What makes a New South City? What challenges and opportunities does living in the Southern United States present? In this free roundtable community discussion, hosted by the Levine Museum of the New South, you’ll hear from Priya Sircar (City of Charlotte Arts and Culture Officer), Frederick Murphy (History Before Us), and Keri Petersen (Levine Museum of the New South) about their experiences and insights on what the New South actually means. How did we get here and where are we heading? Raise your voice and join the conversation.

When thinking about the New South consider this:

Who lives in the New South?
What do politics look like in the New South?
How does the New South deal with its history?
How do we imagine what the New South could be?
What’s the relationship between the New South and the Old South?

SOLD OUT  

About the Panelists: 

Since Frederick Murphy was young, he always enjoyed talking to his elders and hearing stories of family history. In 2016, he founded History Before Us, a project centered on capturing, preserving and advocating influential history. In the beginning of 2017, he started traveling the Southeastern region of the United States interviewing survivors of Jim Crow, the courageous individuals who didn’t make the headlines. These untold stories prompted him to complete the award-winning documentary The American South as We Know It. 

Keri Petersen is the Senior Director of History and Exhibits at the Levine Museum of the New South.  She is an academic and public historian who specializes in North Carolina History with a particular focus on African American history in the Piedmont. Petersen formerly held appointments as Assistant Professor of History and Coordinator of the History Program at Johnson C. Smith University and Willa B. Player Endowed Professor and Chair of the Department of Humanities at Bennett College. She holds a Ph.D. in American History with a minor in Atlantic World History from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro and an M.A. in Public History from North Carolina State University.

Priya Sircar is the City of Charlotte’s first arts and culture officer. Sircar came to the city from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, where she oversaw Knight’s arts investments in cities across the United States. A dancer and choreographer, actor and former musician, Sircar has performed around the country, directed movement for theatre, and produced and appeared in films that have screened in festivals including South by Southwest. Her first short film recently premiered at the 9th Annual Feminist Border Arts Festival in New Mexico.

Additional Details:

Doors open at 5:30 PM | Program begins at 6:00 PM

Admission is free; registration is strongly encouraged

Charlotte Mecklenburg Library – University City Regional – 301 E W.T. Harris Blvd, Charlotte, NC 28262

Community Conversations is designed for an audience of forward-facing problem solvers and individuals who want to create change in their community. It encourages round- table dialogue amongst attendees and guest panelists, prompted by conversation starters aligned with the evening’s theme. This series explores themes of interest to local communities and creates space for intentional conversations that enlighten and spark change.

Sponsored by: