Blount Mansion Centennial Anniversary: Knoxville Women: Education and Hope

Women sustained Knoxville not only through care and community, but through education, often in informal, overlooked and marginalized spaces. Women taught children in homes, churches, kitchens and community gathering places, carrying knowledge forward when society denied them power, protection or recognition. This lecture examines the critical role women, particularly those on the margins, played in holding Knoxville together through education during the city’s first 250 years. From enslaved and formerly enslaved Black women who passed down literacy and cultural knowledge, to working-class women who nurtured learning beyond formal institutions, these educators shaped generations despite systemic barriers.

Dr. Melody Hawkins is an award-winning educator, author and school leader dedicated to providing equitable, high-quality learning experiences for all students. She began her career as a science teacher at Vine Middle Magnet School, later serving as assistant administrator at Austin-East Magnet High School and District K-12 Science Facilitator for Region 5 in Knox County Schools.

Limited free parking is available onsite. A $10 donation is suggested at the door; cash and cards accepted. RSVP to [email protected].