#37 – Can Archives Shape What’s Next? Upton Mansion and a $16M Vision | Savannah Wood of Afro Charities

Artist, educator, and Afro Charities Executive Director Savannah Wood joins to reflect on legacy, growth, and leading one of Baltimore’s most ambitious cultural preservation efforts.

Savannah has overseen major milestones—most notably, the $16M redevelopment of the historic Upton Mansion, future home of the Afro-American Newspaper (AFRO) archives. We talk about curiosity as a compass, how archives become creative tools, and why joy, movement, and cultural memory drive her work forward.

Topics Covered:

• Activating history through artist commissions and intergenerational programs
• Transforming the Upton Mansion into a public anchor for Black archives
• The role of tennis and joy in creating grounding spaces
• Understanding cultural stewardship as an inherited and intentional act
• Collaborating across generations to develop meaningful public programming

🎧 Explore more conversations like this in our archive.

📸 Photo by Schaun Champion

Resources:

• Silent Auction
• Wildest Dreams Benefit for Afro Charities – June 7 Tickets
• Afro Charities Website
• Instagram: @afrocharities, @savannahinpublic

The Truth In This Art is supported by William G. Baker, Jr. Memorial Fund, the Maryland State Arts Council's Creativity Grant and Mayor's Individual Artist Award - Creative Baltimore Fund (Baltimore). 

Host: Rob Lee
Music: Original music by Daniel Alexis Music with additional music from Chipzard and TeTresSeis.
Production:

• Produced by Rob Lee & Daniel Alexis
• Edited by Daniel Alexis
• Show Notes courtesy of Rob Lee and Transistor

Photos:

• Rob Lee photos by Vicente Martin for The Truth In This Art and Contrarian Aquarian Media.
• Guest photos courtesy of the guest, unless otherwise noted.

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