Highlander Celebrates 80 Years September 1st-September 2nd, Highlights from the Gathering

“Equality and justice for all keeps you current, keeps you relevant and keeps you intersectional.”
-Mandy Carter, Highlander 80^th Anniversary Opening Plenary Speake

Thank you all for a touching and transformative weekend celebrating Highlander’s 80 years. Over 300 people attended Highlander’s 80^th Anniversary over 2 days. Our weekend included thoughtful plenary discussions, participatory workshops, provoking films, creative scholar/activist discussions, art making, music, dancing, meals highlighting local food, a lively and stimulating children’s program and building relationships across every state in the South and from as far away as Nicaragua. We will post audio, video and images of the event as they become available.

We hope you will stay connected to us in this work; you can find updates about what we are doing on Facebook, our website and through the mail.

Thank you again to all the staff, volunteers and volunteer program facilitators—your contributions helped contribute to a successful and transformative weekend!

If you have beautiful 80^th photos please email jpeacock at highlander center.org and we will add them to our online album.  We will continue to update photos as we receive them. 

View the beginning of our 80^th Anniversary album here: http://s1258.photobucket.com/albums/ii524/highlander80th/

Below you will find feedback from the event. We would love to know more about what you thought. Please fill out a survey here: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/Y85VLTL

80^th Comments

“Hats off to the staff!!!The workshops, plenary sessions and speakers were all so wonderful!!!! Our meal times and conversations along with the music were fantastic!!!”
-Elnora Williams, 80^th Anniversary attendee

Excerpt from a poem written by Lindsay Gargotto, Women in Transition, Louisville, KY

Eighty years of resistance
have settled these hills.

By hand we till this land.

By hand we enchant this land:

Ella Baker combed her hair,
washed her hands, sipped
cubed ice tea, sewed her toes
in the sultry grass for relief.

Miles Horton bellowed his
morning yawn, carried his
worn body eagerly to pluck a
brilliant tomato to share.

Anne Braden with her pen
magnetized to her hand
wrote manifesto’s on the porch
rocking her idea’s into the world.

And now I am here.
Gulping the same sweet southern tea dissipating all apathy.
Bellowing NO justice! NO peace! through my skin in solidarity with my sisters’.
Rocking my babes’ tight in my arms, close to my heart beating as one.