Marta's Book Events at CityTech - CUNY

I was pleased to join activists Professor Benjamin Shepard and James Tracy for a panel entitled Community Migration Displacement on November 20, 2014 at CityTech. This was actually the first time I presented any portion of my book Staging Migrations to an audience at my home college CityTech - CUNY.

 

  James Tracy listens as I take a question from the audience. I talked about Ida B. Wells quite a bit this night. Rhodessa Jones was also central to my remarks. Tracy, who is a San Francisco-based activist knows Rhodessa's work . . . . I'm not surprised.

 

James Tracy (left) Benjamin Shepard (middle) and I pose with CityTech students following the event. Visit Professor Shepard's blog for details about his work. 

http://benjaminheimshepard.blogspot.com/2014/11/struggles-over-home-community-migration.html

 

 On Monday, December 1, 2014, the Dean's Office and the Black Women's Networking Committee at CityTech hosted my solo book event for Staging Migrations. 

Projects like this never happen in a vacuum. My husband Rudy and our daughter Grace joined students, faculty, and staff as they listened to me read excerpts from the book and talk about my experiences over the years. You can probably see Grace among the sea of adults. Spaces like this should never seem foreign to our children!

Julia Jordan of Faculty Commons has been a wonderful champion. In the final years of the project, she managed to find a quiet room for me in the Commons. We all need time to think, don't we?

 
I call Barbara Burke, who is the college's Grants Officer, a grant guru. She can help you turn an idea into a fantastic plan. I have learned so much from her.Turns out she was involved in the arts education scene in DC when I was at Ellington School of the Arts. Small world!

So happy to sign a book for my colleague Dr. Monique Ferrell. She is a master educator and poet. You've got to see her in action. I love her most recent collection of poems entitled Unsteady.

And the journey continues . . .

Staging Migrations Goes to the CUNY Graduate Center!

In my latest event for Staging Migrations, I offered a lecture at the CUNY Graduate Center on Thursday, October 30th. This event was sponsored by The Institute for Research on the African Diaspora in the Americas and the Caribbean (IRADAC).

 

Check out their website for details about IRADAC's certificate program and other lectures:

http://www.gc.cuny.edu/Page-Elements/Academics-Research-Centers-Initiatives/Centers-and-Institutes/Institute-for-Research-on-the-African-Diaspora-in-the-Americas-the-Caribbean-%28IRADAC%29.

A clip from the lecture. I'm sharing an excerpt from chapter one, which features the audacious Ida B. Wells. 

My African American Studies colleague from CityTech Dr. Dionne Bennett served as the respondent for my lecture.

Chatting with a Graduate Center PhD candidate during the book signing. I received such thoughtful questions that afternoon.

My upcoming CityTech events include a lecture with Human Services Professor Benjamin Shepard and San Francisco-based activist James Tracy on November 20th: http://facultycommons.citytech.cuny.edu/index.php/event/readings-community-migration-displacement/ and a book signing on December 1st sponsored by the Black Women's Networking Committee and the A&S Dean's Office: http://facultycommons.citytech.cuny.edu/index.php/event/book-signing-marta-effinger-crichlow/.

Check back for reflections and photos from the other events.

Let's Go Pitt! - Promoting Staging Migrations During Homecoming Weekend

 On October 23, 2014, I boarded an Amtrak train in New York City, heading back to Pittsburgh for additional book appearances for Staging Migrations toward an American West. An impatient person might find an all day trip by train to be grueling, but it does give you  time to clear your head and see the landscape.

 

Returning to my alma mater the University of Pittsburgh was special. I arrived just in time to see the fireworks in Oakland on Friday night. Once the smoke cleared and the sun rose on Saturday morning, I had a clear picture of the Cathedral of Learning, the Pitt Panther and the Student Union's Jazz exhibit. 

 

Saturday, October 25th involved a short stop by the Pitt Book Center. The book display remained and on this second trip, I am still humbled by it. The display, in part, looks so great because of the cover illustration "Ascent" by Rosalind Nzinga Nichol http://www.teaandwings.com/ and the UPC cover design by Daniel Pratt.

 I have the support of people like Tiffany Ellis-Butts and her mother Marlene Ellis, who are brilliant when it comes to finding and arranging additional outlets for me and my book during my Pittsburgh trip. For example, the Ellis ladies arranged for me to sell and sign copies of the book at the world premiere of the musical Queens of the Blues, at New Horizon Theater, Inc in East Liberty. Many thanks to New Horizon's Board Member and Producer Dr. Joyce Meggerson-Moore for this opportunity. 

 

(Top photo) Marta with a Pittsburgh legend Jean Bryant, who is a brilliant newspaper woman and founder of the local Miss Teenage Pageant.

Sunday, October 26th. This return to Pittsburgh was largely built around my presentation during the African American Alumni Council's (AAAC) Sankofa Homecoming Brunch. http://www.alumni.pitt.edu/alumni/groups/african-american-alumni-council/. I can't believe that I have been away from the University of Pittsburgh for over twenty years. I am reminded of this fact when I meet brilliant young people like these ladies from the Bradford campus of Pitt (top photo) and one of the luncheon's Rising Leaders Honorees Marita Garrett (A&S '07) (bottom photo). Other honorees included Letrenda Jones (SHRS '09) and Jessica Robinson (GSPIA '05)http://www.consciouscourageliving.com/about-jessica/.

Sharing excerpts of the book during my presentation....

The leadership in the AAAC includes trailblazers like Valerie Njie, Linda Wharton Boyd, Tony Fountain, and Steve Jones. It was clear to me that their efforts extend well beyond Homecoming events.

I appreciated the support offered by the Sankofa Brunch attendees. Signing copies of Staging Migrations after my presentation. 

Look for clips from my lecture at the CUNY Graduate Center in an upcoming post!

Promoting Staging Migrations in Pittsburgh!

I've just returned from an amazing weekend in Pittsburgh, PA, where I promoted my new book Staging Migrations for the first time. Many thanks to all of those who offered their support and purchased the book. Your support means a great deal to me.

My first appearance took place on Friday October 10th at the Afro-American Historical and Genealogical Society's (AAHGS) National Conference.

The organizers gave the four authors featured during the luncheon a signing table. What generosity!

My presentation during the luncheon.

I met and rediscovered some amazing people. For instance, when I sat down at the luncheon table, I decided to recruit someone to take my picture while on stage. Turns out I unknowingly recruited the great-great-great grandson of Solomon of Northup, Clayton Adams to take my pictures. He is Executive Director of the Solomon Northup Foundation: http://www.solomonnorthupfoundation.com/ Thank you Clayton, you were so kind.

A wonderful surprise, I ran into Kim Tyler, an old family friend and AAGHS volunteer, who helped me sell my books. Can you tell how much I appreciated her help?

My second day in Pittsburgh included a signing at my alma mater University of Pittsburgh on Saturday, October 11th. When I entered the new Book Center, I was immediately greeted by a wonderful display of my books at the front of the store. Many thanks to Greg and his staff.

I must admit, it feels great to see my book in the window of the Pitt Book Center.

Friends and Family Day was held at Holy Cross Church in Homewood on Sunday, October 12th. What a beautiful service, which was followed by my book signing in the fellowship hall. My heart was certainly filled.

I quickly realized that a signing is never just a signing....One of many supporters. Mrs. Blackman and her husband have been married 60+ years.
 

It was wonderful to chat with Walter Hines. He shares my sentiment....More attention must be given to black women's stories.

 

I am all smiles with my father-in-law Dr. Philmore Crichlow and the morning speaker the Honorable Kim Berkeley Clark.

I did not know what to do with the abundance of support from such a beautiful community. My late grandmother would simply say accept it with humility and grace.

I am truly grateful for these three days. While in Pittsburgh this weekend, I was asked to return for the African American Alumni Council's Luncheon on Sunday, October 26th: http://www.alumni.pitt.edu/alumni/groups/african-american-alumni-council/. I'll speak and sign books.

Communities and family anchor me and remind me that I am ready for the next part of this awesome journey.

One day she'll read it.

October 11th - My Reading and Book Signing Event

I'm so excited to be appearing at three different locations in the Pittsburgh area this coming weekend (October 10th- 12th), where I will be reading excerpts from Staging Migrations:

Friday, October 10th: African American Genealogical Society Conference -- Authors Luncheon and Book Signing. 11:45 - 1:15 at DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Pittsburgh - Green Tree, 500 Mansfield Avenue Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15205.
http://aahgs.citysoft.org/_data/n_0001/resources/live/2014%20Conference%20Packet.pdf

Saturday, October 11th: University of Pittsburgh's Book Center. A reading of excerpts and a book signing. 12noon - 1:00pm. https://www.pittuniversitystore.com/t-news_events.aspx

Sunday, October 12th: Friends and Family Day at Holy Cross Church 7507 Kelly St. in Homewood. Book signing follows morning service. 12:30 pm

To schedule future readings and/or book signings, contact me or Beth Svinarich of University Press of Colorado at beth@upcolorado.com.

Welcome to my blog. I am thrilled that I have the opportunity to share my new book entitled Staging Migrations toward an American West: From Ida B. Wells to Rhodessa Jones. 

You can purchase my book through University Press of Colorado and Amazon. 

To learn more about my work and my journey, see my interviews: Conversations with Selwyn and The Network Journal.