Community Engagement

Collective Visioning

From its inception, the Twin Memorials project has prioritized the gathering of community input to inform its priorities and decisions. Emory community members have delivered hours of thoughtful consideration, commentary, and feedback to the process of defining the project's meaning and scope.

Public engagement for the Twin Memorials began by seeking input from Emory’s campus community, descendants of the enslaved, and neighbors in Atlanta, Oxford, and Covington. This time was spent educating community members about the project, as well as hearing their thoughts, concerns, and foresight for its impact.

Oxford

Staff


  • February 3, 2022
| Phi Gamma Hall

Descendant community


  • February 3, 2022
| Mt. Zion Baptist Church, 657 Mount Zion Road
  • February 4, 2022 | Oxford College Student Center

Students

  • February 4, 2022 | Oxford College Student Center
  • February 17, 2022 | Oxford College Student Center

Staff and faculty

  • February 4, 2022 | Phi Gamma Hall

Atlanta

Staff


  • February 18, 2022
| Emory Student Center

Emory undergraduate, graduate, and professional school students


  • February 18, 2022
| Candler School of Theology

All communities

  • March 3, 2022 | Virtual

Focus Groups

Atlanta community and Emory alumni

  • March 16, 2022
| Ebenezer Baptist Church

Students

  • March 16, 2022 | Cox Hall, Atlanta campus

Faculty

  • March 17, 2022
| Woodruff Library, Atlanta campus

Staff

  • March 17, 2022
| Emory Student Center

All communities

  • March 24, 2022
| Virtual

  • March 17, 2022
| Emory Student Center

Atlanta community and Emory alumni

  • March 30, 2022
| Manuel's Tavern, Atlanta, GA

Students

  • March 31, 2022
| Emory Student Center

Staff, faculty, and students


  • March 31, 2022
| Woodruff Library, Atlanta campus
     

Baskervill Report

Twin Memorials Community Engagement report from Baskervill

Following initial meetings, the Emory community was invited to comment on what the Twins Memorial would mean to them and learn about possible sites. A "collective design narrative" was developed based on key takeaways to explain the community’s desires for the design of the Twin Memorials project.

View the final report on Community Engagement and Memorial Design Workshops

Oxford 

  • September 12, 2022 | Oxford College Student Center
  • September 13, 2022 | Oxford College Student Center
  • September 13, 2022 | Mt. Zion First Baptist Church

Atlanta

  • September 14, 2022 | Emory University Student Center
  • September 14, 2022 | Carlos Museum
  • September 15, 2022 | Ebenezer Baptist Church
  • September 15, 2022 | The Hatchery at Emory Point

Preliminary Design Phase

In August 2023, Emory chose Hood Design Studio to design and construct the Twin Memorials. Their creative and storytelling approach aligned with the collective vision narrative. The design firm has engaged in a series of listening sessions with descendants, students, faculty, staff, and community leaders. These sessions focused on drawing insight on community perspectives regarding materials, locations, and narrative themes that could inform the project's design.

Atlanta community partners attend a listening session

Atlanta community partners attend a listening session at Miller Ward Alumni House

The Hood Design Studio began their design development process by hosting intimate meetings with diverse groups from the Atlanta and Oxford communities. These reflective conversations gifted the design team with first-hand, experienced perspectives to inspire forthcoming provocations.

Descendants

  • October 17, 2023 | Oxford Campus
  • February 4, 2024 | Miller Ward Alumni House

Staff

  • October 24, 2023 | Virtual
  • February 5, 2024 | Convocation Hall

Graduate Students

  • November 9, 2023 | Miller Ward Alumni House

Atlanta undergraduate students

  • November 9, 2023 | Cox Hall

Atlanta Faculty

  • November 9, 2023 | Miller Ward Alumni House
  • November 30, 2023 | Virtual

Oxford Students

  • November 10, 2023 | Oxford College Student Center

Oxford Faculty and Staff

  • November 10, 2023 | Oxford College Student Center

Student Governance Leaders

  • December 13, 2023 | Virtual
  • February 5, 2024 | Convocation Hall

Alumni

  • December 12, 2023 | Virtual

Memory Keepers

  • February 6, 2024 | Convocation Hall

Atlanta Community Partners

  • February 6, 2024 | Miller Ward Alumni House

The Emerging Ideas Showcase featured 29 provocations. The showcases held space for the Atlanta and Oxford communities to view representations of their ideas and deliver reactions. Those who could not attend were allowed to offer feedback through other channels.  

Attendees at Twin Memorials Emerging Ideas showcase on Oxford's campus

Attendees visit the Emerging Ideas Showcase on Emory's Oxford campus

Oxford

  • March 27, 2024 | Oxford College Library

Atlanta 

  • March 28, 2024 | The Hatchery at Emory Point

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“Emerging Ideas” showcase