I recently had the pleasure of collaborating in the production of the recent Collecting Recollections series with Newtown Alive!, a cultural heritage preservation project,”that aims to trace the 100-year history of the African American community of Newtown.” Hosted by Newtown Alive! Founder and ABC7 TV Host Vickie Oldham, the interviewers with Shelia Atkins, Sheila Sanders, and Odessa Butler captured childhood memories of Newtown, their experiences of segregation and activism during the civil rights era, and their impact within the Newtown and Sarasota community. It was a exceptional experience to listen to their stories, and I hope you will too!

Shelia Atkins

Sheila Sanders

Odessa Butler

Find out more about Newtown Alive! and their mission, visit http://www.newtownalive.org/.