The Library of Virginia will host a free symposium inspired by the exhibition “House to Highway: Reclaiming a Community History.” This day-long event will explore themes highlighted in the exhibition, including urban renewal, historic preservation and Black history. Join us for presentations from Calvin Schermerhorn, professor of history at Arizona State University and author of “The Plunder of Black America”; Warren Milteer, associate professor of history at George Washington University and author of “Beyond Slavery's Shadow: Free People of Color in the South”; and John Finn, associate professor of geography and chair of the Department of Sociology, Social Work and Anthropology at Christopher Newport University.

Additional sessions will include a presentation on historic preservation led by Latoya Gray-Sparks, community outreach coordinator for the Department of Historic Resources, and a discussion on grassroots historic preservation efforts moderated by historian Gregg Kimball with Viola Baskerville, former Virginia Secretary of Administration and former member of the Virginia House of Delegates; Ana Edwards, a public historian and assistant professor of African American history at Virginia Commonwealth University; and Sesha Joi Moon, co-founder and executive director of The JXN Project.

Learn more and view the event schedule at lva.virginia.gov/events/exhibitions/house-to-highway/symposium.

“House to Highway: Reclaiming a Community History” is on view at the Library through Feb. 28, 2026. "House to Highway" exhibition-related programming is provided with support from Virginia Humanities and the Mellon Foundation.

This is a free event, but registration is required. Limited free parking is available underneath the Library at 800 East Broad Street. For more information, contact education@lva.virginia.gov.

Shown above, clockwise from upper left, are: Viola Baskerville, Ana Edwards, John Finn, Gregg Kimball, Calvin Schermerhorn, Sesha Joi Moon, Warren Milteer and Latoya Gray-Sparks.