|
Elsie S. Erwin of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania received the B.Sc. Degree in
Education from Cheyney State Teachers College, now Cheyney University of
Pennsylvania in 1961, which opened the door to lifelong global
learning-teaching experiences. As the mother of three, she found that
incorporating first hand experiences, contemporary scholarship and current
events into existing curricula made the classroom come alive. For thirty
years she served in the elementary schools of Philadelphia.
Six week study tours to West
Africa in 1970 and to East Africa in 1971 were life altering experiences
which increased the desire to know more about African and Diasporan
cultures and histories. With husband Ted, she has visited 51 countries of
the world including 22 African nations and most of the states of the
United States including Alaska and Hawaii. Last summer they went "down
under" to the distinctive country-continent of Australia.
The Erwins have shared their
large collection of African photographs, slides, videos, book, dolls, art,
textiles, masks, statuary and other artifacts with church and civic groups
in classrooms and workshops.
Travel-Study highlights include:
attendance at the enstoolment durbar for the late Opoku Ware II,
Asantahene of the Ashanti Nation in 1970. At an audience with him in
Kumasi twenty-five years later, he kindly said he remembered them. An
audience in Addis Ababe with Emperor Haile Selassie of Ethiopia and
attendance at his 79th birthday party; touring Ancient Olmec and Mayan
sites with Dr. Ivan van Sertima. Exploring the Nile Valley for remnants of
ancient Kemet and Nubia with Dr. Asa Hilliard. Also memorable were very
recent visits to the Soweto home of Nelson and Winnie Mandela as well as
to the notorious Robben Island Prison - both now museums.
Affiliations:
· Alpha Phi Sigma Honor Society
· Philadelphia Educators to Africa
· The Association for the Study of African-American Life and History.
· Friends of SQMAFCO. The African American Studies Program of Chicago
· The Cheyney Alumni Association
· The Germantown Historical Society,
· Black History Workshops for Children,
· The Cheyney Foundation.
|
