Humanities in Action: Celebrating the Stories that Shape Pennsylvania's Communities
Humanities in Action: Celebrating the Stories that Shape Pennsylvania's Communities
Explore how the humanities are bringing to light the often-unseen stories that shape our communities with an engaging discussion including PA Humanities Executive Director Laurie Zierer and Dawn Frisby Byers, the senior director of content and engagement at PA Humanities, along with Dr. Rhonda Matthews, co-founder and chief operating officer of Erie's Black Wall Street. They will illuminate the ways community-driven storytelling initiatives, like PA Heart & Soul and Voices of History, are uncovering, preserving, and celebrating Pennsylvania's rich history. Learn about the transformative power of the humanities in uplifting diverse narratives that deepen our connection to community and foster equity, growth, and lasting change.
Location: Jefferson Educational Society - 3207 State Street, Erie, PA 16508
Date/Time: Tuesday, May 7 at 7:00 p.m.
Admission: $15/person or $25 with a guest
Parking: lot behind building, State Street, 33rd Street, 32nd Street, French Street
Dawn Frisby Byers, B.A., is Senior Director of Content and Engagement at PA Humanities, specializes in strategic arts and culture marketing, brand development and program management. Her extensive career includes roles across the cable television industry, Broadway, and with notable institutions such as Sesame Workshop, the Apollo Theater, and the Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts. Dawn holds dual degrees in Public Policy and Drama from Duke University. She is the board chair of the Philadelphia Cultural Fund and was recently named a 2024 Black Trailblazer by City & State PA.
Laurie Zierer, M.A.
Rhonda Matthews, Ph.D., is an associate professor of political science and women’s studies in the Department of Political Science and Criminal Justice at Edinboro University. Rhonda has been with the university since 2002 and served as the director of the Dr. Robert C. Weber Honors Program for three years. Prior to her work at Edinboro, she taught at several other institutions and worked in the fields of diversity affairs and residence life. Rhonda is dedicated to the advocacy and empowerment of women and children as a result of her previous work as a sexual assault survivor counselor. Using tenets of intersectional analysis, her primary areas of academic interest include gender & women’s studies, sociological theory, popular culture and stratification. She is a long-time fan of science fiction, superheroes and comic books, is married and has one daughter.
