Black Quilters: Hard Topics, Soft Blows
Join Dr. Tony Jean Dickerson of the Advancing Racial Equity Speakers Bureau for a free community talk hosted by the Tandem Community Birth Center and Postpartum House.
Event Details
Arts hold a vital place of importance in our society. Quilts, often seen as “women’s work” and “sheer arts and crafts” by some, actually have a prominent place in telling the struggles and triumphs of many cultures. Moreover, the African American community has fought to tell its stories and quilts have been used as an important vehicle to tell these stories. From individuals and guilds alike, the artistry of African American quilters can no longer be denied as frontrunners of the quilting scene.
Tandem Community Birth Center and Postpartum House is in the final stages of its community quilt project. The quilts being made by community members will be hung at Tandem in birthing and postpartum rooms – to serve as a visual reminder of the supportive community welcoming the birth of new families in their community. The talk by Dr. Dickerson on the history and significance of quilts, particularly rooted in the African American tradition, offers a unique opportunity to deepen understanding of cultural heritage, social connections, and the power of symbols. Please register for the event at the link above. Event highlights include:
Talk by Tony Jean Dickerson, Ed.D. followed by Q&A (Free)
Honoring Black and Indigenous Midwifery Practice in North America (Free)
Quilt Square Crafting Workshop (Free)
Mocktails ($)
Silent Auction ($)
Dr. Tony Jean Dickerson (she/her) was born and raised in Indianapolis, Indiana, and has earned degrees from Lincoln University, University of Central Missouri, and University of Missouri-Kansas City. In 2019, after a successful thirty-year career in education she earned her doctorate in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies from the University of Kansas. She returned home in 2017 and became the lead faculty for Martin University’s School of Education’s Teacher Preparation Program in June of 2022. Besides teaching, Dr. Dickerson is a nationally recognized quilter and is a member of 8 local and national quilt guilds including the founding president of the Akoma Ntoso Modern Quilt Guild of Central Indiana.