Held over by popular demand...

Paula Young Shelton in the News

While in town visiting the students in the Lindbergh school district, Ms. Young Shelton spoke with Erin Williams from NPR radio as well as  Linda Jarrett from the South County Times in St. Louis, Missouri. Listen to the interview here.

Paula Young Shelton, author and educator

This year the Hands on Black History Museum was pleased to invite author and educator Paula Young Shelton to be a guest speaker in the Lindbergh School District.  Ms. Shelton spoke to students at Crestwood, Long and Sappington Elementary schools as part of their Black History Month celebration.  Students were treated to Ms. Shelton sharing her childhood experiences both through the reading of her book and other personal experiences as she spoke and answered questions from the elementary school students.  It was an exciting visit for all involved.

All in the Family...a history of firsts

Mizzou Magazine

Mary Nelson, JD ’80, downplays her history of “firsts.” Photo by Nicholas Benner.

Story by Lauren Foreman
Published Feb. 13, 2013
The first black woman appointed to Missouri’s administrative hearing commission credits much of her success to Mizzou. Her former classmates are judges, prominent lawyers and heads of corporations. “I’m connected to a network of influential people all over the country,” says Mary Nelson, JD ’80. “They take my phone calls because I’m a part of the Mizzou family.”
Nelson has achieved a slew of “first” designations, including the first African-American elected to partnership at Lashly and Baer law firm in St. Louis, and the first African-American to serve as general counsel to the Missouri Speaker of the House.
But she considers being first only an “accident of history,” not a major accomplishment. “I think there is so much in our society that has nothing to do with merit but just has everything to do with timing,” Nelson says. “I don’t think my being the first to do something means I was the first and only person qualified for the job; it might mean I was there when the door finally opened.”  

Read the entire article as it appears in Mizzou magazine.

As If We Weren't There Video

The Riverfront times promotes the photography exhibit

The St. Louis Riverfront times covered the exhibit showing.  

Radio interview for exhibit opening

An interview with Erin Williams from NPR was broadcast on Friday, February 1st before the opening of As if we weren't there....  on the program Cityscape.  Erin talked with photojournalist Wiley Price and Deborah Nelson Linck, curator of the Hands on Black History museum.  

Listen  here

Exhibit opening

Last night was amazing!  The exhibit "As if we weren't there..." opened at Christ Church Cathedral in St. Louis.  The crowd was estimated at about 160.  Friends, family, church family, newcomers to the museum experience, and interested parties gathered. The evening included a museum talk, a video that gave an overview of the exhibit and an opportunity to talk with photograph contributors.  Also on hand was photojournalist Wiley Price who also shared photographs from his personal collection.  Comments were very favorable and the evening was pronounced a huge success.  Several people wrote comment cards at the event and I'd love to hear from you if you didn't write a card at the opening.  Among my favorite comments was this one:

Congratulations, my lovely friend! Last night was fantastic. I really loved the exhibit. All those faces showing me so many different emotions and experiences. Every photo told me a story, but together they gave me an insight into the power of the commonality of our lives. I have so many photos, and remember my mother having so many photos where the settings, the clothes, the expressions were nearly identical to those I saw last night. For all of our differences as people, we really are all the same in so many important ways. You spoke beautifully, too, and I felt so proud to call you my friend. Much love to you!

Dean Kinman taped and posted the opening comments.  (See the link below)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ZYT7ohsCKI&feature=youtu.be