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SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

Exhibit display:Viola Liuzzo: An Exemplary Woman in Extraordinary Times.

March 12 - 19, 2007
Davenport University’s Library Information Commons, Grand Rapids

March 22 - 29, 2007
Davenport University, Saginaw Campus

March 30 - April 5, 2007
Davenport University, Warren Campus.

April 13 - May 3, 2007
Detroit Historical Museum, Detroit

May 4 - 13, 2007
First Universalist Unitarian Church, Detroit

October 20, 2007
Opening reception. 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. Michigan Women's Historical Center, Lansing.

Oct. 20, 2007 - Dec. 28, 2007
Michigan Women's Historical Center, Lansing.

Viola Liuzzo: The Civil Rights Contribution of a Detroit Nurse -- (2006)

Grant Awarded: April 2006

Type of Grant: Humanities Project

Sponsor: Davenport University

Contact: Dr. Maminka Fielva, 616-451-3511

Website: hall.michiganwomenshalloffame.org

Award: $15,000

$15,000 AWARDED TO DAVENPORT UNIV. FOR VIOLA LIUZZO EXHIBIT

Contributions of Civil Rights Movement participant to be exhibited in
Grand Rapids, Saginaw, Warren, Detroit, and Lansing

The Michigan Humanities Council (MHC) today awarded a $15,000 grant to Davenport University for the project, Viola Liuzzo: The Civil Rights Contribution of a Detroit Nurse. The grant is part of the MHC’s Strengthening Michigan’s Communities Through the Humanities program, which supports community collaboration for public humanities programs. The grant was presented at the Davenport University Campus in Grand Rapids as part of a ceremony commemorating the opening of the exhibit. The grand opening event and grant award presentation included presentations by the offices of U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow and U.S. Representative Vernon Ehlers.

“This project creates awareness about the incredible contributions of Viola Liuzzo to the Civil Rights movement, ” stated Jan Fedewa, executive director of the Michigan Humanities Council. “The Michigan Humanities Council is pleased to support the exhibit and the public programs.”

The primary component of the Viola Liuzzo: The Civil Rights Contribution of a Detroit Nurse project is an exhibit which includes a continuous loop of selected edited interviews about Viola Liuzzo, photos of Liuzzo and the Civil Rights movement, works of art and poetry created by Davenport students to honor Liuzzo, and a book with excerpts of the exhibit published by Thomson Publishing. The artwork is comprised of a sculpture of Liuzzo that was created by Davenport University student Sarai Mena. Another student, Sotir Davidhi, created a large mural of images of Martin Luther King, Jr., Liuzzo, and Rosa Parks, with other visuals such as the march in Montgomery that came to be known as “Bloody Sunday.” A multi-media component created by faculty and students is also included.

The exhibit will be located at Davenport University’s Library Information Commons through March 19 and may be viewed Monday through Thursday from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.; on Friday and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; and, on Sundays from 1 p.m. to 9 p.m. After March 19, the exhibit will travel from Davenport University’s main campus to the Davenport location in Saginaw where it will be available from March 22 – 27, and then moves to the University’s Warren location where it will be open starting March 30. The exhibit will then arrive at the Detroit Historical Museum where it will open Friday, April 13. To conclude its tour, the exhibit will be on display at the Michigan Women’s Hall of Fame in Lansing.

“Faculty members at one of our Southeast Michigan locations were familiar with the story of Mrs. Liuzzo, and began community service projects to refurbish a Detroit park named for her,” said Jacqueline Taylor, Davenport University vice president for development. “Learning that there was little known about this civil rights volunteer, they began a broader project to help educate students and others about her, her death, and the civil rights movement in Michigan. We are very proud of this faculty-student collaboration.”

“Grants from the Michigan Humanities Council help Michigan communities study and preserve the state’s unique culture and heritage,” said U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow. “I am pleased to be able to support funding for the Council and for these important local community projects.”

"Davenport's exhibit of Mrs. Liuzzo's life, which will travel across the state of Michigan, will help future generations to learn about the civil rights movement," said U.S. Senator Carl Levin in written comments to acknowledge the project. "Thanks to the grant awarded by the Michigan Humanities Council, this lesson can be spread even more broadly. The exhibit's permanent home at the Michigan Women's Hall of Fame will enable all visitors to learn about the passion and courage of this extraordinary woman."

The exhibit is part of a series of collaborative activities involving the Detroit Historical Museum, First Unitarian Universalist Church of Detroit, and Birmingham Unitarian Universalist Church. The projects have explored the significant themes of civil rights, justice, and sacrifice for a democratic cause. This will help advance an understanding not only of Viola Liuzzo, but of the principles that define America.

Davenport University serves approximately 13,000 students through its main campus in Grand Rapids and other locations in Michigan and Indiana, plus online. Davenport offers practical education that is affordable and provides students the knowledge required for successful careers in business, technology, and health professions. The private university offers bachelor’s and associate degrees, an MBA, diplomas, and post baccalaureate certifications. More information is available at www.davenport.edu

The Michigan Humanities Council, founded in 1974, is the state’s independent, non-profit affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities. For additional information on the Michigan Humanities Council, please visit: www.michiganhumanities.org or call 517-372-7770.

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