Cowan Museum to present Smithsonian program encouraging dialogue on positive social change

KENANSVILLE — As the world has become more interconnected, it is more important than ever to inspire people of all ages to create positive social change.

The Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service (SITES) has partnered with the educational organization Facing History and Ourselves to dramatically increase access to the themes and content presented in its national initiative “Choosing to Participate” with a poster exhibit designed to encourage dialogue, engagement, respect, and participation in classrooms and communities.

The exhibit, sponsored by Duke Energy, will be on view at the Cowan Museum of History and Science, 411 S. Main Street in Kenansville.

It will run from Oct. 4 through November. In addition to the posters, visitors will see artifacts donated by community members which relate to the exhibit’s themes of civic engagement and community participation. For example, a jury selection box, a ballot box, and material related to Kenansville’s outdoor theater, the Stanford School, and North Carolina Home Demonstration Clubs will be on view.

A free, public opening reception and “community chat” will take place on Friday Oct. 4 from 5-7:30 p.m. with food provided by Master Blend family Farms. At the event, Museum staff would love to hear from the community about what they would like the Museum to offer in the future, such as exhibits, programs, and events. Staff would also like input on how to better represent the people who have shaped and are shaping the community. Furthermore, Duplin County Board of Elections will loan a voting booth where visitors may fill out a ballot to vote on what they want from the museum and cast it into a suggestion box in addition to aiding visitors in voter registration.

“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has,” Margaret Mead (1901-1978), anthropologist.

The Cowan Museum is open Tuesday — Saturday, 10 a.m. — 4 p.m. and admission is free.