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Remembering William T. Mason, Jr.

February 14, 2024 By Cindy Sherwood

William T. Mason, Jr. Photo courtesy of The New Journal and Guide.

A year after his death, a trailblazing attorney in Norfolk is still making his mark on this world. Here at Arts for Learning, we’re tremendously grateful to receive funds during #BlackHistoryMonth from the estate of William T. Mason, Jr., who passed away in February 2023 at the age of 96.

“We’re touched and inspired by Mr. Mason’s generous bequest to Arts for Learning Virginia,” said Chris Everly, CEO. “Through this gift, Mr. Mason extends his legacy. This bequest will provide opportunities for a new generation of children to access and experience the transformative power of the arts.”

Mr. Mason made the gift in honor of his parents, the late William T. Mason, Sr., a prominent member of the community who served as administrator of Norfolk Community Hospital, and the late Vivian Carter Mason, a civic leader who became the first African American woman to be appointed to the Norfolk School Board.

Friends and colleagues knew W.T. Mason, Jr. as “Sonny.” President John F. Kennedy appointed him as the first African American Assistant U.S. Attorney in the Eastern District of Virginia, where he served from 1963 to 1972 and acted as a tireless crusader on school desegregation issues. Mr. Mason later established the first large interracial law firm in Norfolk: Mason, Robinson, Eichler and Zaleskie.

Among his contributions to the community, Mr. Mason served on Norfolk State University’s first Board of Visitors, the Norfolk United Way, the Urban League of Hampton Roads, the Norfolk Planning Council, the Board of Visitors for Colby College, the Crispus Attucks Cultural Center, and many professional organizations as a member of the Virginia State Bar.

In 2019, the City of Norfolk recognized Mr. Mason as an unsung hero in the civil rights movement for his promotion of democratic values and his commitment to removing barriers to fair elections such as the poll tax. In February 2023, shortly after his death, the Virginia House of Delegates passed a resolution in “respect for his memory and admiration for his personal and professional achievements and many years of service in dedication to the Norfolk community, the Commonwealth, and the United States.” Read the full resolution here: https://legiscan.com/VA/text/HR347/id/2777219/Virginia-2023-HR347-Enrolled.html

We thank all those individuals who choose to remember Arts for Learning in their estate plans. If you’d like to speak to someone about making a gift, please contact Chris Everly at CEO@Arts4LearningVA.org.

Filed Under: Donor Spotlight Tagged With: bequest, Black History Month, civil rights, estate planning, Jr., legacy giving, W.T. Mason, William T. Mason

Behind the Scenes of the A4L Cultural Enrichment Project

December 3, 2021 By Cindy Sherwood

Nathan Richardson as the real Frederick Douglass
Nathan Richardson portrays abolitionist Frederick Douglass in our Norfolk studio.
Sarah Osburn Brady and Sheila Arnold record their civil rights program.
Sarah Osburn Brady and Sheila Arnold record their civil rights program.

There’s been lots of activity in our Norfolk office lately—which doubles as a production studio—as artists record special programs for our new cultural enrichment project funded by a new SHARP grant.

It’s an exciting project for a couple of reasons—it will bring quality, humanities-based arts-in-education programming to disadvantaged students in Virginia at no cost to them or their schools. And the project will provide income to artists on our roster during a time when opportunities to practice their art forms remain limited.

Sarah Osburn Brady and Sheila Arnold record their program on civil rights.
Sarah Osburn Brady and Sheila Arnold record their program on civil rights.

Molly Stanley, A4L’s Learning and Community Engagement Manager, says the programs have significant educational value, with topics that include the civil rights movement, slavery, and the Holocaust.

“Students learn about these historical events through core classes such as social studies and language arts. Through the videos we’re producing, students can deepen their learning and make connections with these topics that are relevant to their lives.”

Participating schools can choose from these videotaped programs:

  • Frederick Douglass “On Slavery and Emancipation” by Nathan Richardson: A performance that brings the true tales of Frederick Douglass to life, from his time as a slave and his escape to freedom to his rise as a great writer, orator, and abolitionist.
  • Conscience, Stories, and Hope: Hans and Sophie Scholl’s White Rose by Sarah Osburn Brady: The story of German siblings who dared to become part of the World War II resistance, no matter what the consequences.
  • Coretta: A Legacy of Love by Valerie Davis: Hailed as the “First Lady of the Civil Rights Movement,” Coretta Scott King comes to life through music and stories revealing the triumphs and tribulations of an American legend.
  • Arabiqa by Karim Nagi: An exploration of Arab culture through language, folk music, dance, and costume that bridges the east-west cultural gap.
  • Civil Rights: Finding Your Voice by Sheila Arnold and Sarah Osburn Brady: An interactive exploration of voices from the Civil Rights movement whose lessons in speaking up show us the way to effect social change today.

The programs are designed for either elementary or middle school students and include age-appropriate teacher guides for easy and effective classroom implementation. The videos are set to debut in February. Photography and editing is provided by Rob Holmes.

Photographer Rob Holmes videotapes Sarah Osburn Brady's program.
Photographer Rob Holmes shoots Sarah Osburn Brady’s program.

Thanks to our participating artists and to the funders of this grant–Virginia Humanities and the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH). The funding is part of the American Rescue Plan (ARP) and the NEH Sustaining the Humanities through the American Rescue Plan (SHARP) initiative.

Filed Under: Artist Spotlight, Grants, Program Spotlight, Virtual Learning, Virtual programming Tagged With: American Rescue Plan, Arabiqa, Arts Ed, arts education, civil rights, Coretta Scott King, Frederick Douglass, grant, humanities, National Endowment for the Arts, SHARP grant, Virginia Humanities, virtual learning, virtual programming

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Phone: 757-466-7555

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Main Office
Arts for Learning
420 North Center Drive
Suite 239
Norfolk, Virginia 23502

Phone: 757-466-7555

Main Office

Arts for Learning
420 North Center Drive
Suite 239
Norfolk, Virginia 23502
Phone:
757-466-7555

RAISE Up in Hampton City Schools

“As a teaching artist, when we meet a kid, they’re a whole entire person. They have experiences and not all those experiences are pleasant, so coming to the classroom with that mindset and knowing that they carry baggage with them as do we… it’s about approaching them with compassion but also recognizing that they’re more […]

Join the A4L Mailing List!

Sign up to receive the latest news on arts integration from Arts for Learning! Thank you for supporting arts-in-education.

Select list(s) to subscribe to


By submitting this form, you are consenting to receive marketing emails from: Arts for Learning Virginia. You can revoke your consent to receive emails at any time by using the SafeUnsubscribe® link, found at the bottom of every email. Emails are serviced by Constant Contact
At Arts for Learning Virginia, we’re proud to be part of the Virginia Commission for the Arts’ Passport Program. While Passport holders typically receive free admission and 50% off classes at participating organizations, all our programming is always free—no discount needed. To learn more about our public events, check out our calendar of events page here.

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