to
Father’s Day holds a particular cultural tradition for African American cemeteries, and for this Juneteenth, The Praise House Project joins in this tradition at one of the city’s most beloved historic burial grounds, South-View Cemetery. On Sunday, June 18th, the Praise House Project joins the families of South-View in a celebration of music and performances in honor of the history which rests at this important historic site. Then on June 19th audiences can listen to oral history interviews, tour the historic burial grounds, and volunteer in community service projects on site and in the surrounding areas - recalling the tradition of family gatherings for gravesite cleaning and storytelling.
Charmaine Minniefield builds upon a National Endowment for the Arts Our Town Grant, leverages over 25 years of service to the arts industry to form The Praise House Project Inc, an emerging arts 501c3 whose mission is to encourage and facilitate creative expression, collaboration and community partnerships which use art at its center to address issues of social justice.
The first Praise House was placed in Oakland Cemetery’s African American Burial Ground to honor the 800 unmarked graves discovered, and, in 2021 relocated in one of the city’s oldest historically segregated cemeteries. The next Praise House will open at Emory University in October 2023 to acknowledge the institution’s history in Slavery and Dispossession.
The project has drawn national attention with a recent award from the Center for Cultural Power to present the Praise House Project at South-View Cemetery in 2024 to acknowledge the victims of the 1906 Race Massacre and the civic and civil rights history which rest there. The Praise House will then rest at Beacon Hill to remember this once erased all Black town. As a new emerging arts organization, the Praise House Project continues to work with its community partners to offer cultural content and programming in metro Atlanta to uplift the history of each area while raising awareness and funds for the fabrication of the work.
Juneteenth Programming presented by the Praise House Project in partnership with South-View Cemetery
LOCATION
1990 Jonesboro Rd. Atlanta, GA 30315
SCHEDULE
SUNDAY - June 18th
TIMES: 1pm - DJ Cozy Shawn - hosts, 2pm - Edeliegba Senior Dance Ensemble, 3pm - CC Sunchild
MONDAY - June 19th
TIMES: 12- 4pm - Self Guided Tours, and ongoing Oral History interviews, Volunteer Service Projects.
to
The mural, titled “Cosmic Cypher Prayer Circle,” by Charmaine Minniefield, is a panoramic interior wall inside of the Sweet Auburn Avenue Water Tower, commissioned by the Historic District Development Corporation (HDDC) and sponsored by the City of Atlanta Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs. The work is a play on Ring Shout, a traditional African American movement and gathering.
RSVP – AND SIGN UP TO VOLUNTEER PLS! - BY JULY 5: At this link
WHAT: Summer 2023 RCE Greater Atlanta Quarterly Meeting
WHEN: Wednesday, July 12, 4-6PM
WHERE: Haugabrooks Funeral Home, 364 Auburn Av., Atlanta, 30312 and the Sweet Auburn Avenue Water Tower
HOST: Praise House Project (https://newfreedomproject.org/)
FEATURING:
- Introduction to Praise House Project’s work and the work of artist-activist Charmaine Minniefield
- View the Haugabrooks Art Gallery
- Special visit to experience Ms. Minniefield’s (not-yet-open-to-the-public) mural in the Sweet Auburn Avenue Water Tower
- RCE Greater Atlanta Updates – learn how to get involved!
Questions? Contact Jenny Hirsch at jennifer.hirsch@gatech.edu.
to
SAVE THE DATE! The RCE Americas conference will be held in Atlanta this year. Please mark your calendars! The conference will take place from Wednesday, September 27th through Friday, September 29th, with optional activities for those in town or arriving early on Tuesday, September 26th. Stay tuned for more information!