Silkroad, an arts and social-impact organization conceived by YoYo Ma to highlight global music, will host its first educational residency at Spelman College.
The three-part residency includes artist intensives and creative workshops led by Silkroad’s Artistic Director Rhiannon Giddens on March 15 and 16, and will culminate with an event and performance celebrating the retirement of Spelman College President Mary Schmidt Campbell, Ph.D., who significantly expanded the presence of the arts throughout the Atlanta University Center.
Featuring Silkroad artist Mazz Swift, the celebratory concert will take place during Founders Day celebration events on April 11.
"We look forward to welcoming Silkroad artists Rhiannon Giddens and Mazz Swift to Spelman’s campus this spring," said Dr. Campbell. "This invaluable experience will deepen our student’s cultural collaboration and exchange of ideas, and underscores the College's commitment to Arts@Spelman."
Through this inaugural residency, Silkroad artists aim to guide Spelman students in expanding their creativity, developing an artistic process, and using the arts as a vehicle for storytelling. They also hope to inspire students and community members to engage with traditions from other cultures, build the courage to express themselves, and bring passion to their work.
A second residency, featuring a larger group of Silkroad artists, is slated for fall 2022.
The Spelman College Speech and Debate Team won the top division of the Georgia Parliamentary Debate Association State Championship.
Team president, sociology major Kaia Godsey, C'23, from Elliot City, Maryland, won the State Championship in a 3-0 decision and was named the Top Overall Speaker at the tournament.
Other student achievements at the conference included:
• Jalyn White, a sophomore biochemistry major from Virginia Beach, Virginia, who was a semi-finalist and the third-place Overall Speaker.
• Kenya Handfield, a first-year psychology major from Miami, Florida, who was awarded third place Speaker in the Novice Category.
• Reauna Talton, a junior political science major from Savannah, Georgia, whose winning efforts helped propel the team to a second-place Overall Team trophy.
Spelman’s debate team was officially founded in April 1906. Today, the team currently has 53 members and has competed in collegiate academic debate tournaments across the U.S. and Jamaica.
The Spelman Student Government Association (SSGA) recently announced a slate of new leaders.
The distinguished group is composed of elected and appointed representatives who act as a liaison between the student body and the faculty, staff and administration.
SSGA is responsible for presenting proposals, programs, activities and resolutions that reflect the tenor of student opinion.
In addition, the SSGA also seeks to foster sisterhood among Spelman women, as well as help students gain an understanding of themselves and society.
Amazon Music announced that Phylicia Fant has joined the company as head of music industry partnerships, a newly created role.
According to the announcement, she will oversee strategic music partnerships and identify cross-entertainment campaigns for Amazon Music.
Fant joins Amazon after three years as head of urban music at Sony Music’s Columbia Records. Previously, she spent seven years at Warner Bros. Records, where she rose to senior VP of media & strategic development.
Spelman College is known for educating global change agents, who are leaders in the classroom, in the community and in their careers. If you have an idea for a news story about Spelman faculty, staff, students or alumnae, we would love to hear about it. Submit your story ideas to spelmanconnection@spelman.edu. Check out the submission guidelines for the weekly e-newsletter.
