Timmons Hall will host Freedom Classroom 101 Panel Discussion by Samuel Knox, Unite Staff Writer Springfield, MO— Take part in a moderated panel discussion on the importance of formerly segregated public spaces. The topics of discussion will include, intentional black archival space, parkbased events and self-care and art in public settings. The event will be Friday, February 3, 2023 from 11:30 - 1:00 pm at Timmons Hall located in the historic Silver Springs Park. The Freedom Classroom 101 workshop series is designed to help teach and implement African American studies through PlaceBased Education. Each workshop is specifically designed to help teachers research, rethink and reimagine how they teach African American studies to benefit the classroom and the larger community. Panelist include Dr. Carmaletta Williams, Melodee Colbert Kean and Leslie Hughes. Dr. Carmaletta Williams is the CEO of the Black Archives of Mid America in Kansas City. The mission of the Black Archives of Mid-America in Kansas City, Inc is to collect, preserve and make available to the public materials documenting the social, economic, political, and cultural histories of persons of African American descent in the central United States, with particular emphasis in the Kansas City, Missouri region. The Black Archives of Mid America, Inc. was founded in 1974 by Horace M. Peterson III. After Dr. Williams retired from Johnson County Community
College after 28 yrs., she went to China and taught at Central China Normal University for a year and opened a publishing house with her son. She received a call requesting her to come and run the Black Archives. It took some persuading, but Dr. Williams fell in love with the space that is located in the 18th and Vine District in Kansas City, MO. Melodee Colbert-Kean served 7 years as a Joplin Mo, city council member, including 2 years as mayor during the recovery period of the 2011 Joplin tornado. During her 14 years as a history-making elected public servant, she has given her time, dedication and focus to her Joplin community, and traveled the world sharing best practices and insight she gained from helping lead Joplin through a crisis. Melodee also serves as a board member for numerous organizations, including Boys and Girls Club of SW Mo., Connect 2 Culture, Downtown Joplin Association, the Joplin Chamber of Commerce, and the Missouri’s Women’s Council. She is often a panel guest contributor or speaker for many events seeking leadership, communication, business relationships and empowerment experiences. Having ‘retired” from official capacity as a City of Joplin council member in June 2020, Melodee spends time running her restaurant Me’s Place, enjoying her family, co-hosting her FB Live show Colbert Connection, and working as a Realtor with Keller Williams. Leslie Hughes, is the Founder of
registration, the event will be Frizzy by Nature and host of Frizz streamed on SGF City View. Fest in St Louis. Go to: https://livestream.com/ Frizzy by Nature is a 501(c) sgfcityview/freedomclassroom101 (3) non-profit organization that Freedom Classroom 101 Meet encourages self-love and inspires confidence among women while hosting events and providing resources that support them on their journey. She advocates, “Spaces Dr. Carmaletta Williams Melodee Colbert-Kean and environments are created where black women and black people feel safe, seen, and celebrated as their natural selves.” Ms. Hughes is born and raised in St. Leslie Hughes Christine Peoples & Louis, MO. Greet Mixer will be held at Drury She also advocates the imporUniversity, Judy Thompson Exectance of mental, physical, and utive Conference Center located emotional well-being. Under the on Drury Lane and Bob Barker direction of Leslie Hughes Frizz Boulevard, Springfield, MO from Fest, a natural beauty festival is 5:30 -7:30 pm Admission is free. hosted annually at Tower Grove Timmons Hall, formerly Park in St Louis Missouri. 2022 known as Timmons Temple, offimarked the 5th year for the festicially opened to the public in 2019 val. following relocation to the park Leslie states. “Being able to in 2015 and four years of restoimpact and support the commuration work managed by Friends nity in which I live and love so of Timmons Temple. The former dearly, is such an amazing feeling. church now serves as an event Black women deserve to feel safe, facility offering historical, cultural seen, and celebrated and it’s my and educational opportnities. It is mission to create those spaces owned and operated by the Park and aid in providing resources Board and under the direction of that do just that.” Christine Peoples, Coordinator of Seating is limited at Timmons Timmons Hall. Hall. If you missed the January
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