Welcome Reception for We Built This (Rowan Public Library)

Rowan Public Library Welcome Reception
Thursday, November 30
6:30pm

The public is invited to attend a welcome reception to celebrate the traveling exhibit “We Built This: Profiles of Black Architects and Builders in North Carolina.” This special after-hours event will be held on Thursday, Nov. 30, at Rowan Public Library’s Headquarters branch, located at 201 West Fisher Street in Salisbury.

Doors open at 6 p.m., and the program begins at 6:30 p.m. Attendees will have an opportunity to tour the exhibit, which is located on the first floor of the library, before and after the program. Refreshments will be served, and all ages are welcome.

The welcome reception program will be led by guest speaker Monica T. Davis, the founder and executive director of the Rebirthing Our Cultural Kingdom (R.O.C.K.) Foundation, which seeks to preserve Black-built shotgun-style homes. Davis was inspired to start her nonprofit when she learned many of the historical homes created by Black builders in her hometown of Wilson were falling into disrepair or being demolished. R.O.C.K. seeks to preserve these historic homes while also revitalizing the neighborhoods in which they exist and educating the communities’ citizens about preservation of the neighborhood’s heritage.

Exhibit visitors are also invited to complete an all-ages scavenger hunt as they tour through the exhibit. All scavenger hunt participants are eligible to receive a small prize immediately upon completion; they may also submit their completed form as an entry into a prize raffle. The hunt will be available through Jan. 27.

The week of the welcome reception also features a special storytime series themed around Black builders and architects. The storytimes run Nov. 29 through Dec. 2 at 10 am each day: Wednesday, Nov. 29, at RPL South (China Grove); Thursday, Nov. 30, at RPL Headquarters (Salisbury); Friday, Dec. 1, at RPL West (Cleveland); and Saturday, Dec. 2, at RPL East (Rockwell). Though designed for children, all are welcome. Ages 8 and under must be accompanied by a responsible caretaker (age 16+).

Presented by Preservation North Carolina, this exhibit is sponsored by Joe L. & Hester M. Sims Family Foundation and Edward and Susan Norvell and is in collaboration with the Historic Salisbury Foundation, Rowan Public Library, Livingstone College and Friends of Rowan Public Library.