Schedule
10:00 AM
Opening Remarks from Members of
the Commission on Historic Statues
in the U.S. Capitol
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Senator Louise Lucas, Delegate Jeion Ward, and former Delegate Margi Vanderhye have been long supporters of the Moton Museum and our mission to preserve and promote the courage and sacrifice of Prince Edward County citizens towards the fight for educational equality. Both Senator Lucas and Delegate Ward serve as Co-Chairs of the Commission for Historic Statues in the U.S. Capitol with former Delegate Margi Vanderhye serving as a member as well.
The Commission recommended in December of 2020 that Barbara Rose Johns join the National Statuary Hall Collection as one of Virginia’s representatives. They also have championed legislation in the Virginia General Assembly to make it official. They will share a few reflections and update on the Commissions work as we move forward.
- Hon. Senator Louise Lucas, President pro-tempore of the Virginia State Senate
- Hon. Delegate Jeion Ward, Virginia House of Delegates – 92nd District
- Hon. Margi Vanderhye, former Member Virginia House of Delegates
10:20 AM
Students Connect with the Moton School Story
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A group of students and their teacher become inspired by the Moton Story and want to ensure that others across the Commonwealth of Virginia and beyond have that same opportunity. Maura Keaney’s fourth grade students, nearly 50 successfully petitioned Governor Northam as part of the inaugural African American Historic Marker contest for Barbara Johns to have a marker that honors her and the students of Robert Russa Moton High School and Prince Edward County. Join us as we hear from those students, their teacher, and what inspired this important action.
- Cameron Patterson, Moderator and Executive Director, Moton Museum
- Maura Keaney, Fairfax County Public Schools
- Students of Fairfax County Public Schools
- Hon. Ralph Northam, Governor of Virginia
- Hon. Atif Qarni, Secretary of Education for Virginia
- Hon. Matthew Strickler, Secretary of Natural Resources for Virginia
11:20 AM
Their Voices, Our History:
A Look at the 1951 Student Walkout
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For nearly five years, the Robert Russa Moton Museum has pursued an academic partnership with faculty and students at Longwood University to document the stories of those who engaged in the civil rights struggle over equal education in Prince Edward County, Virginia.
Young people’s activism has always been at the heart of our local civil rights history. Join us as we hear from former Robert Russa Moton High School students who followed Barbara Johns and the Student Strike Committee out of school and into history on April 23, 1951. The stories they will share are featured in the latest publication of the Longwood-Moton Magazine Project.
- Cainan Townsend, Moderator and Director of Education & Outreach for the Moton Museum
- Joy Cabarrus Speakes, Moton Student Striker & Brown v. Board of Education Plaintiff
- Joan Johns Cobbs, Moton Student Striker & Brown v. Board of Education Plaintiff
- Reverend J. Samuel Williams Jr., Moton Student Striker & SNVCC Founder
1:20 PM
Their Voices, Our History: A Look at
the Prince Edward School Closings
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For nearly five years, the Moton Museum has pursued an academic partnership with faculty and students at Longwood University to document the stories of those who engaged in the civil rights struggle over equal education in Prince Edward County, Virginia. This publication features individuals engaged in Prince Edward’s civil rights history between 1959 and 1964.
Join our panel of former Prince Edward County students impacted by the school closings as we share their stories, which resonate with action and resilience. These stories demonstrate how students mobilized in educated and creative ways to enact their right to equal schooling.
- Dr. Heather Lettner-Rust, Associate Professor of English, Longwood University
- Mr. James Ghee, Attorney & President, Prince Edward County NAACP
- Hon. Mrs. Elzora Stiff, Prince Edward County Public Schools
- Mrs. Jaqueline Reid, Bland Reid Funeral Home
3:20 PM
The Building of our Permanent Exhibit: Moton School Story: Children of Courage
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A signature part of the development of the Robert Russa Moton Museum during the past 20 years has been the renovation of the museum and the development of an award-winning exhibit, Moton School Story: Children of Courage. Our panel discussion introduces the team who began the historic preservation process for the museum and describes the development of the award-winning permanent exhibit.
- Dr. J. Michael Utzinger, Moderator, Moton Museum Resident Scholar
- Dr. Larissa Smith, Moton Museum Resident Scholar
- Terry Ammons, Principal of Studio Ammons
- Lacy Ward Jr., Former & Founding Director of the Moton Museum
5:20 PM
Moton’s Impact in the Community and Beyond
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Moton’s mission is as relevant and needed as ever before. Every day adults and youth are confronted with challenges and issues both in their own lives and in the communities in which they live. They must be able to relate historical content to their lives. Museums and historic landmarks have the ability to help individuals engage with history on a deeper level. Join this discussion as we talk about the impact of Moton’s work and how the museum can continue to have an impact on those around us.
- Cainan Townsend, Director of Education & Outreach
- Cameron Patterson, Executive Director, Moton Museum
- Leah Brown, Assistant Director of Education, Moton Museum
- Sherre Atkins, Guest Services Coordinator, Moton Museum
- Justin Reid, Director of Community Programs, Virginia Humanities
Keynote Speakers
Dr. Virgil Wood
Margot Lee Shetterly
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Dr. Virgil Wood
Founder of the Beloved Community Initiative
Dr. Wood, Church leader, educator, and civil rights activist has committed much of his life’s work to the struggle for economic and spiritual development among the nation’s disadvantaged.
Margo Lee Shetterly
Author & Founder of the Human Computer Project
Margo Lee Shetterly is the author of Hidden Figures: The American Dream and the Untold Story of the Black Women Mathematicians Who Helped Win the Space Race (William Morrow / HarperCollins). She is also the founder of The Human Computer Project, an endeavor that is recovering the names and accomplishments of all of the women who worked as computers, mathematicians, scientists and engineers at the NACA and NASA from the 1930s through the 1980s.
Musical Entertainment
Jackson, Pendergrass, & Townsend
Dr. Lisa Edwards-Burrs
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Jackson, Pendergrass, and Townsend (JPT)
Jazz Trio
JPT has quickly become a local favorite within the Farmville and Prince Edward County area. They give us a new spin on great American music. We are excited as they share original music including their song “Walk-Out” as we commemorate the Moton Student Strike.
Dr. Lisa Edwards-Burrs,
Soprano Singer & Performer
Lisa Edwards Burrs who has been described as “a soprano of crystalline beauty”, received degrees in Vocal Performance from Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, Virginia (B.M. and M.M.) and The Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C. (D.M.A.). An accomplished lyric-coloratura soprano, her performances in recital, oratorio and chamber music are extensive. Her operatic roles include: Athena in The Furies, Ola/Harriet Tubman in Vanqui, Blanche in Dialogues of the Carmelites, Monica in The Medium, Despina in Così fan tutte, Treemonisha in Treemonisha, Adina in L’elisir d’amore and Poppea in L’incoronazione di Poppea.
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Any gift has the ability to make an impact that far exceeds its size! Donations will go towards our Operations, Education, and Outreach initiatives, opening doors for opportunities and equality in education. In 2020, we engaged with more than 15,000 individuals! Read our impact report to learn more.
Donors will receive an 8.5 x 11 poster of the Barbara Johns mural along with recognition throughout the calendar year with our various public program offerings.
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