Starting Friday, July 7, Springfield Baptist Church will host a free community workshop for audiences to listen and discuss with experts on how the city of Augusta can best interpret its rich Reconstruction-era history.
Located in Augusta’s downtown at 114 12th St., the Baptist church’s workshop will span over two days, and provide free lunch on Saturday for those who reserve a spot ahead of time.
“This two-day workshop held in Augusta aims to bring together the city’s historical organizations and community to increase awareness of Augusta’s importance during Reconstruction,” according to a news release from workshop organizers.
Participants can expect to learn from several Reconstruction and public history experts in order to yield conversations that will promote concrete plans for Reconstruction interpretation and programming.
Occurring in the same building where the Equal Rights Association was founded, organizers are also hoping this event will jumpstart an annual community workshop that will observe the Hamburg Massacre of 1876.
The event will kick off on July 7 at 6 p.m. with keynote speaker Dr. Déanda Johnson, Civil Rights historian from the National Parks Service Southeast Regional Office, then continue the following day with several experts.
On July 8, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., attendees will have access to four experts from Georgia and South Carolina to present on Reconstruction.
Experts involved will include: Dr. Steven Berry from Athens, Ga; Director of Historic Columbia Foundation Robin Waites from Columbia, Ga; Christopher Barr from Beaufort South Carolina’s Reconstruction Era National Historic Park; and Dr. Valinda Littlefield South Carolina’s University of South Carolina.
Made possible by funding from the Society for Civil War Historians, Augusta University’s Pamplin College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences, and the Lucy Craft Laney Museum of Black History.
To reserve free spots for the event, visit: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/recovering-reconstruction-a-community-workshop-in-augusta-georgia-tickets-629512216987
