The Harriet Tubman African American Museum located in Macon, Georgia

Overview

The Tubman Museum represents a key educational and cultural resource for Georgia and the entire southeast region, offering a wide array of exhibitions, programs, and publications geared to adults, families, and students and teachers in grades K-12 and college.

Among these offerings are:

Group Tours of the Museum
After-hours Tubman Children in the Arts classes
Art and History Outreach programs
Teacher and Student workshops
Curriculum and program guides
The week-long Pan African Festival
Summer Heritage Camps for children aged 7 to 12
Scholarly books, such as Macon Black and White: An Unutterable Separation in the American Century by Dr. Andrew Manis of Macon State College and Standing on Their Shoulders- A Celebration of the Wisdom of African American Women by Dr. Catherine Meeks of Wesleyan College.

The AT&T Technology Classroom

The Tubman Museum removed some walls from the upstairs gallery space to expand the Multi-purpose Gallery. The classroom space is now a much larger area that will accommodate over 50 students. A grant for $150,000 was recently awarded to the Tubman Museum by the AT&T Foundation. This funding has been awarded for the purpose of transforming this educational space into a high tech computer learning center. The Tubman Technology Committee has begun working to identify and negotiate on the best equipment for present and future educational use. Members of the Technology Committee include six IT Professionals representing over 90 years of combined experience in the field of computer technology and communications. Members of this committee include Josh Epps, Director of Information Technology with Fickling & Company and Chair of the committee, Rob Betzel, President of Infinity Network Solutions, Thane Good, Director of Field Services with Cox Communications, Julie Christopher, Chief Information Officer with the Bibb County Board of Education, Wally Reeves, Technology Director with the Houston County Board of Education, and Neil Rigole, Director of Instructional Technology with the Monroe County Board of Education.

From left to right: Terry Smith, Regional Manager of Regulatory and External Affairs for AT&T; Andy Ambrose, Executive Director of the Tubman Museum; Jo Wilbanks, Chair of the Museum’s Board; and Anita Ponder, the museum’s Director of Education.

From left to right: Tubman Technology Committee members Rob Betzel, President of Infinity Network Solutions, Josh Epps, Director of Information Technology with Fickling & Company and Chair of the committee, Thane Good, Director of Field Services with Cox Communications, Julie Christopher, Chief Information Officer with the Bibb County Board of Education.

The REACH partnership

Recently, the REACH program of Macon/Bibb County (a program for gifted children grades 1 - 5) sent 600 children from area elementary schools to the museum to study the Metamorphosis of the Butterfly, while incorporating the use of African symbols for the butterfly and peace. During the lesson, the children explored their artistic interpretation of the subject matter.

About our Education Staff:

Anita J. Ponder, J.D., Director of Education & Outreach

Anita has been with the museum for 15 years. She has helped launch some of the museum's innovative educational programs such as the African American Heritage Camps and the John Oliver Killens workshops. Over the years, Anita has spoken at various museum conferences and workshops all over the U.S. Her most recent speaking engagements have been in Washington D.C. and Chicago, where she talked about the Tubman Museum's exciting new Arts & History Outreach Program. Anita holds a B.S. in Mass Communications from Florida A&M University and a Doctorate of Jurisprudence from South Texas College of Law in Houston, Texas.

Quinton Tard, Group Tours & Outreach Coordinator

Quinton, a native of Macon, Georgia, has a diverse and long-established connection in the educational, social advocacy and faith communities. He is a product of Bibb County Public schools and attended Fort Valley State University. He has established a reputation for his fact-based and inspirational tour of the museum and Macon community. He has been with the Museum for eight years in a variety of roles, beginning as a volunteer. As Group Tours & Outreach Coordinator, Quinton is responsible for tours of the museum and our Arts & History Outreach Program.