Sotterley

Fall Fun at Historic Sotterley
2021-10-17, 2021-10-22, 2021-10-23, 2021-10-24, 2021-10-29, 2021-10-30, 2021-10-31 | Historic Sotterley, 44300 Sotterley Lane, Hollywood, MD, 20636, United States
Enjoy some Fall Fun at Sotterley with family friendly events EVERY WEEKEND IN OCTOBER starting October 9th!
Come visit us to enjoy these activities included in your grounds fee (FREE for Members!):

Wagon Rides (Saturdays, 11:30-1:30, Sundays 12:30-2)
Story Time (Saturdays 10:30)
Scavenger Hunt
Round Bale Maze

While you’re here, peruse our pumpkin patch to purchase the best pumpkin for this year’s Jack-o-Lantern! Sign up for a Guided House Tour to get $1 off your pumpkin and show us your library card to get $1 off the price of your admission. Reminder for our members – your admission is FREE!
Proceeds from pumpkin sales will go to supporting our Growing for Good program, which grows fresh produce to donate to our local food banks and pantries. Purchasing your pumpkin with us helps community members in need.
Wagon rides will be limited to 10-15 people per ride, depending on family sizes and ability to social distance. We ask that masks be worn on the ride in the event that social distancing is not possible. Masks are still required in buildings such as the Visitor Center.
Check in at the Visitor Center to get the fun started!

Common Ground: The Color of My Country by Trudy Taliaferro - Part 1
2021-10-27 19:00 (America/New_York) | Virtual
Trudy Taliaferro
Head of Wellness Through the Arts Sacramento, Consultant, Writer, Director, Genealogist
The Color of My Country
Wednesday, October 27th, 2021 at 7:00 p.m.
____________________________________________________________________________

Click here to Register!
THIS EVENT IS TWO PARTS: Part one will be on October 27th, and part two will be on October 28th.
Trudy Allyson Taliaferro shares her rich, triracial heritage of her ancestors in Maryland, Virginia and Washington, DC, using her family’s history, stories, and photographs. That reality of racial diversity has informed the truth of her family’s strength and living in America today.
Trudy has multiple experiences producing performing arts concerts, visual arts events, television news and community affairs programs for top market NBC and ABC affiliates. She is also a writer, director and amateur genealogist.
​​​​​​​
​​​​​​​This event is made possible by the generous support of Maryland Humanities and the Maryland Heritage Area Authority.
FREE WEBINAR for the public – Advance registration required.
This year’s Common Ground will be offered virtually.
Click here to Register!

Common Ground: The Color of My Country by Trudy Taliaferro - Part 2
2021-10-28 19:00 | Virtual
Trudy Taliaferro
Head of Wellness Through the Arts Sacramento, Consultant, Writer, Director, Genealogist
The Color of My Country
Thursday, October 28th, 2021 at 7:00 p.m.
____________________________________________________________________________

Click here to Register!
THIS EVENT IS TWO PARTS: Part one will be on October 27th, and part two will be on October 28th.
Trudy Allyson Taliaferro shares her rich, triracial heritage of her ancestors in Maryland, Virginia and Washington, DC, using her family’s history, stories, and photographs. That reality of racial diversity has informed the truth of her family’s strength and living in America today.
Trudy has multiple experiences producing performing arts concerts, visual arts events, television news and community affairs programs for top market NBC and ABC affiliates. She is also a writer, director and amateur genealogist.
​​​​​​​
​​​​​​​This event is made possible by the generous support of Maryland Humanities and the Maryland Heritage Area Authority.
FREE WEBINAR for the public – Advance registration required.
This year’s Common Ground will be offered virtually.
Click here to Register!

Common Ground and Speaker Series: Food & Black Freedom: Reflections on Race, Resistance, and the Legacy of Food Justice by Dr. Bobby J. Smith II
2021-11-10 19:00 | Virtual
Dr. Bobby J. Smith II
Assistant Professor in the department of African American Studies at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Food & Black Freedom: Reflections on Race, Resistance, and the Legacy of Food Justice
Wednesday, November 10th, 2021 at 7:00 p.m.
____________________________________________________________________________

Click here to Register!
Dr. Smith will trace how the relationship between food, race, and power shape the social, political, and economic dynamics of the American Black Freedom Struggle. He examines the story of food during one of the most celebrated and hotly contested eras in American History—the Civil Rights Movement in the Mississippi Delta. Shedding light on the central role food played in the strategies and tactics of both proponents and opponents of the movement, Dr. Smith provides a critical historical foundation for understanding how Black communities and activists today address issues of food justice, food security, poverty, and hunger within national and global contexts.
​​​​​​​Dr. Bobby J. Smith II is a sociologist and Assistant Professor in the department of African American Studies at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. His research uses sociohistorical and community-based approaches to analyze historical and contemporary struggles for food justice and food sovereignty in Black communities in the United States. Dr. Smith graduated summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Science degree in Agriculture, with a focus on Agricultural Economics, from the historically-Black Prairie View A&M University in 2011. He earned a Master of Science degree in Agricultural Economics in 2013 and a Ph.D. in Development Sociology in 2018 from Cornell University.
​​​​​​​This event is made possible by the generous support of Maryland Humanities and the Maryland Heritage Area Authority.
FREE WEBINAR for the public – Advance registration required.
Click here to Register!

NovemBEER
2021-11-13 12:00 - 17:00 | Historic Sotterley, 44300 Sotterley Lane, Hollywood, MD, 20636, United States
NovemBEER
Saturday, NovemBEER 13th, 2021
VIP Early Party 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm
General Admission 1:00 pm – 5:00 pm

IMPORTANT – Please read ALL event information and policies below before making your purchase:
Buy Tickets Here!

Autumn Party & Craft Beer Event

Live Music & Dancing (if the spirit moves you) – Band TBD
Food for purchase – Food Vendors TBD

Fall is brewing at NovemBEER! Enjoy an assortment of craft beer while listening to a local band (TBD), perusing items from artisan vendors, and playing lawn games. Food appealing to all taste buds will be available for purchase from food trucks. Wine will also be available for purchase for the non-beer drinkers joining us! On Saturday, November 13th, 2021, the good times will roll from 1:00 – 5:00 p.m. Purchase a VIP ticket to start the party early and get in at 12:00 pm! Want to take the fun home? We’ll be offering growler fills throughout the event AND we’ll be selling LIMITED EDITION 32-ounce NovemBEER growlers while supplies last.
*** NEW ***
Our good friends at St. Mary’s Caring will have a booth at NovemBEER for collecting food donations! PLEASE bring non-perishable food items to drop off with them as you’re entering the event. Have fun while helping your community.
VIP Craft Beer Drinkers: $30 in advance, $35 at the door.
General Admission Craft Beer Drinkers: $20 in advance; $25 at the door.
Designated Drivers & General Admission (Non-beer drinkers): $10.
LIMITED EDITION 32 oz Growlers: $12 on site only, includes fill subject to beer availability.
BYOGrowler Fill: $10 on site only.

SHOUT OUT! We couldn’t do this event without our good friends Sunny Malhotra of Taphouse 1637/Bollywood Masala and Josh Peeling of The Hole In The Wall, who select the beer menu!

– ​Advance VIP Tickets: $30.00 includes one hour EARLY admission, a signature pint glass and eight 4 oz pours of selections from Maryland’s fantastic craft brewers. Purchase additional pours on-site. Purchase in advance to SAVE your spot and SAVE $5! Tickets will also be available at the gate ($35.00/ea.)
– ​Advance General Admission: $20.00 includes admission, a signature pint glass and four 4 oz pours of selections from Maryland’s fantastic craft brewers. Purchase additional pours on-site. Purchase in advance to SAVE your spot and SAVE $5! Tickets will also be available at the gate ($25.00/ea.)

– AT THE GATE ADMISSION:
VIP Beer Drinkers: $35
General Admission Beer Drinkers: $25.
Under 21 & Designated Drivers (Non-​​​beer drinkers): $10.
Children 6 and under: FREE
Purchasers of drinking tickets must be 21 or older. Please bring a valid ID or entry to the tasting will be denied. Food & drink will be available for additional purchase. Tasters of the craft brews will have the option to purchase additional pours. Upon arrival, proceed towards the Pavilion to the right of the Visitor Center to check in. Please be sure to read all event information and policies before making your purchase.
All tickets are NON-REFUNDABLE.
Event is RAIN or SHINE. In the unlikely event of cancellation, all tickets will be considered a taxable donation to Historic Sotterley, Inc.
Coolers, food, drink, and pets are not allowed at this event​, but chairs are welcome!

Airport Farmer's Market
2021-11-20 09:00 - 13:00 | SMC Regional Airport
Just in time for the Thanksgiving holiday, Historic Sotterley is proud to host the next installment of the Airport Farmer’s Market in partnership with the St. Mary’s County Regional Airport (also known as Captain Walter Francis Duke Regional Airport). This market will take place on Saturday, November 20th from 9:00 am—1:00 pm. The Farmer’s Market will feature fresh & local food and products in a place where visitors of all ages can see airplanes and future aviators take to the skies! This is a fantastic opportunity to source local foods for your Thanksgiving dinner.

The market will take place in the Airport Terminal building located at 44200 Airport Road, California, Maryland. Located in St. Mary’s County, the airport is about four miles northeast of the central business district of Leonardtown.

Vendors:

Boon Doggie Farms
No Guarantees Bakery
Tobacco Barn Distillery
Moonstruck Oysters
Blue Wind Gourmet (think chocolate!)
Intoxication
Finer Sweets
Achterberg Acres
Olivins – (Fine Infused Olive Oil and Vinegar)
Free State Cidery
Unforgoatable Goods
Shepherds Manor Creamery (delicious sheep cheeses!)
Calypso Designs by Gigi (Cakesickles & chocolate bombs)
Grandpap’s Country Harvest (honey and jams & apples)
Visit St. Mary’s (local experiences for the Holidays)

Winter Wonderland Workshops
2021-12-04 | Historic Sotterley, 44300 Sotterley Lane, Hollywood, MD, 20636, United States
First come & served, space is limited – reserve your spot now for this fun workshop to make your door the most festive for the holidays!

About this event

“Winter Wonderland Workshops”
by the Sotterley Garden Guild
Saturday, December 4, 2021
Various times throughout the day available for you to choose from: 8:30, 10:30, 1:00 & 3:00
Click Here to Buy Tickets
IMPORTANT – Please read ALL information below before making your reservation!
ADVANCE RESERVATIONS ARE REQUIRED FOR WORKSHOPS – Space is limited to 10 participants per session
ALL SALES ARE FINAL – NO REFUNDS AVAILABLE
Have you tried DIY holiday decor projects before, but just couldn’t seem to pull it off: Great news, the Sotterley Garden Guild is offering workshops on Saturday, December 4th to share their expertise! Only 10 participants per session and each session is 1 1/2 hours long.
Make this Christmas event part of your family tradition!
Please Note: Bring your own gloves and clippers for the workshops – other materials to be provided. Workshops will be held in Historic Sotterley Farmer’s Market Building. Guests are asked to arrive promptly for your workshop time and to proceed directly to the Farmer’s Market to check in. Visitors are encouraged to dress appropriately for the weather and to wear foot gear suitable for the conditions as the site is kept rustic, although the workshop will be held indoors.
* Current Covid guidelines will be followed.
If you experience any trouble making your reservation for a workshop, please call the office at 301-373-2280 (9 am – 5 pm, Monday – Friday) and we will be happy to help.

Airport Farmer's Market
2021-12-18 09:00 - 13:00 | SMC Regional Airport
Get some Holiday shopping done this Sautrday with the next installment of the Airport Farmer’s Market in partnership with the St. Mary’s County Regional Airport (also known as Captain Walter Francis Duke Regional Airport). This market will take place on Saturday, December 18th from 9:00 am—1:00 pm. The Farmer’s Market will feature fresh & local food and products in a place where visitors of all ages can see airplanes and future aviators take to the skies! Bring the kids, because Santa will be flying in at 11:30 to greet everyone!
The market will take place in the Airport Terminal building located at 44200 Airport Road, California, Maryland. Located in St. Mary’s County, the airport is about four miles northeast of the central business district of Leonardtown.

Vendors:

Free State Ciders
Shepherds Manor Creamery
Finer Sweets
Achterberg Acres
Olivins
Nativo
No Guarantees Bakery
Moonstruck Oysters
Unforgoatable goods
Boon Doggie Farm
R & H Farms
Mully’s Brewery
Blue Wind Gourmet Chocolate
Intoxi-Cation
Tobacco Barn Distillery
Olga’s Bakery creations
Calypso Designs by Gigi (Cakesickles & Chocolate Bombs)

Sotterley Presents: People and Perspectives - Journeys for Change with Joseph McGill
2022-01-26 19:00 | Virtual
Joseph McGill, Jr.
Founder of The Slave Dwelling Project, History Consultant for Magnolia Plantation
Journeys for Change
Wednesday, January 26th, 2022 at 7:00 p.m.
____________________________________________________________________________

Click here to Register!
Joseph McGill, founder of The Slave Dwelling Project, has been visiting sites across the country for over a decade, sleeping in structures where enslaved people slept and preserved their culture, bringing awareness to their lives and stories in the belief in the importance of the preservation of these places and the inclusion of these stories in the interpretation of authentic history. He will share his insights into the struggles, challenges, and triumphs of this work.
Joseph McGill, Jr. is a history consultant for Magnolia Plantation in Charleston, South Carolina, and the founder and director of The Slave Dwelling Project. Previously, as a field officer for the National Trust for Historic Preservation, Mr. McGill worked to revitalize the Sweet Auburn commercial district in Atlanta, Georgia, and to develop a management plan for the Mississippi Delta National Heritage Area. He is a former executive director of the African American Museum in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and a former director of history and culture at Penn Center, St. Helena Island, South Carolina. He has also served as a National Park Service park ranger at Fort Sumter National Monument in Charleston.
​​​​​​​This event is made possible by the generous support of Maryland Humanities and the Maryland Heritage Area Authority.
FREE WEBINAR for the public – Advance registration required.
Click here to Register!

Sotterley Presents: People and Perspectives - UCAC Education for All Discussion Panel
2022-02-09 19:00 | Virtual
UCAC History and Research Committee
Unified Committee for Afro-American Contributions
UCAC Education for All
Wednesday, February 9th, 2022 at 7:00 p.m.
_________________________________________________

Register Here
Join members of the UCAC History and Research Committee to discuss the importance, impact and scope of its work. Hear about the vision and purpose of UCAC education from the people that research and contribute to the creation of publications, monuments, celebrations and oral histories, that celebrate the role of African Americans in St. Mary’s County, Maryland. The panel will discuss their journey, their obstacles, and their victories to inspire and highlight the urgency to preserve and share this history.
The Unified Committee for Afro-American Contributions (UCAC) is a local organization that documents, educates, and commemorates African Americans who have contributed to the history and development of St. Mary’s County, and advocates for improvements for equitable healthcare, education, and community building for all.
​​​​​​​This event is made possible by the generous support of Maryland Humanities and the Maryland Heritage Area Authority.
FREE WEBINAR for the public – Advance registration required.
Register Here

Airport Farmer's Market
2022-02-13 09:00 - 13:00 | SMC Regional Airport
Come shop local at the “Fly-in” Farmer’s Market for your Super Bowl feast or romantic Valentine’s dinner. You don’t need an airplane to come, you can drive, walk, or bike also! There will be a bounty of locally grown and produced items to please one and all. The market runs 9am to 1pm, so plenty of time to get set for the big game.
Sotterley is sponsoring this special Super Bowl/Valentine’s Day market at the Airport Terminal building located at 44200 Airport Road, California, Maryland. Located in St. Mary’s County, the airport is about four miles northeast of the central business district of Leonardtown.

Vendors:
Free State Ciders (craft hard cider)
Shepherds Manor Creamery (MD’s only Sheep Cheese)
Finer Sweets (pies, cookies, baked goods)
Olivins (gourmet olive oils and balsamic vinegars)
Nativo (spices)
Intoxi-Cake-Tion (Specialty baked goods with a “kick”)
Moonstruck Oysters (farm raised oysters)
Unforgoatable goods (goat milk soaps)
Boon Doggie Farm (pickles, relishes & jams)
Scorpion Brewery (craft beer)
Blue Wind Gourmet (chocolates and stuffed ham orders)
Tobacco Barn Distillery (craft Bourbon & Whiskeys)
Olga’s Bakery Creations (cookies and baked goods)
Calypso Designs by Gigi (Cakesickles)
Dixon Farm (Flowers & craft Maple Syrup)
Sotterley (Growing for Good)
Zekiah Farms (local meats, honey, eggs & produce)

Sotterley Presents: People and Perspectives – Finding Chris Haley with Chris Haley
2022-03-16 19:00 | Virtual
Chris Haley
Director of the Study of the Legacy of Slavery in Maryland at the Maryland State Archives and the Utopia Film Festival
Finding Chris Haley
Wednesday, March 16th, 2022 at 7:00 p.m.
____________________________________________________________________________

Click here to Register!
Mr. Chris Haley will discuss his life, responsibility, joys, challenges, his future, and the legacy of his family so widely known from the work of his famous uncle, author, Alex Haley.
As Director of both the Study of the Legacy of Slavery in Maryland at the Maryland State Archives Research Department and the Utopia Film Festival in Greenbelt, Maryland, Mr. Haley has served on many prestigious boards in the world of African American genealogy as well as in the Arts. They include the Kunta Kinte-Alex Haley Foundation, Historic London Town Foundation, Jake Savage Foundation, Annapolis Arts Alliance Foundation and the Annapolis Film Festival among others.
Chris is well respected as a speaker at numerous venues throughout the United States where he has spoken on themes such as African American history, self-empowerment, and genealogy. He earned his B.A in English, with Drama minor at The University of Maryland – College Park, and resides in Landover, Maryland.
​​​​​​​This event is made possible by the generous support of Maryland Humanities and the Maryland Heritage Area Authority.
FREE WEBINAR for the public – Advance registration required.
Click here to Register!

Growing for Good - Potato Planting Day
2022-03-26 09:00 - 12:30, 2022-04-02 09:00 - 12:30 | Historic Sotterley, 44300 Sotterley Lane, Hollywood, MD, 20636, United States
Sign Up Here
An opportunity to help your community… get out of the house and help your neighbors in need all while safely maintaining social distancing!
Volunteers who enjoy the great outdoors, don’t mind getting dirty, and want to help others are asked to join us for another planting extravaganza at Historic Sotterley, as part of our “Growing for Good” program! We are continuing the challenging work of sustainably farming the land. What we produce at Sotterley supports those in need in partnership with local food pantries.
One planting session on two different dates to choose from: 9:00 am and 12:30 pm. Perfect oppotunity for your Girl Scout OR Boy Scout troops to meet volunteer requirements! This is a family-friendly event – we invite anyone 5 and older to help plant.
Treats provided.
Please sign up in advance so we know how many volunteers to expect.
Plan to arrive approximately 15 minutes prior to your start time and check-in at the Farm Building next to the Visitor Center.
We highly recommend hats, gloves, sunscreen, bug spray, shoes and clothes you are not afraid to get dirty!
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact Kim Husick at officemanager@sotterley.org or 301-373-2280 x. 1105

Airport Farmer's Market
2022-04-10 09:00 - 13:00 | SMC Regional Airport
Come shop local at the “Fly-in” Farmer’s Market for your Easter dinner or weekday meals. You don’t need an airplane to come, you can drive, walk, or bike also! There will be a bounty of locally grown and produced items to please one and all. The market runs 9am to 1pm, so plenty of time to get set for the big game.
Sotterley is sponsoring this unique market at the Airport Terminal building located at 44200 Airport Road, California, Maryland. Located in St. Mary’s County, the airport is about four miles northeast of the central business district of Leonardtown.

Vendors:
Intoxi-Cake-Tion
Olga’s Cakes
Zekiah Farms
Mully’s Brewery
Gato’s Tacos (Food Truck)
Tobacco Barn Distillery
Moonstruck Oysters
Dixon Family Farm
Sotterley (Growing for Good)
Olivins Olive Oils & Vinegars
Free State Ciders

Spring Break Activities: Partnering for Playing and Preservation
2022-04-11 10:00 - 16:00, 2022-04-12 10:00 - 16:00, 2022-04-13 10:00 - 16:00, 2022-04-14 10:00 - 16:00, 2022-04-15 10:30 - 16:00 | Historic Sotterley, 44300 Sotterley Lane, Hollywood, MD, 20636, United States
Sotterley is hosting a series of family friendly activities for you and your kids during Spring Break week (April 11th – 15th)! Unless otherwise noted, all activities start at 10:30.

Special event pricing for spring break is $5 per person ages 3 and up!

Monday, April 11th – Muddy Art Pottery will be on site all day (see their Facebook page here: https://www.facebook.com/muddyartpottery/) providing demos on how to use a pottery wheel. They will also have items for sale – it’s never too early to shopping for Mother’s Day or unique Easter gifts!
Tuesday, April 12th – Destination: Imagination! Local authors Dr. Nocola Williams and Meredith Johnson will be hosting a story time in the garden along with PurePlay – a children’s activity company that promotes creativity and connectiong with nature.

10:00 AM – Pure Play will be on site. (https://pureplayeveryday.org/index.php/play-kits/)
11:00 AM – Dr. Nocola Williams will be reading her latest book “Freddie the Flounder Goes to School,” an engaging story about the adventures of a young fish. (https://www.amazon.com/Freddie-Flounder-School-Nocola-Williams-ebook/dp/B09MMR345S)
1:00 PM – Meredith Johnson will be reading her book “Just Like Daddy,” a wonderful book about the bond between parents and children. (https://www.amazon.com/Just-Like-Daddy-Meredith-Johnson/dp/1734955635)

Wednesday, April 13th – Join us for a Lego challenge! Learn about how Sotterley was constructed and then try to build your own model of Sotterley! Later this spring these models will be put on display in the museum shop for visitors to see!
Thursday, April 14th – Flying kites and Bingo! Bring a kite to fly on our beautiful grounds and take part in our Scavenger Hunt Bingo.
Friday, April 15th – Once Upon a Time in the Garden – Join us at 10:30 AM for an interactive story time with librarian Jill Hutchinson!

Garden Guild Plant Sale
2022-04-23 09:00 - 14:00, 2022-04-24 12:00 - 15:00 | Historic Sotterley, 44300 Sotterley Lane, Hollywood, MD, 20636, United States
Celebrating Spring with the
Historic Sotterley Garden Guild’s Plant Sale
Saturday April 23rd: 9:00 am – 2 pm
Sunday April 24th: Noon – 3 pm

Spring is just around the corner and that means it’s time for a much-anticipated event – the annual Plant Sale sponsored by the Historic Sotterley Garden Guild! The sale will take place at Sotterley for two days only – it is your chance to buy plants lovingly nurtured by the Sotterley gardeners. Have questions about your plants? Members of the Garden Guild will be on hand with the answers and to share advice. The funds raised by this all-volunteer group of gardening enthusiasts are used to maintain the beautiful Colonial Revival Garden adjacent to the Sotterley Manor House.

A community Free Plant Exchange will run on Saturday only from 9 am to noon, or until the plants run out. Do you have too many plants, or some divisions or bulbs you want to share? You can exchange your plants for other annuals, perennials, herbs, vegetables, etc.

The popularity of this event continues to grow, and we invite you to revel in the wonders of springtime!

Common Ground: Passage to Strength and Change Symposium
2022-04-29 10:00 - 15:00 | Historic Sotterley, 44300 Sotterley Lane, Hollywood, MD, 20636, United States
April 29 and 30, 2022, Historic Sotterley will hold two days of on-site programing, entitled, Common Ground:Passage to Strength and Change. This symposium will feature a roundtable of some of Sotterley’s diverse descendants, a living history performance, a study of genealogy to discover unknown relatives and ancestors using DNA, and the Executive Vice-President of Content from Maryland Public Television telling his own journey using previews of yet to be released films, Becoming Frederick Douglas, and Harriet Tubman Visions of Freedom. This program is made possible thanks to grants from the National Trust for Historic Preservation, Maryland Humanities, and Maryland Heritage Areas Authority.
Free registration is now open, there is limited seating! Register Here
If you are unable to make the event in-person, we are offering a virtual option. You can register to attend virtually Here. You must click “Register to All Dates Below”, WebinarJam will not allow you to register to individual sessions.
There is now a lunch option available for purchase HERE! You must purchase your lunch in advance to receive it the day of the event. You are welcome to bring a bagged lunch, if you’d prefer.

Schedule
Friday, April 29th 10 am – 12 pm
Descendant Roundtable Discussion
Join Sotterley’s diverse and distinguished group of Descendants as they discuss Sotterley’s past as it relates to their lives and the personal impact it has on them, while sharing and discussing their fears, hopes, dreams, and plans for Sotterley and our community in the future. Audience Q and A to follow.

Friday, April 29th 1 pm – 3 pm
Living History Performance
Meet Ida Bell Wells-Barnett brought to life by actor/interpreter, Shemika Renée.
Ida Bell Wells-Barnett (July 16, 1862-March 25, 1931) was an American investigative journalist, educator, and early leader in the Civil Rights movement. She was one of the founders of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People.
Shemika Renée is a costumer, award nominated and winning actor, and First Qtr winner of Enginuity Film Festival 2017. She received a WATCH award in 2013 and Clifton Film Celebration award for makeup artist. She is the former Head Costumer and Makeup Adjunct Professor at the College of Southern Maryland. After serving as an officer in the US Air Force for five years, she decided to pursue her dreams of stage and screen. She has performed throughout the DMV to include roles in A Midsummer Night’s Dream, The Miricle Worker, A Raisin in the Sun, Doubt, A Parable, Fences, The Color Purple, Seven Guitars, August: Osage County, and Ragtime. She has done background acting work on House of Cards, The Blacklist, and VEEP. Shemika also starred in Sotterley’s live production of The Choice-Risking Your Life for Freedom from 2012-2015, and then the film version.
In addition to being the Outreach Specialist and historical interpreter at the National Colonial Farm in Accokeek, Maryland, she also travels to schools throughout Maryland bringing historical figures to life. In 2019 she wrote and starred in her own one-woman show, Ms. Story’s Living History. In 2020 she portrayed Harriet Tubman at The Capitol Building in honor of Harriet Tubman, sponsored by the then Democratic Vice-Presidential nominee, Senator Kamala Harris.

Saturday, April 30th 10 am – 12 pm
Cornerstone of Discovery: Uncovering Amazing Family History Using DNA with Jerome Spears
From Africa, to Australia, to the UK, and all parts in between, DNA analysis can play a critical role in what discoveries can be possible. Using a wide variety of sources and methods, Sotterley descendant and Genealogist, Mr. Jerome Spears will go completely around the fan-chart within one Southern Maryland-based family tree to reveal the rainbow of ethnicities and connections that can be found. Discussion, resource sharing, and Q and A will follow the presentation. Genealogy based door prizes will be drawn for registered in-person attendees!
Jerome Spears is a native of Baltimore, Maryland. He accelerated his genealogical research efforts back in 2009. He attended Morgan State University and received his undergraduate degree from the University of Hawaii in Geography that has served him well in assisting his approach of meticulously positioning his ancestors within the historical context of place to uncover and reveal remarkable and amazing family history discoveries. In 2015 he documented the history of his eight linear ancestral families, rising out from slavery to freedom and beyond, in a national award-winning manuscript, I’ve Got Your Back. He has presented at national level conferences, including the Afro-American Historical and Genealogical Society (AAHGS), RootsTech Connect and the Southern California Genealogical Society Jamboree. In 2020 he used DNA methods to find and then successfully contact his own family’s “Kunta Kinte” from Nigeria. As a GU272, Susquehanna Plantation, and Historic Sotterley Plantation descendant, his regional focus continues to be nested in Maryland, Washington, D.C., and Virginia, with compelling lings to North Carolina, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Illinois, Louisiana, Alabama, the U. K., Ireland, Australia and the African Countries of Nigeria, Ghana, Sierra Leone, Senegal, Angola, and the Congo. Spears is a retired 30-year U.S. Army veteran, who over that same period experienced some levels of success as a musician and record producer, as well as a professional boxing commentator. He is a member of Howard County’s Central Maryland Chapter of AAHGS and now adds Genealogist, family historian, lecturer, and truth-seeker to his titles as he continues to discover and speak to relatives, past and present.

Saturday, April 30th 1 pm – 3 pm
Journeys with Travis Mitchell
Travis Mitchell, the Senior Vice-President, and Chief Content Officer for Maryland Public Television will share his personal and professional journeys. Segments of the films, Becoming Fredrick Douglas, and Harriet Tubman Visions of Freedom. that are set to premiere this fall on PBS will be featured throughout his presentation.
Travis Mitchell joined Maryland Public Television in early 2020 to oversee all content created, acquired, and aired on the statewide public television network’s TV channels and online properties. Mr. Mitchell brings more than two decades of media experience to his role at MPT, having served most recently as chief content officer for University of North Carolina Television (UNC-TV). During his time with the public television station, he provided editorial vision and garnered support for UNC-TV’s educational services and programming content on its four TV channels and in its online properties. Prior to his role as chief content officer, he was a member of the UNC-TV Board of Trustees. Mr. Mitchell also served as executive vice president and chief operating officer for the Atlanta-based Black Family Channel, where he drove the channel’s distribution growth from availability in two cities to more than 3,600 cities, 48 states, and 31 million homes while managing affiliate sales, advertising, programming, and launching sports and news divisions. He earned an undergraduate degree in broadcast journalism from Morgan State University and a master’s degree in entrepreneurship and education from the University of Pennsylvania Graduate School of Education in Philadelphia. He completed further executive education study at the Harvard Kennedy School of Government in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Mr. Mitchell has served on the foundation board of Morgan State University and as a member of PBS Children’s Media and Education Working Group and the National Cable Television Association Policy Issues Committee. He received an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters in 2021 from Shaw University in Raleigh, North Carolina in recognition of his more than 25 years of service to the community as a media and non-profit executive.

Common Ground: Passage to Strength and Change Symposium
2022-04-30 10:00 - 15:00 | Historic Sotterley, 44300 Sotterley Lane, Hollywood, MD, 20636, United States
April 29 and 30, 2022, Historic Sotterley will hold two days of on-site programing, entitled, Common Ground:Passage to Strength and Change. This symposium will feature a roundtable of some of Sotterley’s diverse descendants, a living history performance, a study of genealogy to discover unknown relatives and ancestors using DNA, and the Executive Vice-President of Content from Maryland Public Television telling his own journey using previews of yet to be released films, Becoming Frederick Douglas, and Harriet Tubman Visions of Freedom. This program is made possible thanks to grants from the National Trust for Historic Preservation, Maryland Humanities, and Maryland Heritage Areas Authority.
Free registration is now open, there is limited seating! Register Here
If you are unable to make the event in-person, we are offering a virtual option. You can register to attend virtually Here. You must click “Register to All Dates Below”, WebinarJam will not allow you to register to individual sessions.
There is now a lunch option available for purchase HERE! You must purchase your lunch in advance to receive it the day of the event. You are welcome to bring a bagged lunch, if you’d prefer.

Schedule
Friday, April 29th 10 am – 12 pm
Descendant Roundtable Discussion
Join Sotterley’s diverse and distinguished group of Descendants as they discuss Sotterley’s past as it relates to their lives and the personal impact it has on them, while sharing and discussing their fears, hopes, dreams, and plans for Sotterley and our community in the future. Audience Q and A to follow.

Friday, April 29th 1 pm – 3 pm
Living History Performance
Meet Ida Bell Wells-Barnett brought to life by actor/interpreter, Shemika Renée.
Ida Bell Wells-Barnett (July 16, 1862-March 25, 1931) was an American investigative journalist, educator, and early leader in the Civil Rights movement. She was one of the founders of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People.
Shemika Renée is a costumer, award nominated and winning actor, and First Qtr winner of Enginuity Film Festival 2017. She received a WATCH award in 2013 and Clifton Film Celebration award for makeup artist. She is the former Head Costumer and Makeup Adjunct Professor at the College of Southern Maryland. After serving as an officer in the US Air Force for five years, she decided to pursue her dreams of stage and screen. She has performed throughout the DMV to include roles in A Midsummer Night’s Dream, The Miricle Worker, A Raisin in the Sun, Doubt, A Parable, Fences, The Color Purple, Seven Guitars, August: Osage County, and Ragtime. She has done background acting work on House of Cards, The Blacklist, and VEEP. Shemika also starred in Sotterley’s live production of The Choice-Risking Your Life for Freedom from 2012-2015, and then the film version.
In addition to being the Outreach Specialist and historical interpreter at the National Colonial Farm in Accokeek, Maryland, she also travels to schools throughout Maryland bringing historical figures to life. In 2019 she wrote and starred in her own one-woman show, Ms. Story’s Living History. In 2020 she portrayed Harriet Tubman at The Capitol Building in honor of Harriet Tubman, sponsored by the then Democratic Vice-Presidential nominee, Senator Kamala Harris.

Saturday, April 30th 10 am – 12 pm
Cornerstorn of Discovery: Uncovering Amazing Family History Using DNA with Jerome Spears
From Africa, to Australia, to the UK, and all parts in between, DNA analysis can play a critical role in what discoveries can be possible. Using a wide variety of sources and methods, Sotterley descendant and Genealogist, Mr. Jerome Spears will go completely around the fan-chart within one Southern Maryland-based family tree to reveal the rainbow of ethnicities and connections that can be found. Discussion, resource sharing, and Q and A will follow the presentation. Genealogy based door prizes will be drawn for registered in-person attendees!
Jerome Spears is a native of Baltimore, Maryland. He accelerated his genealogical research efforts back in 2009. He attended Morgan State University and received his undergraduate degree from the University of Hawaii in Geography that has served him well in assisting his approach of meticulously positioning his ancestors within the historical context of place to uncover and reveal remarkable and amazing family history discoveries. In 2015 he documented the history of his eight linear ancestral families, rising out from slavery to freedom and beyond, in a national award-winning manuscript, I’ve Got Your Back. He has presented at national level conferences, including the Afro-American Historical and Genealogical Society (AAHGS), RootsTech Connect and the Southern California Genealogical Society Jamboree. In 2020 he used DNA methods to find and then successfully contact his own family’s “Kunta Kinte” from Nigeria. As a GU272, Susquehanna Plantation, and Historic Sotterley Plantation descendant, his regional focus continues to be nested in Maryland, Washington, D.C., and Virginia, with compelling lings to North Carolina, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Illinois, Louisiana, Alabama, the U. K., Ireland, Australia and the African Countries of Nigeria, Ghana, Sierra Leone, Senegal, Angola, and the Congo. Spears is a retired 30-year U.S. Army veteran, who over that same period experienced some levels of success as a musician and record producer, as well as a professional boxing commentator. He is a member of Howard County’s Central Maryland Chapter of AAHGS and now adds Genealogist, family historian, lecturer, and truth-seeker to his titles as he continues to discover and speak to relatives, past and present.

Saturday, April 30th 1 pm – 3 pm
Journeys with Travis Mitchell
Travis Mitchell, the Senior Vice-President, and Chief Content Officer for Maryland Public Television will share his personal and professional journeys. Segments of the films, Becoming Fredrick Douglas, and Harriet Tubman Visions of Freedom. that are set to premiere this fall on PBS will be featured throughout his presentation.
Travis Mitchell joined Maryland Public Television in early 2020 to oversee all content created, acquired, and aired on the statewide public television network’s TV channels and online properties. Mr. Mitchell brings more than two decades of media experience to his role at MPT, having served most recently as chief content officer for University of North Carolina Television (UNC-TV). During his time with the public television station, he provided editorial vision and garnered support for UNC-TV’s educational services and programming content on its four TV channels and in its online properties. Prior to his role as chief content officer, he was a member of the UNC-TV Board of Trustees. Mr. Mitchell also served as executive vice president and chief operating officer for the Atlanta-based Black Family Channel, where he drove the channel’s distribution growth from availability in two cities to more than 3,600 cities, 48 states, and 31 million homes while managing affiliate sales, advertising, programming, and launching sports and news divisions. He earned an undergraduate degree in broadcast journalism from Morgan State University and a master’s degree in entrepreneurship and education from the University of Pennsylvania Graduate School of Education in Philadelphia. He completed further executive education study at the Harvard Kennedy School of Government in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Mr. Mitchell has served on the foundation board of Morgan State University and as a member of PBS Children’s Media and Education Working Group and the National Cable Television Association Policy Issues Committee. He received an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters in 2021 from Shaw University in Raleigh, North Carolina in recognition of his more than 25 years of service to the community as a media and non-profit executive.
