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Non-profit BlackSpace Oklahoma held a series of events in March for their “NE OKC Storytelling Project” lecture series. BlackSpace Oklahoma was founded by Gibbs College of Architecture affiliate faculty Gina Sofola and Vanessa Morrison.
In collaboration with OU’s Christopher C. Gibbs College of Architecture (GCA), BlackSpace NYC, Oklahoma Humanities, and the Women of Northeast OKC Photovoice Project, the lecture series was held on numerous days throughout the month at the historic auditorium at Page Woodson.
The events consisted of three lectures, oral history sessions and a digital storytelling workshop.
The series focused on exploring community assets, values, identities and ideas within Black neighborhood spaces, and featured a wide range of renowned experts and speakers, including Dr. George Henderson, a retired OU faculty member who has tirelessly contributed to fostering human rights initiatives in Norman, and Houston-based artist and MacArthur Fellow Rick Lowe.
“An individual’s experiences, history, and self-identified assets are critical to building a positive future for their community,” said Deborah Richards, project director and organizer for BlackSpace and an assistant professor of architecture at GCA.
After the success of the events and hearing how members of the community expressed wanting to find a platform where they can continue sharing oral histories, BlackSpace OKC plans to hold more events the future.
“The oral history and digital storytelling was also well received and the community has asked that we continue holding oral history sessions,” Richards said. “We are now working one developing a program that can continue these sessions.”
BlackSpace Oklahoma is a non-profit 501(c) 3 with a mission to create, develop, and support Black communities and professionals entering the fields of city planning, architecture, and design.
Learn More about BlackSpace on their Facebook page.
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