The McKinney Center announces the release of the latest Conversations That Matter on the McKinney Center’s YouTube channel and as a podcast, CTM the Podcast. This episode features Anne G’Fellers Mason, director at the Heritage Alliance and actress and singer, Ubunibi-Afia Short. This conversation took place on November 16, and was moderated by Advisory Committee member, Michelle Treece, and friend of the McKinney Center, Brittany Butler. This recorded event will be released on November 24, to see it, go to YouTube.com and search for McKinney Center or use any podcast app and search CTM the Podcast or visit https://mckinneycenter.com/conversations-that-matter . 

Anne G’Fellers-Mason is the Executive Director of the Heritage Alliance of Northeast Tennessee and Southwest Virginia. She’s worked at the Alliance since 2008. She has a BA in History/Theatre from Mars Hill University, an MA in History from ETSU, and a MFA in Playwriting from Hollins University. She combines her degrees to write history-based plays for the Alliance, including “A Spot on the Hill” that takes place every fall in the Old Jonesborough Cemetery and “Nancy” that tells the story of an enslaved woman who was enslaved by Elihu Embree while he was writing his abolitionist newspaper The Emancipator. Anne is also a published author through Mountain Gap Books. Her titles include The Summer Between, Haints and Hollers: New Ghost Tales from Appalachia, and Shelved: Appalachian Resilience Amid COVID-19.

Ubunibi-Afia Short, a native of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, is an actor and singer in the Tri-Cities area.  She has a lifelong love for performance, which began with singing gospel at school & her family church, studying classical voice and performing various styles of song.  Afia also has studied photography and has been featured in three galleries, one in Racine, WI, Kingsport, TN and the other in Johnson City, TN.  Her deepest loves are for family, friends, performing, living Love and commitment to the humanities.

Supported by a grant from the East Tennessee Foundation, “Conversations that Matter” is a monthly series produced by the McKinney Center in Jonesborough, Tennessee. In each “Conversation” two local guests from different backgrounds (age, race, religion, culture, etc.) explore their own culture and perspective, and talk to each other about what makes them unique, discover their similarities, and explore their differences. They will look at where their lives might intersect personally and in the community. The goal of each “Conversation that Matters” is for guests and participants to hear real stories, from real neighbors. 

This monthly series is inspired by the Diversity & Equity Subcommittee at the McKinney Center, and their desire to highlight the experiences of all voices in Washington County, Tennessee, with an intention to include marginalized groups. By showcasing these conversations, the Diversity & Equity subcommittee hopes to open doors to new ideas and perspectives amongst our very own neighbors. Questions such as, “What was your experience in grade-school and how did that make you feel?” or, “Have you experienced exclusion or racism?” For many of us the answers are different and unique. The McKinney Center believes it is time to talk about our experiences and share them. 

There is value in uplifting these stories so that we may learn from one another. Then, after hearing from one another our moderators and guest conversationalists will give insight on how to move forward.