experiences to culinary adventures and cultural landmarks, Montgomery is telling its story to visitors with a fresh array of sites to visit.
In November 2024, Montgomery Whitewater opened the highly anticipated Canopy Ridge Traverse. This exhilarating treetop adventure is an adrenalinepumping experience for outdoor enthusiasts and
thrill-seekers alike. The course features two zipline routes with more than sixteen elements and multiple zipline segments, up to 165 feet long. Test your agility with challenges along the way, including swinging bridges, cargo nets and obstacles to climb. Nestled within a picturesque complex, the Canopy Ridge Traverse is steadily becoming a must-visit destination for those seeking adventure in the heart of the city. Montgomery’s outdoor adventures keep growing with the expansion of Shady Street Trailhead Park. The
expansion will transform Montgomery’s riverfront into a vibrant recreational hub, stretching across the river to offer a refreshing getaway from urban life. Whether you are looking to explore scenic trails or unwind in nature, this addition promises to be a perfect outdoor escape.
Another recent project you’ll want to explore is StoryWalk, an interactive, outdoor experience combining education and exercise in area parks. A partnership between the local library and Leadership Montgomery, these literary installations allow visitors to immerse themselves in captivating stories as they enjoy a stroll. Put on your walking shoes and keep an eye out for these upcoming tales at Ida Belle Young Park, Fox Hollow Park, Gateway Park, and Ramer Park. Our culinary scene is also experiencing a renaissance, with
several dining establishments making their mark. The Perennial Restaurant offers its own take on traditional Southern cuisine, captivating diners with its fresh local ingredients, innovative dishes, and charming ambience. Oliver’s, which recently debuted downtown, brings a taste of Chicago to the capital, with authentically sourced ingredients and a menu that pays tribute to the Windy City. Get ready to chow down on hot dogs, Italian beef sandwiches and more. Little Donkey and Hero Doughnuts are delicious additions also slated to open downtown and tantalize foodies’ taste buds. Locals and regulars will be excited to raise a glass, because CC’s Daiquiris is back in downtown Montgomery with a brand new location, serving up frozen favorites with a touch of that Big Easy flair! As you continue to discover downtown, you will also find Jerry’s Juke Joint, a
new-to-the-scene Nashville-inspired bar with regular live music and great cocktails. Downtown Montgomery’s newest speakeasy, Paradigm Lounge, brings a fresh twist to the city’s nightlife. Located above the former Sous La Terre space, it offers craft cocktails and curated music in a sophisticated setting. Along with these local restaurants and bars, Montgomery has added to its shopping scene. Things We Like, a locally owned boutique in Old Cloverdale, offers a curated selection of gifts, fashion items and home decor pieces, adding a touch of charm and elegance to our shopping scene. Another transformative addition to our cultural landscape is the Freedom Monument Sculpture Park, the latest expansion of the Equal Justice Initiative’s Legacy Sites. This sacred space along the Alabama River honors the ten million Black people who were enslaved in America, celebrating their lives, memories, courage, and resilience. Opened in 2023, the 17-acre site is now filled with thoughtprovoking art and artifacts, set on the very grounds where countless enslaved individuals were once trafficked. Continuing Montgomery’s commitment
to honoring Civil Rights heroes, Legacy Plaza is now home to “Steadfast Stride Toward Justice,” the state’s first life-sized statue of John Lewis. Unveiled in late 2024 by the Equal Justice Initiative, the sculpture stands as a tribute to Lewis’s unwavering fight for justice and serves as a lasting reminder of Montgomery’s role in shaping the movement for equality.
Another exciting development is the opening of the Elevation Convening Center and Hotel, a new kind of gathering place for reflection, healing, and dialogue. Designed with wellness in mind, it is a space where learning does not end at the museum exit. Of course, there are plenty of noteworthy events to attend in our area, too. Visitors and locals alike will be thrilled by the return of two gatherings in 2025: the Riverwalk Wine Festival, put on by the City of Montgomery Department of Cultural Affairs, will return in October; and Hog Days of Summer BBQ & Music Festival is also coming back to downtown Montgomery this year. Yep, there is always a reason to return to the capital city!
I MPORTANT DATES
The deadline for the Winter edition of Inside SEMC is December 1, 2025. To submit information for the newsletter, please contact Zinnia Willits (zwillits@semcdirect.net) or Carla Phillips (cphillips@semcdirect.net).
Inside SEMC Winter 2026 submissions deadline December 1, 2025
State
South Carolina Federation of Museums Annual Meeting
Louisiana Association of Museums Annual Meeting
Florida Association of Museums Annual Meeting ........................
September 10–12, 2025, Belton, SC
September 14–16, 2025, Lake Charles, LA
October 12–15, 2025, Daytona Beach, FL
Georgia Association of Museums Annual Meeting ....................... February 4–6, 2026, Kennesaw, GA
Regional
Western Museums Association Annual Meeting ..........................
Mountain Plains Museum Association Annual Meeting ..............
Mid-Atlantic Museums Association Annual Meeting
New England Museum Association Annual Meeting ...................
National
American Association for State
and Local History Annual Meeting ..............................................
International Conference of Indigenous Archives, Libraries, and Museums
National Association for Interpretation Annual Meeting
Small Museums Association Annual Meeting ................................
October 1–4, 2025, Reno, NV
October 2–4, 2025, Omaha, NB
October 28–30, 2025, Pittsburgh, PA
November 5–7, 2025, Manchester, NH
September 10–13, 2025, Cincinnati, OH
October 7–9, 2025, Cherokee, NC
November 11–15, 2025, Virginia Beach, VA
February 16–18, 2026, York, PA
job forum get social
SEMC Job Forum offers employers and job seekers the ability to search and post jobs on SEMC’s website. SEMC Job Postings are now self-serve and free for members. For non-members, there is a flat fee of $20 each job description, regardless of the word count. SEMC Member Institutions may now post jobs for free on the SEMC jobs page at www.semcdirect.net/listing. Please Note: ALL SEMC job board postings must include the following in accordance with administrative best practices: job title; location; description of the position and organization; and numerical salary or salary range.
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