On May 29, 2012, renowned social activist and poet Nikki Giovanni will speak at New Vision Baptist Church in Murfreesboro. The event concludes Middle Tennessee State University’s 2012 local history program “Life in The Bottoms”. 

The event will begin at 5:30PM with a barbeque dinner at 6:30PM, selections of oral histories created during the field school will be read, and at 7:30PM Giovanni will present her talk, “Something called progress killed my grandmother: Urban Renewal and African American Neighborhoods.” Giovanni is the recipient of eighteen honorary doctorates, numerous other awards, including a Grammy nomination, and a graduate of Fisk University in Nashville.

Seating for the event is limited to 200 people. Tickets are $25.00 per person and include dinner and Nikki Giovanni’s talk. Guest presenters will include the former long-time dean of MTSU’s College of Education and current director of the Office for Community Engagement and Support, Dr. Gloria Bonner.  Tickets can be purchased at Bradley Academy Museum in Murfreesboro until May 25. Call (615) 867-2633 or (615) 556-7189 for more information or to purchase tickets for this event.