An Afternoon at the Museum

On Sunday, July 19, a group of CAABJ members participated in "Speaking of Change," a scheduled group visit of the Changing Places exhibit at the Levine Museum of the New South that is also accompanied by a dialogue session. The event was facilitated by Terri Moore, senior manager of diversity and inclusion for Time Warner Cable and a member of the Community Building Initiative leadership team.

Changing Places: From Black and White to Technicolor is a multipart project that explores how people in the Charlotte region are dealing with the growing cultural diversity and change created by the influx of newcomers from across the U.S. and around the globe. The exhibit is filled with life-size displays, replicas, videos, and hands-on features that bring you face to face with traditions practiced by many cultures as well as some of the misconceptions that surround them. You'll find everything from a replica Indian kitchen stocked with native food, and a Spanish convenience store known as a tienda, to displays that depict how religion is worshiped in different cultures. All of these things are present in everyday life in Charlotte.

WBTV reporter Dedrick Russell views part of the exhibit that tests your knowledge on what various greetings mean to different cultures.

After touring the exhibit, CAABJ members sat down with facilitator Moore and discussed their thoughts and feelings. The overriding theme was that it was enlightening and is something that everyone should experience.

Changing Places will be on display until February 28 and can be visited any day of the week during museum hours. If you have a group--church members, school group, alumni club--who wants to participate in "Speaking of Change," the museum offers a scheduled group visit accompanied by the dialogue session for a small registration fee.

Learn more by visiting www.changingplacesproject.org.