Upcoming Events to celebrate the legacies of Jones School & Black Ann Arbor
This page will be updated periodically as we plan further events for the broader Ann Arbor community as well as students/staff at Community High School.
Humans of Jones
Continue to check back here and on the website for The Communicator for more portraits of people who attended Jones School. Entitled "Humans of Jones," this special series will highlight these stories that are too often hidden. Follow the series from The Communicator here: https://chscommunicator.com/category/ storiesfromjones |
Please use the button above to join our mailing list to stay up to date on future events. Or get in touch with us if you have other ideas for collaborations on events. Our contact information can be found on the ABOUT page or email [email protected].
Past EVENTS & News Coverage
Media Coverage of Efforts for Historical Marker
Several local media outlets have helped to spread the word about our work to create a historical marker honor Jones School and the history and legacies of the Black and African American community in Ann Arbor. Check out the sources below and reach out to [email protected] with other inquires or requests for comments.
Several local media outlets have helped to spread the word about our work to create a historical marker honor Jones School and the history and legacies of the Black and African American community in Ann Arbor. Check out the sources below and reach out to [email protected] with other inquires or requests for comments.
- "Historic marker planned to honor closed majority-Black Ann Arbor school" from Concentrate Media
- "Centennial Anniversary of the Opening of Jones School Celebrates Ann Arbor’s Black History" from Current Magazine
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Sunday, April 16 - Jones School Alumni Sneak Peek of Documentary - Open to Jones School Alumni
With support from the Ann Arbor District Library, the Ann Arbor Public Schools, and the Michigan and State Theaters, Jones School alumni attended a private sneak peek screening of the upcoming documentary about Jones School. April 16 | Sunday | 3 PM State Theater | 233 S State St, Ann Arbor, MI 48104 More student coverage of this event in The Communicator will be added once it is published. |
Thursday, March 23 - Lunch & Learn with Mr. Donald Harrison - Open to CHS Students/Staff
Donald Harrison is a local filmmaker and documentarian. He previously produced the documentary about Community, Welcome to Commie High. He is now working on a short documentary about Jones School, and came to share some clips of the film with students at this Lunch & Learn event. You can learn more about the film, Welcome to Commie High at https://www.commiehigh.film.
Donald Harrison is a local filmmaker and documentarian. He previously produced the documentary about Community, Welcome to Commie High. He is now working on a short documentary about Jones School, and came to share some clips of the film with students at this Lunch & Learn event. You can learn more about the film, Welcome to Commie High at https://www.commiehigh.film.
Thursday, March 9 - Lunch & Learn with Mr. Sam Nadon-Nichols - Open to CHS Students/Staff
Sam Nadon-Nichols is a local artist whose portraits of Black Civil Rights activists were on display in the CHS library throughout the month of February for Black History Month. At some point during the month, each forum came through the library to view the portraits and read a brief biography of the person represented. On March 9, Sam shared some of his other work with students as well as his inspiration for making the activist portraits.
Sam Nadon-Nichols is a local artist whose portraits of Black Civil Rights activists were on display in the CHS library throughout the month of February for Black History Month. At some point during the month, each forum came through the library to view the portraits and read a brief biography of the person represented. On March 9, Sam shared some of his other work with students as well as his inspiration for making the activist portraits.
Thursday, March 2 - Lunch & Learn with Mr. Don Simons - Open to CHS Students/Staff
Jones School alum, Don Simons shared stories with students and staff on Thursday, March 2. Mr. Simons has been working with a current CHS student on a legacy project to document his life and memories of his time in Ann Arbor.
Jones School alum, Don Simons shared stories with students and staff on Thursday, March 2. Mr. Simons has been working with a current CHS student on a legacy project to document his life and memories of his time in Ann Arbor.
Thursday, February 16 - Lunch & Learn with Mr. Paul Harrison - Open to CHS Students/Staff
Jones School and Community High alum, Paul Harrison came to speak with students and staff on Thursday, February 16. Paul is also a core part of the group working to draft the permanent historical marker recognizing Jones School and Black Ann Arbor.
Jones School and Community High alum, Paul Harrison came to speak with students and staff on Thursday, February 16. Paul is also a core part of the group working to draft the permanent historical marker recognizing Jones School and Black Ann Arbor.
Thursday, February 9 - Historic Walking Tour with A2STEAM at Northside
CHS students from the Centennial Student Committee and the History of Racism and Resistance in the U.S. course hosted all first graders from A2STEAM at Northside on February 9. The first graders navigated half of the historic walking tour focused on Jones School and Black Ann Arbor with a CHS student at each site ready to greet them and share some history of the place. Zingerman's also joined in the efforts and hosted all students for a hot chocolate and a bit of history about their buildings as well. You can see video of this event from the AAPS News organization or above.
Thursday, February 9 - Lunch & Learn with Ms. Deborah Meadows - Open to CHS Students/Staff
Deborah Meadows, program chair at the African American Cultural & Historical Museum of Washtenaw County, presented to students on February 9. Ms. Meadows also hosts the local Underground Railroad bus tours for the AACHM, which you can learn more about at https://www.aachm.org/programs-tours. A small snippet of the end of Ms. Meadow's talk with students was featured on the AAPS Facebook page.
Deborah Meadows, program chair at the African American Cultural & Historical Museum of Washtenaw County, presented to students on February 9. Ms. Meadows also hosts the local Underground Railroad bus tours for the AACHM, which you can learn more about at https://www.aachm.org/programs-tours. A small snippet of the end of Ms. Meadow's talk with students was featured on the AAPS Facebook page.
Thursday, February 2 - Lunch & Learn with Dr. Stephen Ward -
Open to CHS Students/Staff
To launch our Lunch and Learn events for Black History Month, Dr. Stephen Ward came to talk to several forums at CHS. Dr. Ward is a professor in the Department of Afroamerican and African Studies at the University of Michigan. He is also part of the team for the Black Washtenaw County Collaboratory (https://sites.lsa.umich.edu/collaboratory/funded-projects/black-washtenaw-county)
Open to CHS Students/Staff
To launch our Lunch and Learn events for Black History Month, Dr. Stephen Ward came to talk to several forums at CHS. Dr. Ward is a professor in the Department of Afroamerican and African Studies at the University of Michigan. He is also part of the team for the Black Washtenaw County Collaboratory (https://sites.lsa.umich.edu/collaboratory/funded-projects/black-washtenaw-county)
Thursday, December 8 - Lunch & Learn with Shirley Beckley & Chris Crockett - Open to CHS Students/Staff
The December Lunch and Learn event welcomed local historians Shirley Beckley and Chris Crockett. Beckley attended Jones School and has been instrumental in a number of efforts to support and maintain connection amongst the Black and African American community in Ann Arbor. Crockett was a founding staff member of Community High School and serves as the president of the Ann Arbor Historical Foundation. Both are helping to create the historical marker for Jones School.
The December Lunch and Learn event welcomed local historians Shirley Beckley and Chris Crockett. Beckley attended Jones School and has been instrumental in a number of efforts to support and maintain connection amongst the Black and African American community in Ann Arbor. Crockett was a founding staff member of Community High School and serves as the president of the Ann Arbor Historical Foundation. Both are helping to create the historical marker for Jones School.
Tuesday, November 22 - Hidden Histories of Local Black History Through the Decades - Open to CHS Students/Staff
In a new event for CHS students and staff, every forum investigated a different decade from 1920-2020 to further understand the culture and history of that time period. With specific emphasis on working to understand and learn more about local history and specifically history of Black Ann Arbor and Jones School,CHS students participated in activities to share and learn from each other, hear from Jones School alumni, and go on a local walking tour.
In a new event for CHS students and staff, every forum investigated a different decade from 1920-2020 to further understand the culture and history of that time period. With specific emphasis on working to understand and learn more about local history and specifically history of Black Ann Arbor and Jones School,CHS students participated in activities to share and learn from each other, hear from Jones School alumni, and go on a local walking tour.
Thursday, November 10 - Lunch & Learn with Representatives from Justice InDeed - Open to CHS Students/Staff
Our second Lunch and Learn event welcomed the local organization Justice InDeed. CHS students who are focused on learning more about the 1920s as well as other interested students and staff members to heard a brief presentation from Justice InDeed. Learn more about their work and how you can help at www.justiceindeedmi.org.
You can see coverage of this event from The Communicator
Our second Lunch and Learn event welcomed the local organization Justice InDeed. CHS students who are focused on learning more about the 1920s as well as other interested students and staff members to heard a brief presentation from Justice InDeed. Learn more about their work and how you can help at www.justiceindeedmi.org.
You can see coverage of this event from The Communicator
Thursday, November 10 - Lunch & Learn with Former Jones School Student Scott McFadden - Open to CHS Students/Staff
Some students focusing on the 1960s listened to a brief presentation from Scott McFadden, a former preschool student at Jones School before it closed.
You can see coverage of this event from The Communicator.
Some students focusing on the 1960s listened to a brief presentation from Scott McFadden, a former preschool student at Jones School before it closed.
You can see coverage of this event from The Communicator.
Tuesday, November 1 - Jones School Meet & Greet - Open to Jones School Alumni
We welcomed back many people who attended Jones School in the past or otherwise have direct experiences with the African American neighborhood community on the west side of Ann Arbor. The first of several events we hope to help organize for this community, this event had a brief presentation including a dedication of banners as well as tours of the building. See coverage of the event: |
Thursday, October 25 - Lunch & Learn with Carol Gibson, Another Ann Arbor - Open to CHS Students/Staff
The first of many brown bag lunch and learn events was held at the end of October. CHS students and staff members to heard a brief presentation from Carol Gibson, author of Another Ann Arbor. Ms. Gibson shared some highlights of Ann Arbor's African/American and Black history and how and why she co-authored the book, Another Ann Arbor. See coverage of this event from The Communicator. |
Thursday, October 6, 2022 - Jones School Banner Dedication & Theme Year Kick Off Event
This event was held dedicate the banners hung on our school building and help CHS students and staff officially kick off a theme year of exploring "Hidden Histories: 100 Years of Jones School and Black Ann Arbor." See coverage of this event:
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