Owensboro Community and Technical College

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Black History Month Film Festival Event at OCTC

Tuesday, Feb. 18 @ 6 p.m.in BLH

by Bernie Hale

Owensboro, KY (02/14/2025) — The Owensboro Community Remembrance Project and the Owensboro NAACP Branch 3107 are hosting Black History Month Film Festival events throughout the community. Owensboro Community & Technical College (OCTC) will host one of the showings on Tuesday, February 18, at 6:00 p.m. on the Main Campus at 4800 New Hartford Road, Owensboro, in Blandford Lecture Hall, located in the Humanities Building. A conversation with the filmmakers will follow each documentary. If you want to confirm your attendance, please scan the QR code. The events are free and open to the community.

THE DOCUMENTARIES

Ghosts of a Lost Cause

The documentary provides an intimate portrayal of Murray, Kentucky's struggle to relocate a Confederate monument amid the Black Lives Matter movement. By uncovering the personal stories and societal challenges tied to this struggle, Ghosts of a Lost Cause prompts viewers to confront the ghosts of the American Civil War and their lingering effects on modern communities. The film's narrative not only highlights the obstacles faced in historical memory but also serves as a catalyst for dialogue and action toward justice and equity.

PANELISTS

Sherman Neal II

Sherman Neal II is an attorney, community organizer, and decorated Marine Corps Officer who currently serves as a Deputy Director for the Sierra Club's Military Outdoors Campaign. He also founded Rising Tide Sports, a sports consultancy focused on college athlete empowerment. Beyond his sports involvement, Sherman has a diverse professional background, including infrastructure project management, strategic planning, leadership development, and risk management. His legal practice areas focus on administrative law, sports law, family law, and immigration. Sherman is an active community organizer, a documentary producer, a professor, and a strong advocate for justice and equity. He holds degrees in Political Science, Law, Sports Business, Entertainment, Arts, and Sports Law. As a devoted father and dedicated volunteer, he's committed to creating a better future for his children and the community. He currently resides in suburban Atlanta, Georgia.

Gerry Seavo

Gerry Seavo James serves as a Deputy Director for the Sierra Club's Outdoors For All Campaign, where he is part of a team dedicated to advancing outdoor access and equity across the country. Additionally, he founded the Outdoor Recreation Design Lab, a think tank focused on inclusive outdoor environments, conservation, and just transition for rural communities. Gerry has been involved in various projects, such as the development of Explore Kentucky, planner for the EPA's Recreation Economies for Rural Communities program, and kickstarting the American Canoe Association J.E.D.I initiatives. He holds a B.S in Mass Communications from Campbellsville University and is an Air Force veteran, social artist, and photojournalist. Gerry resides in Frankfort, Kentucky, with his wife, their daughter, and loyal dog, Everest.

A Fine Remembrance

This is a locally produced documentary about Pulitzer Prize-winning photojournalist Moneta Sleet Jr.

The Civil Rights movement is arguably one of the most defining and influential social progressions throughout United States history. Among the forms of media utilized to capture and communicate this era, photography remains the most widely influential and memorable art form used to rally support for the racially oppressive and segregated United States. Moneta Sleet, Jr. was a photographer for Ebony magazine, capturing many of the most iconic moments during this era. His photo taken at the funeral of Martin Luther King Jr. tenderly commemorates the grief of Coretta Scott King and her daughter, Bernice King, and it garnered the Pulitzer Prize for journalism, honoring him as the first African American recipient.

PANELIST

Drew Hardesty

Drew Hardesty is the Founder and CEO of Wonder Boy Media, a video production company founded in 2016. Drew was a 2021 graduate of Leadership Owensboro, and, through that group of leaders, learned about Moneta Sleet, Jr., Their class would go on to start Owensboro's "Sleet Fest" and help shed light on Sleet's great achievements.

The documentary "A Fine Remembrance" seeks to gather insight into the man behind the camera and how his contemporaries and family viewed him during his lifetime. "A Fine Remembrance" recently won a 2024 Gold Telly Award, three 2024 Silver Telly Awards, and two 2024 Bronze Telly Awards.

Drew is married to his amazing wife Rachel and they have 3 children. Drew enjoys hiking, hunting, woodworking, and reading a good book.

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Owensboro Community & Technical College is one of the sixteen community and technical colleges that make up the Kentucky Community & Technical College System. OCTC serves the KY counties of Daviess, Hancock, Ohio and McLean. OCTC has three campuses in Daviess County and a Center and Annex in Hancock County. OCTC strives to serve the communities in the service area by providing associate degree education for transfer, state of the art technical education for students focusing on entering the workforce, customized business and industry solutions through the Workforce Solutions division, and adult education and business and industry testing through the SkillTrain unit.

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The Kentucky Community and Technical College System is the Commonwealth's largest postsecondary institution with 16 colleges and more than 70 campuses. We also are Kentucky's largest provider of workforce training and online education. Through partnerships with business and industry, we align our programs to meet the needs of local employers. We help students fulfill their dreams of creating a better life through programs that lead directly to jobs or help them transfer to one of our four-year partners.

Connect with OCTC: Owensboro.kctcs | Facebook.com/owensboroctc | Twitter@OCTC_Tweets | Instagram OwensboroCTC

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