Community Calendar

Traditional ritual dances have been passed down through countless generations, and embody an ancient worldview of community and reverence for the earth. Laura's teaching illuminates the hidden wisdom encoded in movements which are simple yet profound. The gentle yet powerful steps kindle our energy in a tangible way, to help us align with the awakening life force of spring. Kostantis will accompany our dance with exquisite and sensitive microtonal music played on the Byzantine long-necked lute, the saz, which since ancient times has been a way to generate healing frequencies.

Laura Shannon has dedicated her life to researching and teaching dance and music of the Balkans and Near East, particularly women’s ritual dances, and is considered one of the 'grandmothers' of the worldwide Sacred/Circle Dance movement. She has published many articles and book chapters on dance and is currently researching her PhD.

Kostantis Kourmadias plays the Byzantine saz (long-necked lute) with virtuosity and deep emotion, specializing in the oldest forms of traditional music, particularly island music and the Greek music of Asia Minor, where his grandparents were born. He is also an accomplished singer and master of the violin.

Semiquincentennial Celebration Lecture Series with Dr. Magra: 1776 and Tennessee: The 250th Anniversary

These lectures are sponsored by The National Society of Colonial Dames Knoxville Town Committee to honor America’s 250th Anniversary!

1776 and Tennessee: The 250th Anniversary - The formation of Tennessee was inextricably linked to the Declaration of Independence through shared Enlightenment ideals and westward expansion. Appalachian settlers established independent western governments like the Watauga Association (1772) and the State of Franklin (1784) by applying the principle of popular sovereignty. The Revolutionary War and the efforts of the Overmountain Men at Kings Mountain provided settlers with the leverage they needed to demand statehood as a reward for their defense of American liberty. Settler sovereignty culminated in the 1796 Tennessee Constitution, which Thomas Jefferson hailed as a masterpiece that codified the democratic spirit of 1776.

Dr. Chris Magra is a professor of Early American History and the Director of the Center for the Study of Tennesseans and War at the Department of History at The University of Tennessee.

Lecture will start at 3pm
The special speaking event will be at Blount Mansion Visitors Center, 200 West Hill Avenue, Knoxville TN 37902.
Limited free parking onsite
$10 Donation suggested at the door. Cash and card accepted
RSVP to Rose@BlountMansion.org

For more than two centuries, women have sustained Knoxville not only through care and community, but through education, often in informal, overlooked, and marginalized spaces. Long before classrooms were equitable or accessible, women taught children in homes, churches, kitchens, and community gathering places, carrying knowledge forward even when society denied them power, protection, or recognition.
This lecture examines the critical role women, particularly those on the margins, played in holding Knoxville together through education during the city’s first 250 years. From enslaved and formerly enslaved Black women who passed down literacy and cultural knowledge, to working-class women who nurtured learning beyond formal institutions, these educators shaped generations despite systemic barriers.
Participants will leave with a renewed understanding of how everyday acts of teaching and learning built community, preserved dignity, and empowered futures—and how those same forces remain essential in our present moment.
Dr. Melody Hawkins is an award-winning educator, author, and school leader dedicated to providing equitable, high-quality learning experiences for all students. She began her career as a science teacher at Vine Middle Magnet School, later serving as Assistant Administrator at Austin-East Magnet High School and District K–12 Science Facilitator for Region 5 in Knox County Schools.
-Lecture will start at 6pm
-The special speaking event will be at Blount Mansion Visitors Center, 200 West Hill Avenue, Knoxville TN 37902.
-Limited free parking onsite
-$10 Donation suggested at the door. Cash and card accepted
-RSVP to Rose@BlountMansion.org

Scitechseries extends a warm invitation to join us at the upcoming "3rd World Congress on Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation" (WCPR 2026), which will take place as a Hybrid Event in Osaka, Japan, from March 26-27, 2026.
This HYBRID EVENT allows you to participate in person at Osaka, Japan, or virtually from your home or workplace.
This conference will revolve around the theme “Exploring Progress and Developments to Enhance Physical Medicine Research."
WCPR 2026 conference aims to foster discussions on pivotal professional matters within the field of physical medicine and rehabilitation. Practical applications and evidence-based interventions will be examined, with plenary talks, keynote sessions, and oral and poster presentations designed to emphasize the significance of communication, collaboration, and interdisciplinary teamwork in delivering rehabilitation services. The patient's perspective, a crucial aspect, will be deeply integrated into the scientific program.
The conference will serve as a global platform for physiotherapists and rehabilitation professionals to come together and exchange insights in education, research, and clinical practice. In particular, advancements in biomedicine and assistive technologies for individuals with disabilities will be highlighted as key breakthroughs.
Your participation will contribute significantly to shaping the future direction of physical medicine and rehabilitation.

Blount Mansion is proud to present Emma Patterson speaking on “Women of the Progressive Era in Appalachia” as a part of our Centennial Celebration lecture series!

Emma Patterson is a senior at the University of Tennessee. Emma’s honors thesis focuses on the nature of women’s reform at the turn of the century through the life of Helen Dingman, with information about Mary Boyce Temple.

Helen Dingman as a mountain missionary and Mary Boyce Temple as a local club woman, both dedicated their lives and careers to the philanthropies of the Progressive Era. My lecture will discuss the distinction between life in urban and rural areas of Appalachia and connect these two women’s stories to broader themes defining this region at the turn of the century.

• Lecture will start at 6pm
• The special speaking event will be at Blount Mansion Visitors Center, 200 West Hill Avenue, Knoxville TN 37902.
• Limited free parking onsite
• $10 Donation suggested at the door. Cash and card accepted
• RSVP to Rose@BlountMansion.org