Anacostia Community Museum Features Maria Rosario Jackson as the 44th Anniversary Benefit Luncheon Speaker at Sept. 15 Event

WASHINGTON, Sept. 9, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Maria Rosario Jackson, Ph.D., senior research associate at the Urban Institute and director of its Culture, Creativity and Communities Program, is the featured keynote speaker for "Community and Creativity" the 44th anniversary luncheon of the Smithsonian's Anacostia Community Museum. The luncheon, a fundraiser for the museum, will take place Thursday, Sept. 15, at noon at the National Press Club Ballroom in Washington, D.C.

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The theme of the benefit is inspired by the museum's "Call & Response: Community and Creativity Initiative" that focuses on traditional and non-traditional expressions of creativity found in everyday communities. "Exercise Your Mynd - BK Adams I AM ART" currently on view, features the fanciful sculptures, paintings and multi-media work of artist and former Anacostia resident Adams, and is the first of the initiative's three multi-part exhibitions. The luncheon is organized by the museum's advisory board, chaired by James Larry Frazier and tickets are $125. For ticket information, call [phone], e-mail [e-mail] or visit anacostia.si.edu.

An author and lecturer, Jackson has expertise in the areas of community, development revitalization and planning; urban race, ethnicity and gender politics and the role of arts and culture in communities. She has been published in academic and professional journals, edited volumes in the fields of urban planning, sociology, community development and the arts and served on the boards of various prominent national and regional arts organizations.

Denyce Graves, mezzo-soprano, is honorary chair for the benefit. A native Washingtonian from Anacostia and a graduate of the famed Duke Ellington H.S. for the Arts, she is internationally recognized as vocal star of classical operatic music.

Artist and scholar David C. Driskell will be awarded the John R. Kinard Leadership in Community Service Award during the event. An authority on African American art and African Diaspora art, Driskell was honored with the 2001 establishment of an arts center bearing his name at the University of Maryland. Besides teaching at the university and chairing its department of art, Driskell has been cultural advisor to Camille O. and William H. Cosby curating their fine arts collection. Kinard was founding director of the Anacostia Community Museum from its inception until his death in 1989.

Receiving the Anacostia Community Museum Community Service Award is Mary Brown, executive director and co-founder of Life Pieces to Masterpieces. Brown was the 2010 Washingtonian of the Year in recognition for her organization's innovative work teaching more than 1000 Ward 7 and 8 boys and men art to effect positive change in their lives.

The luncheon features a silent auction which includes work by renowned artists Sam Gilliam and Clementine Hunter as well as BK Adams. Maureen Bunyan, weeknight anchor for WJLA-TV7, reprises her 2010 role as mistress of ceremonies for this year's event. Corporate sponsors of the museum's 44th anniversary luncheon include CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield and PEPCO.

The Anacostia Community Museum opened in southeast Washington in 1967 as the nation's first federally funded neighborhood museum. Adopting its current name in 2006, the museum has expanded from a solely African American emphasis to a focus on social and cultural issues impacting urban communities. For more information on the museum, the public may call [phone] or [phone] (TTY); for tours, call [phone]. Website: anacostia.si.edu.

SOURCE Smithsonian's Anacostia Community Museum