Get ready to embark on a journey through Charleston's captivating past with our October Speaker Sessions!
We're thrilled to again bring renowned local speakers and authors to our community, offering insightful discussions on topics ranging from the history of Charleston to the stories of the enslaved and cherished Lowcountry traditions.
Whether you're a history buff eager to uncover new insights or simply curious about the rich tapestry of our surroundings, there's something for everyone to enjoy and learn from.
Time: 6-7pm - FREE with advance registration
Wednesday, October 2 — Ron Daise, Performing Artist, Writer, Cultural Interpreter and Author of "Raptors in the Ricelands"
Wednesday, October 9 — Margaret Seidler, Author, “Payne-ful” Business: Charleston’s Journey to Truth
Wednesday, October 16 —The Right Reverend Ruth Woodliff-Stanley, Diocese of South Carolina
Wednesday, October 23 — George McDaniel, Director of Preservation and Interpretation, Magnolia Plantation & Gardens
Wednesday, October 30 — Grant Gilmore, Ph.D., Director of the Historic Preservation and Community Planning Program at the College of Charleston
About the Speakers
In a novel portrayal of Gullah Geechee culture, author and cultural interpreter Ron Daise will engage listeners in a
participatory presentation about history, songs, beliefs, and language. He will share information about his research for and
excerpts from his historical novel, Raptors in the Ricelands, which is set in a fictional Gullah Geechee community.
Margaret Seidler is a retired Organization Development consultant and master trainer. Her
practice focused on creating higher performance in both organization and community systems.
Her interest in helping other professionals become more effective leaders began in the early
1990s, when she recognized a dire need to improve her own leadership skills. Her areas of
expertise included managing complex challenges, emotional intelligence, teambuilding, conflict
resolution and interpersonal communications skills.
The Right Reverend Ruth Woodliff-Stanley was ordained and consecrated as the 15th bishop of the Episcopal
Diocese of South Carolina on Saturday, October 2, 2021. Raised and ordained in Mississippi,
Woodliff-Stanley has served many roles within the Episcopal Church. Prior to her election in May, she
was serving as Canon for Strategic Change for the Dioceses of Northwestern Pennsylvania & Western
New York and Senior Vice President for Strategic Change for the Episcopal Church Building Fund. She is
married to The Reverend Nathan and has two adult sons.
As residents of the Lowcountry, we are all aware of the waterways crisscrossing our beautiful landscape. In fact, we probably
drive across them every day on our ways to and from work. Did you know that those same waterways were used by the enslaved
seeking freedom in the rivers and swamps of the Lowcountry? These waterways formed a “Local Underground Railroad” for those
seeking freedom, however brief that freedom may be. The rivers and swamps enabled these freedom seekers to navigate both
the physical and the social landscapes between slavery and freedom.
Magnolia’s director of interpretation, George H. McDaniel, will draw upon his research and work, which resulted in getting
Four Holes Swamp approved as a designated site in the National Park Service’s National Underground Railroad Network to
Freedom program. Further, he will explore how that work might be applied to the Ashley River region. His presentation will
describe how the enslaved used these waterways to traverse great distances and navigate these complex landscapes. In doing
so, he will also explore how we can connect the peninsula of Charleston to inland sites and locales across the Lowcountry and
help us all see these waterways in new ways.
Grant Gilmore, Ph.D. is a recognized leader in Heritage Management and Education with deep experience in developing
diverse, equitable and just policies and procedures based upon research. He is the Director of the Historic Preservation and
Community Planning Program at the College of Charleston, the largest such program in the United States.
He is currently serving on the Board of Trustees for ICOMOS-USA (2016-24) the foundation that represents the United States in
the World Heritage program under UNESCO (and has served) in a variety of capacities in local and regional NGOs and governing
bodies.
His research interests include slavery and its impacts on societies, the origins of Capitalism within Caribbean economies,
religious sites, vernacular architecture, heritage management, historic preservation and public archaeology.