Dear Freedom Summer Participants,
On September 17-19, 2004, we would like to invite you to return to Oxford, Ohio to celebrate the 40th Anniversary of the events of Freedom Summer. The Oxford community and Miami University have waited far too long in recognizing the important events that took place the summer of 1964 at Western College for Women. I know that you will agree with us that it is more urgent than ever to remind college students today that they play an important role in the political process.
The "Voices of Freedom Summer" Conference is an opportunity for us to re-tell the stories of 1964, reflect upon its legacy, and engage the continuing struggle for Civil Rights. We hope that you will return to Oxford to remember the people, the emotions, and the events you experienced as a young adult as you embarked on the journey to Mississippi. (If you did not attend the training in Oxford but played an active role in Freedom Summer or other Civil Rights activities, please know that you are also welcome.)
The program will have much to offer participants of Freedom Summer while also introducing Civil Rights history to our students and our campus community. These highlights include tours of the Freedom Summer Memorial dedicated in 1999 and tours of the Western Campus including Peabody Hall and Kumler Chapel. Herbert Randall's "Faces of Freedom Summer" exhibit, which will be at our Art Museum, documents several of these locations.
We especially want to draw your attention to a private lunch planned Saturday at 12:30pm for the participants of Freedom Summer to connect with one another and share stories (facilitated by John O'Neal of the Free Southern Theater). In fact, we have dedicated a space for Freedom Summer participants to have opportunities to catch up with one another at anytime during the conference. The program features opportunities to attend lecture presentations or participate in roundtable discussions. We also hope to look towards the future and touch on current struggles in our local region, particularly those in the city of Cincinnati. You will see on the registration form that several Sunday activities allow you to connect to activities there.
In addition to Representative Lewis' address, we have just recently confirmed a second Keynote Address by Bob Moses. A preliminary program is available at www.muohio.edu/cawc, and recent additions to this list will include presentations on The Algebra Project and grassroots organizing. Exciting performances are underway that will include, of course, lots of singing of freedom songs. Please check our site after August 15th for updates.
This September conference will be the first of many projects connecting Miami University to both historical and current struggles for Civil Rights in the US. On your visit to our campus, we hope that you will allow us to record your stories and memories of being here.
As we develop our archives, we are also launching the creative process of creating a play about the events that emphasizes the activities that took place in Oxford. Because we are so honored to have you as a guest in Oxford, we are waiving conference registration fees for all Freedom Summer participants; though we will ask you to cover costs of meals if you choose those activities (see the registration form).
We would also like to offer you housing in the homes of other Oxford community members, many of whom have also been active in the struggle for social justice. (You may remember that Oxford is a small town and hotel rooms are very limited!) If you are interested in housing, please contact Kathy McGrew at (513) 529-3880 or mcgrewkb@muohio.edu, no later than September 1st. For other inquires about the conference, you can contact Dorothy Falke at (513) 529-8309 or falked@muohio.edu. We look forward to seeing you in September!
Sincerely,
Ann Elizabeth Armstrong: Assistant Professor, Department of Theatre
Mary Jane Berman: Director, Center for American and World Cultures
Co-Directors of "Finding Freedom: Performing and Documenting Freedom Summer at Miami University"
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Last Modified: August 11, 2004.
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