Evans weaves music, poetry, dance and drama to bring history alive through theater programs, workshops and seminars that inform, education and entertain audiences. She has toured extensively across the US and internationally with her historical and original pieces. In her work, Evans portrays significant women of color who changed the world and offers a suite of spoken word, poetry, song and dance performances, workshops and seminars tailored for national and international audiences.
At Eastern, she will perform her Voices from the Earth (VFTE) Chautauqua program which educates, enlightens and empowers through artistic presentations, community conversations and cultural experiences. The program emphasizes the diversity and history of the Appalachian and Affrilachian communities to strengthen and preserve the culture through storytelling.
In They Call Me Miss Memphis, Evans provides a historical portrayal of Memphis Tennessee Garrison (1890-1988), a West Virginian Civil Rights activist, first female field secretary of the NAACP, educator and community leader. Garrison was a dedicated servant to the black community of the southern West Virginia Coal fields and became an outspoken advocate of children with disabilities, engineering IEPs and innovative reading strategies. She was a 35 year veteran of the classroom, a Girl Scout leader, recipient of the T.G. Nutter Award, member of President Lyndon B. Johnson’s National Citizens Committee on Community Relations and recipient of the Madame C.J. Walker Award and Governor’s Living Dream Award.
The 60 minute presentation occurs in Room 104b at noon and lunch is provided. Contact Monica Wilson at (304) 434-8000 ext. 9235 or monica.wilson@easternwv.edu