“Choosing Futures for Our Past: Using Charleston’s History to Build Bridges”
College of Charleston Lecture – February 2019
My friend Dale Rosengarten asked me to teach again at the College of Charleston for her course, “Charleston as a Classroom.” I entitled my presentation as shown above. The students were assigned three of my recently published essays, and we had a good discussion and a good exchange of Q&A. It’s always fun to be back in the classroom! I appreciated Dale’s invitation, and she continues to be a breath of fresh air. On February 28th, the students visited Drayton Hall and saw firsthand how we have chosen futures for our past.
Me and Dale Rosengarten at her popular course “Charleston As A Classroom”
Students kept me on my toes as they so often do — lots of great Q&A on both sides.
Preparing students for the related field trip to Drayton Hall.
George W. McDaniel, Ph.D., is President of McDaniel Consulting, LLC, a strategy firm that helps organizations use history to build bridges within itself and to its broader constituents. The company’s tag line, “Building Bridges through History,” is grounded in McDaniel’s personal beliefs and his experience in site management, preservation, education, board development, fundraising, and community outreach. Rather than using history to divide us, he strives to help organizations use history, especially local history, to enhance cross-cultural understanding and to support local museums, preservation, and education. Dr. McDaniel recently led volunteer efforts with Emanuel AME Church and historical organizations in Charleston to use historic preservation to enhance racial reconciliation and healing. McDaniel is also the Executive Director Emeritus of Drayton Hall, a historic site in Charleston, SC, owned by the National Trust for Historic Preservation.
A frequent writer, speaker, and facilitator about such issues, he can be reached at gmcdaniel4444@gmail.com or through his website at www.mcdanielconsulting.net.
Header Image: From the College of Charleston Class Field Trip Blog
McDaniel Consulting LLC is a strategy firm that helps organizations use history to build bridges within itself and its broader constituents.