Cooperation, teamwork, collaboration, solidarity, mutual assistance, partnership, collectivity, working in concert…………..get the message? We all know that when communities work together, they thrive. Here are just a few of the things that Georgia Writers Museum did in just the last three months:
•Our first Writer’s Retreat-Working with advice and assistance from the Atlanta Writers Club and the Georgia Writers Association, we welcomed notable writers and 50 participants from all over the state. The Chamber of Commerce generously offered their facility as one of the venues, and the school system provided transportation for field trips to Alice Walker’s childhood home and Andalusia.
•We collaborated with Butler Baker Alumni to bring Mary Francis Early, the first Black graduate of UGA, to Butler Baker school for a “Meet the Author” event. A packed house of close to 100 people came to hear this amazing woman. In addition, they were treated to a riveting performance by the Putnam County Primary School chorus and food and refreshments by the Putnam High School culinary program.
•Earlier this year GWM’s first Junior Board was formed at PCHS. Ms. Rebekah Esau’s Leadership Class made up the board. On March 30, as their final project, they hosted Tina McElroy Ansa and Wanda Lloyd to discuss their book, “Meeting at the Table: African American Women on Race, Culture, and Community.” With direction from the GWM Board and volunteers, and Ms. Esau, the student’s taught lesson plans based on the book in classrooms across the high school before inviting these students to attend a morning Meet the Author with Tina and Wanda. Over 200 attended!
•April 12 – Alice Walker had her national launch of her new book, “Gathering Blossoms Under Fire: The Journals of Alice Walker,” at an event sponsored by Georgia Writers Museum and The Plaza Arts Center.
•May (entire month) saw our 2nd Annual Poetry Walk. GWM signs with stanzas of poetry by Georgia poets were placed along walking paths in Putnam and Baldwin Counties. Flannery O’Connor’s home Andalusia hosted Alice Friman’s poem Visiting Flannery, while the Butterfly and Blooms Habitat hosted Gail Langer Karwoski and Marilyn E Gootman’s poem Thank You, Trees! Other locations included Rock Eagle and Rock Hawk, and The Plaza Arts Center, all with Alice Walker poems.
•May 3, New York Times best selling author Karen White came to Eatonton to present her latest book. A progressive brunch saw 40 participants go to four different shops in town, each serving a different dish themed to coincide with the New Orleans setting of Karen’s book, which she then presented at the museum. All the merchants were delighted by the visits and purchases made by the attendees.
Certainly all of these events could have happened acting alone, but by working with our school system, other non-profits (locally and from around the state), and our local merchants, the events made a much bigger impact and helped cement the idea that…….. It is better together!