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 — Pete Candler, Author and Photographer
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.
Born and raised in Atlanta, Georgia, Pete Candler is a writer and photographer whose work has appeared in Los Angeles Review of Books, Commonweal, The Bitter Southerner, The Christian Century, The Chicago Tribune, Southern Cultures, The Washington Post, and others. A graduate of Wake Forest University (B.A.) and The University of Cambridge (M.Phil., Ph.D.), a student and former professor of theology, Pete writes about memory, forgetfulness, and the legacy of white supremacy in the American South. He is the author of a photography collection, The Road to Unforgetting: Detours in the American South 1997 - 2022 (Horse & Buggy Press, 2022), and A Deeper South: The Beauty, Mystery, and Sorrow of the Southern Road (University of South Carolina Press, 2024). Pete lives in Asheville with his wife, Meredith, and their four boys.
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.