For Immediate Release
Media Kit Contact: Megan Petrie mpetrie@arcadiapublishing.com
About the Book Featuring full-page biographies and vibrantly illustrated, full-color portraits, The City We Built: Black Leaders of Austin, honors the extraordinary African American men and women who played a critical role in shaping Black Austin’s social, political, and cultural heritage. A collaboration between The Black Leaders Collective; The George Washington Carver Museum, Cultural and Genealogy Center; and renowned Texas visual artist Sadé Lawson, The City We Built will take readers on an empowering and inspiring journey through Black Austin’s history, highlighting such local luminaries as: Ada Anderson, Dr. Charles Atkins, Berl Handcox, Johnny Holmes, Azie Taylor Morton, Velma Roberts, Dorothy Turner, Willie Wells, and more. In the tradition of Little Legends and Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls, The City We Built will not only educate young readers and inspire a new generation of Austin Black leaders—but celebrate the heroes who helped build this remarkable city.
APRIL 15, 2024 978-1-4671-9722-9 AGES 8-12 | $14.99 HARDBACK | 64 PP
About me Terry P. Mitchell prides herself in being the founder of the Black Leaders Collective (in areas of social impact, DEI, and policy reform), founding cochair of The Black Fund (a giving network for Black organizations), cofounder and COO of E & Co Tech (a software and mobile development firm), and cofounder and CEO of Glam Beauty Bar (a hair and aesthetics salon). She is also the co-owner of Austin Woman Magazine, co-chair of the Black Fund at Austin Community Foundation, and Commissioner for City of Austin Small and Minority Business Resources department. Her faith, quick wit, and unwavering determination to succeed has propelled her to levels beyond her imagination. As a native of the music capital of the world—Austin, TX—and a first-generation descendant from Trinidad and Tobago, Terry has cultivated a sincere adoration for travel, culture, and diversity. Terry graduated from the University of Texas at Austin with a bachelor's degree in Corporate Communications and certification in Business Foundations.
TERRY P. MITCHELL AUTHOR
LinkedIn @TERRYPMITCHELL 1
Instagram @TERRYPMITCHELL
About me
Carre Adams AUTHOR LinkedIn @CARRE-ADAMS-62B56322
Carre Adams is the chief curator and director of the George Washington Carver Museum, Cultural and Genealogy Center in Austin, Texas—an institution dedicated to the collection, preservation, and exhibition of Black material culture. In addition to his curatorial practice, he is also an artistic director, mixed-media artist, filmmaker, and music producer. His creative work explores love, sovereignty, and inheritance. His projects have been featured on Arts in Context produced by PBS, Feministing, Glasstire: Texas Visual Art News & Reviews, Art in America, Sightlines, and Forbes. A former co-director at allgo, a statewide LGBTQIA + BIPOC arts and justice organization, he has repeatedly sought professional opportunities that allow him to align his creative pursuits with movements for racial equity and justice. He received his B.A. from Sarah Lawrence College in visual arts and African and African diaspora studies.
About me Sadé Channell, based in Austin, TX, is a dynamic artist known for her vibrant and empowering artwork. Specializing in portraiture, landscapes, and the fusion of colors, she crafts personalized symbolic stories that resonate with viewers. As a muralist, visual artist, and licensed nail technician, Sadé's creativity extends beyond traditional boundaries. Her unconventional combination of skills reflects in both large-scale murals and intricate nail art. Using female forms, dreamy landscapes, and bright colors she aims to inspire introspection. She uses whimsical portraiture, vivid colors, landscapes, and various objects to tell stories. Rooted in Austin's diverse energy, Sadé's creations not only tell her personal story, but also uplift the moods of those who engage with her eclectic and empowering body of work.
Sadé Channell ILLUSTRATOR Instagram @COSLAWSON
Interview with the Team! There are a variety of ways to bring history to life for young readers. How did you land on the approach of short biographies? Terry: My daughter and I bond a lot over reading historical children's books. We especially love the 'Little Leaders' and 'Little Rebels' series. We enjoy learning about changemakers from our past, but quite often, I noticed that the leaders recognized are bigger, more global names, that are frequently mentioned over and over again. When founding the Black Leaders Collective (BLC), I became especially curious about our local history and the impact Black leaders that came before us had on the city of Austin. I realized quickly that there wasn't a lot of archived documentation about these key figures. So, I brought the idea to Carre and the rest of our BLC collaborators as a way to preserve our history, recognize our ancestors of leadership and tell the world our stories. Once we got Sadé involved with illustrations, magic started to kick up! Before long, a small vision became a big beautiful reality.
Austin has a rich history with a number of influential figures. How did you select the individuals featured in The City We Built? Carre: The profiles are an expansion of the work we do at the George Washington Carver Museum. When the museum opened in 2005, an exhibition on influential African American families of Austin was installed with a mission to preserve the history of homegrown local changemakers in arts/literature, business, sports/ entertainment, legislature, etc. We also have an exhibition on L.C. Anderson High School, which was the 1 st Black high school of Austin, and its alumni. From there, one of the first decisions we made in narrowing down the list of those featured in the book was to honor folks who are no longer with us, who are ancestors. There are plenty of contemporaries who still deserve recognition... perhaps in the next book!
Was there anyone you learned about for the first time while writing the book? If so, what did you find most inspiring about their story? Terry: I'm amazed and inspired by each and every one of the leaders recognized in 'The City We Built', but not knowing the history and legacy of Azie Taylor Morton blows me away. To be a graduate of the 1st ever college in Austin, Huston-Tillotson University and then to go on to be the 1st and only Black female treasurer of the United States under the Carter administration is an incredibly high bar and history that has been lost. I am proud to help commemorate her story and to honor her by way of this children's book for generations to come.
What do you hope young readers take away from the visual art in this book? Sadé: To be wowed with the representation in the book. To enjoy and be inspired by the imaginative elements of the book. Knowing that a Black illustrator actually made them hopefully inspires young people of color to use their artistry and creativity.
What do you want readers to learn from the experiences of these historical figures? Terry: I want young readers to become aware of the hidden figures who have been the backbone of our beloved city without recognition. I want them to honor those that came before us and to see themselves as the next changemakers in the pursuit of justice for all. We should all understand that we all have a significant part to play in the fight for love and equity, and that sometimes, small acts turn into major movements, if only we dare to be courageous leaders.
WITH SPECIAL CONTRIBUTIONS BY THE BLACK LEADERS COLLECTIVE The Black Leaders Collective is a collaboration of Central-Texas leaders representing grassroots community members, nonprofit leaders, entrepreneurs, artists, activists, educators, policymakers, and young professionals. BLC is leading a transformative movement that is intersectional and intergenerational. We are creating a mechanism for change that is Black conceived and Black led to define the priorities of the Black diaspora in Central Texas. Click here to learn more.
THE GEORGE WASHINGTON CARVER MUSEUM, CULTURAL, AND GENEALOGY CENTER Through the preservation and exhibition of African American material culture, history, and aesthetic expression, the Carver Museum works to create a space where the global contributions of all Black people are celebrated. We accomplish this by telling stories about our local community and connecting those histories to larger narratives about Blackness. Founded in 1980, the museum serves as a cultural anchor, hosting exhibits, performances, and public programs that center the culture and history of Black people. Click here to learn more.
Direct Media Inquiries to Megan Petrie mpetrie@arcadiapublishing.com
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