Over 35 years, we have volunteers from around the world and from all walks of life. When they leave us, they become CRYP ambassadors in their own communities, and you just never know where those relationships might lead.
We recently had the opportunity to visit UNC-Chapel Hill, where former volunteer Gabrielle Berlinger (who volunteered at the original “Main”) is a professor. CEO Julie Garreau, Communications Director Heather Steinberger, and RedCan artist Hoka Skenandore spent two full days with faculty and staff, and words cannot adequately express how inspiring this experience was for us all.
We spoke to 220 freshmen about art, culture and creative placemaking in Gabi’s “What is Art? Where is Art?” class. We screened our documentary “Waniyetu Wowapi (Winter Count)” for Prof. Dan Cobb’s “Native Americans in Film” graduate-level seminar and members of the public at the Ackland Art Museum, and we also had the opportunity to view the exhibit “Past Forward: Native American Art from the Gilcrease Museum.”
Hoka led a graffiti workshop at the American Indian Center’s garden, and we participated in the AIC’s monthly Carolina Seminar on Global Indigeneity & American Indian Studies. And, we were delighted to engage with many students who are interested in visiting Cheyenne River — and possibly volunteering with CRYP.
We are deeply grateful to Danielle Hiraldo, Marissa Carmi, and Qua Adkins at the AIC; Patricial Sawin, Dan Cobb, and Michelle Robinson at the Department of American Studies; Mark Katz, music professor and founder of Next Level; Amy Hertel, executive vice provost and former AIC director; and Elizabeth Manekin at the Ackland Art Museum. And, to our dear Gabi, who worked so hard to bring us all together. We are so excited about this relationship between CRYP and UNC-Chapel Hill.