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Celebrating Our 30th Anniversary! |
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Agenda
6:00-7:00
7:00-8:00
THE LANDY TELLER
CHAMPION FOR CULTURE
The Landy Teller Champion for Culture and the Arts Award was created following the passing of our long time patron, supporter, cheerleader, and friend Landy Teller. Landy worked diligently to see that this complex of buildings was saved and was transformed into the Southern Cultural Heritage Center. The award is given once a year to a person who has given his or her time and talent over the years in support of the Cultural Center. A long-time friend of Landy and the Center established an endowment from which a monetary gift is awarded every year. The Center is grateful for the work that our past recipients have given us and we are pleased to recognize them again here: 2017 — Karen Biedenharn 2018 — Mike Calnan 2019 — Janis Koestler 2020 — David Clement 2021 — Nancy Bell 2022 — Jack Burns 2023 — Kevin Mahoney 2024 — Blake Teller Photos. History of the Southern Cultural Heritage Center The Southern Cultural Heritage Center was initially conceived during a conversation between Dr. William Ferris and Vicksburg Mayor Robert Walker in 1990 concerning their mutual interest in the importance of the St. Francis facility, which would soon be vacant, and the lack of opportunities for local citizens and outsiders to learn about the cultural and ethnic heritage of the Vicksburg-Warren County community. In 1991, during a community workshop sponsored by the Vicksburg Riverfront and Cultural Landscape Study, a study undertaken by the National Park Service, the idea was developed further. The group found that there was a need for a central place to which the community, as well as visitors, could go to learn about Vicksburg’s cultural heritage. This center would highlight the ethnic diversity within the community, enhance the story of Vicksburg’s heritage, and provide channels for separate communities to unite and learn from one another. St. Francis Elementary School moved out of the property in 1992 and the Vicksburg Foundation for Historic Preservation began negotiations with the Sisters of Mercy to purchase an option on the block of buildings. The option period would enable the Foundation , the Center for the Study of Southern Culture at the University of Mississippi, the City of Vicksburg, and other interested parties to fully develop the plans for the Complex. The Sisters signed an option on February 1, 1993 that would expire on April 1, 1994 (this option was renewed and extended until June 1, 1994). Once the option was signed, a committee was established to begin securing the funds needed for the acquisition of the Complex. The committee was made up of the following individuals: Nancy Bell, Ronnie Bounds, Betty Bullard, Jimmy Gouras, John Wayne Jabour, Betty Jackson, Bill Ferris, Tom Howorth, Glenda LaGarde, Dinah Lazor, Lenore Barkley, and Jimmy Ware. In addition, the committee developed a mission statement, rough draft of proposed programs that would be undertaken in the facility, and a list of executive and advisory board members. The Vicksburg Foundation for Historic Preservation received a Preservation Services Grant from the National Trust for Historic Preservation to hire Thomas Howorth, an architect, to develop preliminary elevation ad site plan drawings. In the meantime, the City’s administration changed. In July 1993, Mayor Joseph Loviza, Alderwoman Gertrude Young, and Alderman Don Miller were sworn in and the committee brought them up to date on the project and requested the City’s help with acquisition of the property. The new City officials agreed to investigate the possibility of their participation and in the February 7, 1994 board meeting, Mayor Loviza announced that the City would provide $1,000,000 for the project. A month later, when Chancellor Turner and other University of Mississippi officials came to Vicksburg to discuss the project, the Mayor announced that the City would provide an additional $200,000 to cover initial cost, including building repair, utilities, insurance and the salary of the project director. The City consequently filed the paperwork to establish the Southern Cultural Heritage Foundation as a not-for-profit corporation charged with the mission of redeveloping the Complex, and executed other necessary contracts for the purchase of the property and development of the project. Bylaws for the foundation were developed during the summer and City officials appointed an eleven-member board of directors and a twenty-member advisory council to direct the activities of the new foundation in cooperation with the City. During the late fall of 1994, the Southern Cultural Heritage Foundation conducted a public search for an executive director to administer the day-to-day operations of the Foundation and to coordinate redevelopment activities. Offering a strong background in planning and implementing community development programs, institutional fundraising, and historic and cultural preservation, Grace Aaron was hired and began work on January 4, 1995. Grace led the organization for almost two years and helped jumpstart the organization with a series of programs, fundraisers, and marketing plans. She was followed by Dinah Lazor (1996-1998), Ted Smith (1999-2001), Glenda LaGarde (interim 2001-2003), Bess Averett (2003-2007), Annette Kirklin (2007-2013), and Stacey Mahoney(2014present). The Foundation’s directors have been assisted in their efforts by our office managers: Beth Brown (1999-2009), Angie Wilkinson (2009-2015), Margaret Thames (January-October 2016), Janice Darby (November 2016-September 2018), Emily Miller January —October 2019), Janis Koestler (October 2019-March 2022), Jai Reeves (April 2022-October 2024). Each of our directors and assistants has brought his or her special interests and talents to the position and helped to make the Cultural Center the success that it is today.
Ad Hoc Committee in 1994 Nancy Bell Ronnie Bounds Betty Bullard Jimmy Gouras John Wayne Jabour Betty Jackson Bill Ferris Tom Howorth Glenda LaGarde Dinah Lazor Lenore Barkley Jimmy Ware
Members of the Board of Directors over the last 30
years
VOLUNTEERS! We love our volunteers and we have had hundreds over the last twenty years! We sincerely thank each and every person who has volunteered his or her time to help with exhibits, lectures, workshops, performances, and fundraisers by manning a gate, moving tables and chairs, folding newsletters, addressing and stamping invitations, taking photographs, entertaining visiting lecturers, baking cookies, providing food and libations for receptions, providing “kid-friendly” snacks for River Kids or Cultural Camp or Spectrum, hanging Christmas decorations, scaring people at Halloween, trimming trees, pulling weeds, planting flowers, picking up trash, giving tours, giving suggestions, chairing events, co-chairing events, creating exhibits, hanging exhibits, traveling to other cities to learn how to hang exhibits, fixing things (all kinds of things), de-virusing computers, donating computers, erecting screens for films, popping popcorn, interior design services for the Cobb House, architectural services, preservation services, and much, much more! Thank you, thank you to all who have helped to make the Center the success that it is today! |
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1302 Adams Street |
