–See the Sisters of Change exhibit in the Atrium Tower, and The Voting Vanguards show in the Gallery
–Meet the student artists, their teacher, Ms. Ana Goldsmith, and Rejoice the Vote! activist, Jeff Furman
–Hear about the Voting Vanguards–the American sheroes and heroes who fought for our voting rights
–Hear about the Constitutional Amendments and Voting Rights Act: the foundation for our voting rights.
–Register to Vote on the spot if you haven’t already!
–Share your own answers: Why do you vote? Why will you vote? Why do you want your family to vote?
–Free & Open to all, especially students, educators and families.
–Enjoy refreshments and Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream!
110 N. Tioga St., on the Ithaca Commons
We at DCI are committed to honoring the life and work of Dorothy Cotton. We recognize that this amazing woman has not been cataloged in our nation’s memory to the extent that she deserves. With this in mind, we know that a necessary component of sustaining her legacy is to counteract this erasure. We want to bring you the stories of other women whose crucial roles in Black liberation movements and campaigns ought to be highlighted and honored. These women gave their time, energy, and souls to this work so that we could be here today. Let us uplift their voices and be forever inspired by their power.
One side of the Atrium Tower exhibit is devoted to the life and legacy of Dorothy Foreman Cotton; on display are archival photos and portraits, printed material from the Citizenship Education Program (CEP) and the SCLC, her memoir, and the gold ensemble that she wore when she received the 2010 National Freedom Award at the National Civil Rights Museum in Memphis, TN. Inside a touchscreen kiosk there is biographical content, an introduction to the CEP and three short videos about Dorothy, including a 5-minute teaser from the documentary we have in development, Move When the Spirit Says Move.
The opposite side of the Atrium Tower is devoted to twenty-five Sisters of Change, women of the movement for Civil Rights and women’s rights, whose tremendous contributions deserve a prominent place in American history. They each deserve their own tribute. The tower exhibit includes photos quotes from four of these leaders, some of the books written by them or about them, and a variety of memorabilia from the 60s and 70s. There are photos and short bios in the touchscreen digital kiosk about each of the Sisters of Change, describing the campaigns and actions they took for racial justice and social transformation. There are many others who are just as important and are not featured in our presentation. We focused on contemporaries and colleagues of Dorothy Cotton, but we hope to build a broader base of knowledge and recognition of people who embodied the change they wished to see for their people, and the best of humanity.