About
UCF’s Created Equal and Changing America exhibits were academic, community, and activist based projects that looked to provide a safe space to openly discuss issues of difficult history, and current affairs. Mainly focusing on Civil Rights, Created Equal and Changing America looked to educate people on the issues that plagued members of the African-American and LGBT communities. However, these initiatives are far more than just educational material, they consist of films, documentaries, poetry, and open discussion promoting communal cohesion and social activism.
UCF began working on the Created Equal and Changing America projects in 2013, when Dr. Rosalind Beiler proposed a grant to the National Endowment for the Humanities Bridging Cultures initiative. The funds from the grant were to be used for multiple presentations and community discussions that followed the NEH’s guidelines, which followed four films provided by the NEH.
The first film, Freedom Riders, was shown while also displaying local art, poetry, and dance. Following the exhibition, Panelists consisting of academics from UCF, Seminole State, and Rollins College, local community activists, local students, and members of the community, discussed how the community can achieve social change through art.
Principle Investigators
Dr. Rosalind Beiler
Dr. Scot French
Student Involvement
HIS 5067 – Introduction to Public History, Fall 2016
Porsha Dossie; Graduate Assistant
Partners
Professor Trent Tomengo; Seminole State College of Florida
Dr. Lisa Mills; University of Central Florida
Vicki Nantz; Local Filmaker
University of Central Florida Film Department
National Endowment for the Humanities
Art and History Museum of Maitland
American Library Association
Funding
National Endowment for the Humanities Bridging Cultures Initiative
American Library Association Grant