Grant Recipient, Dr. Jacquelyn Markham, reads original poetry/prose on “Exploring Heritage” at York Bailey Museum, Penn Center, 3 p.m., March 30.
Jacquelyn Markham, poet and teacher, celebrates women’s history at The Penn Center, with a reading of her original poetry and prose exploring women’s heritage.  The program, “Grandmother’s Gold:  Her Story, Her Spirit,” reflects over two decades of writing on the theme of exploring heritage.
    This year the Arts Council of Beaufort County awarded Markham an individual artist’s grant to collect her years of poetry and prose in a book and CD and to share her work through readings and workshops with the people of Beaufort County.
     "Grandmother’s Gold: Her Story, Her Spirit,” Sunday’s program, focuses on Markham’s personal writings that explore her heritage through her mother.
    Markham’s readings and workshops are not for writers only, but for anyone interested in exploring family heritage.  Through a variety of practical suggestions, Markham guides people from all cultures and age groups into a personal exploration of their heritage.  She has received three Georgia Council for the Arts Grants for Literary Merit for this work in addition to the 2008 Arts Council of Beaufort County Community Arts Grant.
    Other awards include an Armstrong Atlantic University chapbook award, a Kentucky Foundation for Women Award, Poetry Organization for Women Award (California), and Certificates of merit from the Georgia State Poetry Society and Florida State Poets Association.
    Markham has given hundreds of readings, talks, and workshops throughout the southeast, most recently serving as a South Carolina Humanities scholar for the Women of Carolina series sponsored by the Beaufort County Library in Bluffton.   Dr. Markham has taught English and Women’s Studies for more than twenty years for The University of Georgia, Georgia Southern University, Midway College, among others, and currently serves as Adjunct Faculty for USC-Beaufort.   In 2003, Markham created Culture Connections, her enterprise for creative and community projects.  
    This program is sponsored by Penn Center and The Arts Council of Beaufort County.