#37 - Can Archives Shape What’s Next? Upton Mansion and a $16M Vision | Savannah Wood of Afro Charities

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Manage episode 487365928 series 2634591
Content provided by Contrarian Aquarian Media and Rob Lee. All podcast content including episodes, graphics, and podcast descriptions are uploaded and provided directly by Contrarian Aquarian Media and Rob Lee or their podcast platform partner. If you believe someone is using your copyrighted work without your permission, you can follow the process outlined here https://ppacc.player.fm/legal.

Artist, educator, and Afro Charities Executive Director Savannah Wood joins to reflect on legacy, growth, and leading one of Baltimore’s most ambitious cultural preservation efforts.

Savannah has overseen major milestones—most notably, the $16M redevelopment of the historic Upton Mansion, future home of the Afro-American Newspaper (AFRO) archives. We talk about curiosity as a compass, how archives become creative tools, and why joy, movement, and cultural memory drive her work forward.

Topics Covered:

  • Activating history through artist commissions and intergenerational programs
  • Transforming the Upton Mansion into a public anchor for Black archives
  • The role of tennis and joy in creating grounding spaces
  • Understanding cultural stewardship as an inherited and intentional act
  • Collaborating across generations to develop meaningful public programming

🎧 Explore more conversations like this in our archive.

📸 Photo by Schaun Champion

Resources:


Host: Rob Lee
Music: Original music by Daniel Alexis Music with additional music from Chipzard and TeTresSeis.
Production:

  • Produced by Rob Lee & Daniel Alexis
  • Edited by Daniel Alexis
  • Show Notes courtesy of Rob Lee and Transistor

Photos:

  • Rob Lee photos by Vicente Martin for The Truth In This Art and Contrarian Aquarian Media.
  • Guest photos courtesy of the guest, unless otherwise noted.

Support the podcast

★ Support this podcast ★
  continue reading

864 episodes

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Manage episode 487365928 series 2634591
Content provided by Contrarian Aquarian Media and Rob Lee. All podcast content including episodes, graphics, and podcast descriptions are uploaded and provided directly by Contrarian Aquarian Media and Rob Lee or their podcast platform partner. If you believe someone is using your copyrighted work without your permission, you can follow the process outlined here https://ppacc.player.fm/legal.

Artist, educator, and Afro Charities Executive Director Savannah Wood joins to reflect on legacy, growth, and leading one of Baltimore’s most ambitious cultural preservation efforts.

Savannah has overseen major milestones—most notably, the $16M redevelopment of the historic Upton Mansion, future home of the Afro-American Newspaper (AFRO) archives. We talk about curiosity as a compass, how archives become creative tools, and why joy, movement, and cultural memory drive her work forward.

Topics Covered:

  • Activating history through artist commissions and intergenerational programs
  • Transforming the Upton Mansion into a public anchor for Black archives
  • The role of tennis and joy in creating grounding spaces
  • Understanding cultural stewardship as an inherited and intentional act
  • Collaborating across generations to develop meaningful public programming

🎧 Explore more conversations like this in our archive.

📸 Photo by Schaun Champion

Resources:


Host: Rob Lee
Music: Original music by Daniel Alexis Music with additional music from Chipzard and TeTresSeis.
Production:

  • Produced by Rob Lee & Daniel Alexis
  • Edited by Daniel Alexis
  • Show Notes courtesy of Rob Lee and Transistor

Photos:

  • Rob Lee photos by Vicente Martin for The Truth In This Art and Contrarian Aquarian Media.
  • Guest photos courtesy of the guest, unless otherwise noted.

Support the podcast

★ Support this podcast ★
  continue reading

864 episodes

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