Winchester, VA 10/12/16… Four distinguished African Americans will share their stories and personal experiences in a panel discussion, “Sharing Our Stories,” which will take place from 3 to 4 p.m. this Sunday, October 16, in the Museum of the Shenandoah Valley (MSV).
Distinguished Panelists to Participate in “Sharing Our Stories”
Winchester, VA 10/12/16… Four distinguished African Americans will share their stories and personal experiences in a panel discussion, “Sharing Our Stories,” which will take place from 3 to 4 p.m. this Sunday, October 16, in the Museum of the Shenandoah Valley (MSV).
The event has been scheduled to celebrate the recent opening of the MSV’s newest special exhibition, And Still We Rise: African American Story Quilts, which narrates four centuries of African American history through the display of 69 story quilts.
Distinguished panelists participating in Sunday’s panel presentation include Tommy Dixon, former coach 
and educator; John Hill, Councilor, City of Winchester; Judy Humbert, co-author, History of Douglas School; and Winchester native and bank manager Candace Davenport. Miles K. Davis, PhD, Dean, Harry F. Byrd Jr. School of Business, Shenandoah University, will moderate the event.
During the presentation, panelists will present their personal stories, including their most formative experiences growing up or living in Winchester. The significance of the Presidency of Barack Obama also will be discussed, and the event will include time for audience questions and interaction.
According to MSV Executive Director Dana Hand Evans, the event is an appropriate complement to the And Still We Rise exhibition. Created by an international group of artists in the Women of Color Quilters Network, the textiles in the exhibition relate the stories of African Americans from the 1600s to the present and also draw attention to the social challenges that America continues to face today.
Just as And Still We Rise is proving to be an eye-opening and engaging experience for both black and white visitors to the MSV, says Director Evans, the stories and discussions presented during Sunday’s event are similarly anticipated to be of interest to a diverse audience.
“Sharing Our Stories” is free to all, but pre-registration is recommended by October 14 by calling 540-662-1473, ext. 240, or at www.themsv.org (click on “Events” on the home page). Walk-ins are welcome as space permits. An admission fee will apply for those who also wish to visit the galleries, including the exhibition And Still We Rise, before the panel presentation.
And Still We Rise: African American Story Quilts is a traveling exhibition on a national tour and presented by the Women of Color Quilters Network in partnership with the Cincinnati Museum Center and the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center. The exhibition’s display at the MSV is sponsored by BB&T and Shenandoah Country Q102 and is presented in collaboration with the Winchester Area NAACP.
A regional cultural center, the MSV is located at 901 Amherst Street in Winchester, Virginia. The MSV includes galleries, the Glen Burnie House, and seven acres of gardens. The galleries and exhibitions are open year-round; the house and gardens are open April through December. Admission is $10 or $8 for seniors and youth ages 13 to 18. General admission is always free to youth ages 12 and under and to MSV Members. Thanks to sponsor Howard Shockey & Sons, Inc., admission is free to all every Wednesday. Additional details about the exhibition and a variety of complementary programs are available at www.theMSV.org or by calling 540-662-1473, ext. 235.
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Inset Photo: Winchester City Council Member John Hill with the quilt Shirley Chisholm: Unbought and Unbossed [detail] (2012), by Ife Felix on view in the exhibition And Still We Rise. Photo by Rick Foster.