Urban Renewal & Rezoning-Sold Out-Join Us Virtually!
Wednesday, May 1, 2024 | 6:00pm-8:00pm
Details:
Take a look at the history of housing in Charlottesville and the racial disparities that affected where people live. A screening of the documentary Raised/Razed traces the demolition of Vinegar Hill, a well-established Black neighborhood, and the displacement of its residents and business owners in the name of “urban renewal.” Learn more about subtle methods of control including redlining, rezoning, and racial covenants, all of which shape our current housing landscape. Dr. Andrea Douglas moderates a panel of community leaders including Lorenzo Dickerson, Kathy Johnson Harris, Joy Johnson, Waki Wynn, and Jordy Yager.
Seating capacity is limited. To attend virtually, please register here. Register below for in-person attendance.
Speaker Bios:
Dr. Andrea Douglas holds a Ph.D. in art history from the University of Virginia and an M.B.A. in arts management and finance from Binghamton University, NY. She was recently appointed to the Governor’s Commission to Study Slavery and Subsequent De Jure and De Facto Racial and Economic Discrimination. She is also co-chair of the President’s Commission on the Age of Segregation at the University of Virginia and sits on Monticello’s Advisory Committee on African American Affairs, as well as the state’s History of Lynching in Virginia Working Group.
Lorenzo Dickerson is an award-winning filmmaker who focuses his storytelling on African American history and culture in Virginia. An Albemarle County native, his films – including Raised/Razed – have played in numerous festivals and been broadcast nationally on PBS. He serves on the Board of Directors for the Paramount Theater, Preservation Piedmont, and VPM’s Community Advisory Board.
Kathy Johnson Harris is a retired educator with over 35 years of experience as a teacher, reading specialist, and school administrator. She holds an M.Ed. in Education from the University of Virginia and served as a clinical instructor at UVA’s School of Education. She has served on numerous community boards and commissions from the Jefferson-Madison Regional Library to the Charlottesville City Planning Commission.
Joy Johnson is a longtime community activist and organizer working to address low-income housing issues at local and national levels. A founder of the Public Housing Association of Residents, she currently works as a resident services coordinator for the Charlottesville Redevelopment and Housing Authority. She is a trained public housing specialist with a wide-reaching history of service on various councils, committees, and coalitions.
Waki Wynn is the Board President of the Albemarle Housing Improvement Program, ensuring families with limited resources can maintain a safe and comfortable home. A native of Charlottesville and founding member of 1st Dominion Realty, he has over 22 years of experience helping people navigate the home buying experience.
Jordy Yager is the Director of Digital Humanities at the Jefferson School African American Heritage Center. An award-winning career journalist, he launched the region’s first mapping of racial covenants and helps run the Central Virginia Black Land Repository program. He is a co-writer/director of Raised/Razed.
This event is part of The Center’s 2024 Speaker Series, “The Uncomfortable Truths of Systemic Racism,” developed by the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee, a group of dedicated volunteers that supports The Center’s healthy aging mission by helping to ensure a welcoming environment for all members of our communities through outreach and the creation of programs and partnerships.
Please join us for the second session on housing on May 15, "The Future of Housing in Charlottesville"
Open to all.
Location:
The Center
Sorry, this event has sold out!