Inspired by a suggestion from the Reverend George E. Mensah, Sr., Executive Minister of Washington, DC’s Shiloh Baptist Church, I decided to count my blessings on Sunday, December 29, 2019, in the hope that I might compile a list of at least 12 professional accomplishments that I am especially grateful for.  By the time that I reached number 45 on my list, I had to admit that, in addition to the 2019 family-related blessings that keep me smiling, I really enjoyed the work that produced the following “favorites” from my 45-item master list for last year:

1. January 2019, Delivering a Montgomery History Conference Presentation with the Diego Nava Jazz Trio, Germantown, Maryland
2. January 2019, Giving a Montgomery College Part-Time Faculty Professional Development Conference Presentation on Fulbright Fellowships and Other International Opportunities, Germantown, Maryland
3. February 2019, Meeting and Hearing Violinists Regina Carter and Dr. Chelsey Green–and Giving My Own Presentation–at the Mid-Atlantic Jazz Festival, Rockville, Maryland
4. February – November 2019, Publishing Four Issues of The Traditions and Beliefs Newsletter via the Cleveland Memory Website
5. February 2019, Participating in a Washington, DC Jazz Panel Discussion and Book Launch, Busboys and Poets Restaurant, Arlington, Virginia
6. June 2019, Delivering a Washington, DC Jazz Book Talk and Presentation with the Cheyney Thomas Jazz Trio, Oxon Hill Library,  Prince George’s County, Maryland
7. June 2019, Launching an American-South African Oral History Project on the Evolving Role of Religion and Spirituality (with In-Kind Support from Cleveland Public Library)
8. July and August 2019, Completing a Six-Week Fulbright Specialist Teaching and Research Project, University of the Free State (South Africa), Qwaqwa Campus
9. August 2019, Launching the “South African Praying Grounds” Oral History Project at the University of the Free State (South Africa), Qwaqwa Campus
10. September 17, 2019, Giving a Tuesday Talk,”Come Sunday: Mahalia Jackson, Duke Ellington, and the Sweet Sound of Collaboration,” for the Smithsonian Institution’s “Year of Music” Program, Washington, DC
11. September 30 – October 4, 2019, Completing a One-Week Faculty Residency at Howard University’s Center for African Studies, Washington, DC
12. September – November 2019, Presenting the “My Story, My Song, and My Sources” Book Talk Series for Cuyahoga County Public Library Branches in Ohio
13. October 2019, Publishing Volume 6 of the Journal of Traditions & Beliefs
    
14. October – November 2019, Preparing and Delivering My First Gallery Talks, Cleveland Museum of Art
15. October – December 2019, Teaching A Special African American History Course (Related to the “400 Years” / “1619 Project” Theme) at Montgomery College, Wheaton, Maryland
16. December 2019, Completing the Manuscript for “Race, Religion, and Reconciliation: Academic Initiatives, Leadership Development, and Social Change,” an Invited Chapter for an Edited Volume
17. December 2019, Joining the Board of the Gospel Music Historical Society, Cleveland, Ohio
18. December 7, 2019, Hosting the RASHAD Center, Inc.’s First Official Meeting-Rehearsal for “Honor and Power,” A Program Commemorating My 25 Years of Teaching History through Black Sacred Music, Cleveland Public Library–Hough Branch

The Reverend George E. Mensah was correct.  Counting my blessings helped me appreciate the myriad ways in which relatives, colleagues, students, church members, and others helped to make 2019 an incredibly interesting, exciting, and productive year for both me and the RASHAD Center, Inc.   Thanks, always, for your support, and know that I look forward to working with you in 2020.

HAPPY NEW YEAR! 

Regennia N. Williams, PhD