Prince George’s Publick Playhouse Theatre Rosenwald Screening

On February 10, 2018 the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission’s Prince George’s Publick Playhouse Theatre held a packed screening of Rosenwald arranged to honor Black History month.
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Prior to the screening, the film was introduced by Chairman of the Prince George’s County Planning Board Elizabeth M. Hewlett. Following the screening Aviva Kempner, director of Rosenwald; Stephanie Deutsch, author of “You Need a Schoolhouse: Booker T. Washington, Julius Rosenwald; and the Building of Schools for the Segregated South,” Charlene Drew Jarvis, daughter of Charles Drew, joined together for a panel discussion to discuss the legacy of Julius Rosenwald. Dennis A. Doster, Ph.D., Black History Program Manager moderated the panel.

Mildred Ridgley-Gray, known best for her work saving and restoring the Ridgeley Rosenwald School in Capitol Heights, Maryland was in the audience with her daughter LaVerne Gray. Mrs. Ridgley is also featured in several of the bonus features that accompany the Rosenwald DVD.

Black Jewish Relations Panel

On Sunday, February 4th 2018 the American Jewish Committee and Thursday Network Greater Washington Urban League organized a dynamite Black Jewish Relations panel at Social Tables in Washington D.C.

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The panel featured filmmaker Aviva Kempner, professor and director at the center for Jewish Civilization Jacques Berlinerblau, Former Senior Advisor and Vice President of the W.K. Kellogg Foundation Dr. Gail C. Christopher, D.N, AJC Director of National and Legislative Affairs Richard Foltin, Professor of history at Trinity College Cheryl Greenberg, and associate professor of religion and government and director of graduate studies at Georgetown University Terrence L. Johnson.

The panel discussed the historical ties between the Jewish and African American communities, the importance of remembering their past allegiances as well as struggles throughout American history and preserving and repairing relations to prevent and combat the resurgence of hate and intolerance across the country.
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