Florida A&M University

KWAF Opening Session and Juneteenth Presentation (I)

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• published: 02 Jul 2017
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Opening Session and Juneteenth Presentation City of Key West Commissioner & Vice-Chair Clayton Lopez officially welcomes KWAF with Christopher Norwood & Dr. Barbara Peterson, Co-founders of The Key West Africana Festival. Key West Africana Festival (2017) Juneteenth Speaker : Dr. Tameka Hobbs Juneteenth is a state holiday or ceremonial holiday, a day of observance in 43 U.S. States honoring June 19th, 1865, the day on which slavery legally came to an end in the United States. Dr. Tameka Bradley Hobbs is a graduate of Florida A&M; University (B.A., History) and Florida State University, where she earned her doctoral degree in United States History, and Historical Administration and Public History. She has taught courses in American, African American, oral history, and public history at Florida A&M; University, Virginia State University in Petersburg, Virginia, and John Tyler Community College, in Chester, Virginia. In addition to her teaching experience, she has served as a researcher, writer, consultant, and director for a number of public and oral history projects in Florida and Virginia, including the African American Trailblazers in Virginia History Program, a statewide educational program focused on celebrating African American History. Her professional experience includes serving as Director of Projects and Program for the John G. Riley Museum and Center of African American History and Culture, located in Tallahassee, Florida. After relocating to Virginia, between 2006 and 2007, Hobbs worked as the historian and coordinator of the Valentine Richmond History Center’s Richmond History Gallery Project. From 2007 to 2011, Hobbs worked as Program and Education Manager for the Library of Virginia, where she coordinated the African American Trailblazers in Virginia History Program, a statewide educational program focused on celebrating African American History. In 2011, she authored a children’s book about the Library of Virginia entitled To Collect, Protect, and Serve: Behind the Scenes at the Library of Virginia. Hobbs joined the faculty of Florida Memorial University in Miami Gardens, Florida, in August of 2011, and currently serves at Interim Chair of the Department of Social Sciences and as University Historian. Her book, Democracy Abroad, Lynching at Home: Racial Violence in Florida was published in August 2015 by the University Press of Florida. Key West Africana Festival Mission: Three-day destination retreat and festival focusing on Thought, Wellness, Culture and Libation of the African Diaspora. KWAF's mission is to be the nation's premier, public gathering place for leaders from around the diaspora across disciplines to vacation and engage in inquisitive discussion of the ideas and issues that both shape and challenge the Africana community : ​ Thought: Reflection on the ideas and issues that shape and challenge our community's wellness Culture: Celebration of Music and the Arts while exploring the Africana influenced culture of Key West. Libation: Awakening of our history to inform and guide our social work in our respective communities. ​ Purpose: To provide festival participants with a fun filled educational vacation in the Florida Keys that includes culture, libation and reflection on the issues and ideas that both shape and challenge the Africana community.. Concept: Our goal is to provide a destination vacation where scholars discuss their research, thought leaders present their practice areas, vacationers enjoy the Africana Cultures of Key West, and others will enjoy a fun-filled weekend in beautiful Key West. Founded by Christopher Norwood, J.D. with Dr. James Peterson, as an extension of their national work focused on issues of education, community development and cultural awareness, inspired by their love of travel and interaction within a global community. wwww.keywestafricanafestival.com