Image: In August 2023, WGS was the proud recipient of a Mellon Foundation Multivocal Humanities Grant to support interdisciplinary work in women’s and gender studies. Over the last two years, we have used the grant to support a variety of projects related to our theme of Building Southern Intersectional Futures. Some highlights from this year include: “Storymapping Queer Climate Justice” Researchers: Vanessa Raditz (grad mentor); Agni Athreya, Jamie Allen, and Minerva Logan (undergraduate researchers). This project bridges the literature on LGBTQ+ experiences in disasters with climate justice narratives of queer social movement organizations, in their own words. Working collaboratively with one of the oldest LGBTQ+ philanthropic institutions, they documented their inaugural Climate Justice grant initiative through a “StoryMap” that puts climate justice narratives of queer and trans organizations “on the map” in order to stimulate more research, funding, and power. “Yesterday is Dead” Researchers: Maria Chryssopoulos (primary); George Contini (faculty mentor). This project is a one-woman show called “Yesterday is Dead,” which compares lesbian experiences from the 1920s to now. It was performed at the UGA Cellar Theatre and Outfront Theatre in Atlanta, and then accepted to LavenderFest where Chryssopoulos was a featured performer with a writeup in Arts Atlanta. “Goin’By the House” Researchers: Sha’Mira Covington (faculty mentor); Cammie Hedley (undergraduate researcher); Julie Pihera (community partner). This project on the solidarities of Black southern and Appalachian women through material culture was shared in an exhibition at Lyndon House Arts Center. By examining the material artifacts and cultural expressions of these two distinct yet interconnected communities, the project seeks to illuminate shared histories, foster solidarity, and honor the resilience and creativity of Black and Appalachian women. The exhibition opened on April 3, 2025. “HIV/AIDS and Community Health: A Libguide” Researchers: Kathryn Manis (faculty mentor); Ashley Okosun (undergraduate researcher). This project looks at Patricia Thomas’s book, Big Shot: Passion, Politics, and the Struggle for an AIDS Vaccine. Using the Patricia Thomas papers at UGA’s special collections library, a LibGuide was created to analyze her book and how this has affected community health initiatives regarding HIV/AIDS.
