Sun 2/2 @ 2pm
Wed 2/26 @ 11:30am
Thu 3/6 @ 6pm
Over the past 40 years, the cultural landscape of America has seen great changes. Obviously, however, there are still plenty of issues facing our current generation.
An interesting question was recently raised in regards to the “blueprint” that Civil Rights leaders didn’t leave for the current generation of African American men. The conversation quickly spread, and immediately sparked issues of leadership, mentorship and other issues in the African American community — both locally and collectively.
In an attempt to promote and progress this important dialogue, local leaders have organized a series of Blueprint Roundtables at various venues around the city over the next few weeks. The first discussion takes place this Sunday at the Cleveland Museum of Art in support of the current Hank Willis Thomas exhibitions at the CMA and Transformer Station. WEWS News Channel 5 anchor Leon Bibb will moderate a discussion with emerging and established leaders of the local African American community.
The eclectic panel includes Dr. Julian Earls, retired Director of NASA’s John Glenn Research Center; Randell McShepard, VP of Public Affairs, RPM International Inc. and Chairman, PolicyBridge; Phillip Morris, columnist for The Plain Dealer; Steve Sanders, Retired NFL Player, author, speaker & Executive Director, Training Camp for Life; Ricky Smith, Social Media Celebrity & Founder, #RAKE; Nathan Tolliver, Student, Event Planner & LGBT Advocate.
“Community engagement is central to the museum’s mission and the Blueprint Roundtable is an important way that the museum can help to engage and enhance the conversation of race and identity in our community,” says Augie Napoli, Deputy Director of the CMA.
“The Hank Willis Thomas exhibition now at the museum and at the Transformer Station provides the perfect opportunity for the museum to convene a number of strong, informed voices in this critical dialogue,” Napoli says. “We’re pleased to have partnered with a whole host of community partners to make this Blueprint Roundtable happen on February 2, and the museum has also joined with the Cleveland Clinic and Central Promise Neighborhood for two additional roundtables, on February 26 at the Cleveland Clinic and on March 6 at the Friendly Inn Settlement House.”
“We hope that the Blueprint Roundtable at the Cleveland Museum of Art will be an intimate dialogue between our panelists — black men, both established and emerging leaders, who come from a wide range of economic, generational, educational and other backgrounds,” says Rev. Dr. Jawanza Colvin, Pastor of Olivet Institutional Baptist Church and CMA Trustee.
“As we kick off Black History Month and in honor of the Blueprint Roundtable program, we thought it was very important to also take the time to acknowledge those who have blazed the trail before us, so we are honoring five gentlemen — the late Arnold Pinkney, Louis Stokes, George Forbes, Rev. Dr. Otis Moss, Jr. and Robert Madison,” Colvin says. “They’ve carved a pathway for us all to follow as we prepare ourselves, and our young men to become the next generation of black male leaders in our community. Their influence has been felt in our families, in our neighborhoods, in our cities, and in our country.”
While the museum is expecting a capacity crowd for this event, you still have two more opportunities in upcoming weeks to witness (and join in on) this important discussion. Be sure to secure your tickets now!
[Image: Your Skin Has the Power to Protect You, from Unbranded, 2008. Hank Willis Thomas (American, born 1976). Digital chromogenic print; 65 1/2 x 51 1/2 in. The Cleveland Museum of Art, Purchase from the J. H. Wade Fund 2012.63 © Hank Willis Thomas.]
Josh Usmani is a 27 year old local artist, curator and writer. Since 2008, his work has been featured in over 50 local and regional exhibitions.
One Response to “Discuss Mentorship & Leadership in the African American Community @ClevelandArt”
Eric Johnson
You really can’t be serious? A meaningful dialogue on the most distracted day of the year? Another dialogue at the most difficult place to park-and in the middle of a work day?