From Friends of Independence Historical Park:
In commemoration of the 150th Anniversary of the Emancipation Proclamation, Independence National Historical Park, the African American Museum in Philadelphia, The Library Company of Philadelphia, the University of Delaware and the Friends of Independence National Historical Park are holding Beyond the Proclamation: Interpreting Emancipation for Today’s Youth, a symposium that will look past the historical facts of the Emancipation Proclamation to explore creative ways that difficult topics in history can be taught. The event is will be held on February 23, 2013 at WHYY Philadelphia Offices at 150 North 6th Street in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Targeted towards K-12 educators, in both, schools and other educational environments, this day of learning encourages educators to think beyond the traditional classroom setting and focus on the multiple techniques available to motivate understanding and discussion. Educators will have the opportunity to hear both from their peers as well as from professionals from across the many disciplines that interact with history/social studies education. The Emancipation Proclamation serves as the lens for our discussions, but the goal of this symposium is to provide the tools necessary to discuss any historical moment or current event with today’s youth in ways that inspire and allow them to draw powerful connections between past and present.
Keynote Speaker: Dr. Benjamin Filene
Benjamin Filene is Associate Professor and Director of Public History at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. Prior to UNCG, Filene worked in the exhibition department at the Minnesota Historical Society (1997-2006), where he served as Senior Exhibit Developer. He was lead developer on Open House: If These Walls Could Talk, winner of a WOW Award for innovation and an Award of Merit from the American Association for State and Local History. Filene serves on the board of the National Council on Public History. He co-edited the collection Letting Go? Historical Authority in a User-Generated World, published by the Pew Center for Arts and Heritage (2011).
Confirmed Panelists
Naomi Coquillon Education Specialist, National Museum of American History, Smithsonian Institution
Michelle Evans General Manager, Conner Prairie Interactive History Park
Amy Cohen Masterman High School
Educator Krystal Appiah Afro-Americana reference librarian at the Library Company of Philadelphia
Amy Hillier Project Director of The Ward: Mapping Race and Class in DuBois’ Seventh Ward
Jerry Pickney Children’s book illustrator and artist for many National Park Service publications
Michael J. Bobbitt Producing Artistic Director of Adventure Theatre Musical Theater Center
Cynthia Levinson Author of non-fiction books for and about young people
Symposium Information:
Location – WHYY Independence Mall West 150 N. Sixth Street Philadelphia, PA 19106
Time –
Networking and Material Distribution: 8 to 8:45 am
Panel Discussions: 9 am to 1 pm (with breaks)
Keynote Luncheon: 1 to 3 pm
Cost – $70 for full program, including lunch
($10 discounts for active members of the African American Museum in Philadelphia, The Library Company of Philadelphia and Friends of Independence)
Pre-Registration is required to attend this program
To Register, Click Here