Dr. Maria Rosario Jackson, the trailblazing National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) Chair, will speak to a public audience during an upcoming conversation at the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History in Detroit as part of the 2023 Concert of Colors, Michigan’s largest free diversity festival.  

The free conversation, presented by the Michigan Council for the Arts, Concert of Colors and The Wright Museum, will take place from 10-11:30 a.m. Friday, July 21 at The Wright Museum Community Gallery.  

During her conversation with Wright Museum President Neil Barclay, Dr. Jackson is expected to share her journey as the first African American and Mexican American woman to lead the NEA, as well as the power of creativity and the transformative impact it can have on society.  

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In advance of her visit to Detroit, Dr. Jackson sat down with American Black Journal host Stephen Henderson to talk about the importance of the arts in building healthy communities. Drawing from her own experiences, she emphasized the importance of diversity and inclusivity in the arts, highlighting how it can promote understanding, empathy, and social change.  

Plus, they discuss Dr. Jackson’s professional background and her groundbreaking appointment as the first African American and Mexican American woman to chair the NEA. 

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Watch American Black Journal on Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday at 9:30 a.m. on Detroit Public TV, WTVS-Channel 56.