The Studs Terkel Humanities Service Award - 2006
Evelyn Hood
Nominated By The Honorable Paul Osborne
Decatur
Evelyn Hood
Under the direction of Evelyn Hood, the African-American Cultural and Genealogical Society in Decatur has become a recognized source, and force, in the field of African-American genealogical research, which is all the more remarkable given that the Society has no paid staff. As Executive Director and voice of the Society, Ms. Hood has done much to raise the awareness of the many contributions that African-Americans have made in the history and development of Decatur. Her efforts were instrumental in bringing the commemoration of the annual Juneteenth National Freedom Day, which celebrates the ending of slavery in the United States, to Decatur. Ms. Hood has been tireless in her work to present the city with a rich and varied history through sponsorships of famous African-American speakers such as Civil Rights activist Ms. Mamie Till. Ms. Hood has played an integral role in many exhibits touching on black history, including bringing the nationally-known panel exhibit, "Forever Free: Abraham Lincoln's Journey to Emancipation," to Decatur Public Library. In addition, she has imparted these histories to the next generation of scholars and researchers through a series of events and workshops that have featured students from colleges and universities across Illinois.Return to the archive listing for The Studs Terkel Humanities Service Award - 2006
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