Episode 27

This episode features our very own McKinney Center director, Theresa Hammons, and the Executive Director of Create Appalachia, Katie Hoffman. This conversation took place on June 12, and was moderated by McKinney Center Advisory Board Member, Michelle Treece, and friend of the McKinney Center, Brittany Butler. This recorded event will be released on June 16, to see it, go to YouTube.com and search for McKinney Center.Theresa Hammons is the Director of the McKinney Center and Jonesborough’s Mary B. Martin Program for the Arts. A native of Southwest Virginia, Theresa has lived in East Tennessee since 2006. She has her B.A. and M.A. degrees in Appalachian Studies from Berea College and Appalachian State University. Theresa worked at the prestigious Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of the American Indian for six years, assisting in researching and curating exhibitions, and has worked in the museum and art fields for more than 20 years.Along with serving as Executive Director of Create Appalachia since 2016, Katie Hoffman is the owner and founder of www.appalworks.com, an arts and cultural heritage consulting business established in 2012. She is a scholar and performer of traditional Appalachian music with a special fondness for traditional ballads. Katie is also a singer-songwriter. Katie holds an undergraduate degree in English from The College of William and Mary, an MA in English from East Tennessee University and a Ph.D in English from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. Her specialty is Appalachian Studies, and she has over two decades of experience teaching writing and literature.Supported by a grant from the East Tennessee Foundation, “Conversations that Matter” is a monthly series produced by the McKinney Center in Jonesborough, Tennessee. In each “Conversation” two local guests from different backgrounds (age, race, religion, culture, etc.) explore their own culture and perspective, and talk to each other about what makes them unique, discover their similarities, and explore their differences. They will look at where their lives might intersect personally and in the community. The goal of each “Conversation that Matters” is for guests and participants to hear real stories, from real neighbors. This monthly series is inspired by the Diversity & Equity Subcommittee at the McKinney Center, and their desire to highlight the experiences of all voices in Washington County, Tennessee, with an intention to include marginalized groups. By showcasing these conversations, the Diversity & Equity subcommittee hopes to open doors to new ideas and perspectives amongst our very own neighbors. Questions such as, “What was your experience in grade-school and how did that make you feel?” or, “Have you experienced exclusion or racism?” For many of us the answers are different and unique. The McKinney Center believes it is time to talk about our experiences and share them. There is value in uplifting these stories so that we may learn from one another. Then, after hearing from one another our moderators and guest conversationalists will give insight on how to move forward.