Submitted photoJack Hadley, left, welcomes JaMarcus Underwood as the Jack Hadley Black History Museum educator. A welcome reception for Underwood will be held Monday, June 19, at 6 p.m. at the Perra Bell Library.

Early last year, the Jack Hadley Black History Museum was awarded $115,904 to implement a museum education program, which includes hiring a museum educator. After an exhaustive search, one who is an excellent fit for the museum was found. JaMarcus Underwood, a native of Laurinburg, North Carolina, started work at the museum on May 8. 

The board of the museum is sponsoring a community welcome reception for Underwood and his wife RaKeitta on Monday, June 19, at 6 p.m. at the Perra Bell Library, located on the Frederick Douglass Complex, 214 Alexander St. in Thomasville. 

Underwood worked for about a month from his home in Silver Spring, Maryland, preparing for his new career in Thomasville. He spent five weeks prior to re-locating to Thomasville talking with educators who sit on the museum’s board as well as to teachers and the superintendents of both school systems. 

He will work to develop the museum’s education and interpretation plan, which will guide the museum’s exhibits, tours and programming well into the future. Also, as part of the work of the grant, a consultant was hired to conduct audience analysis, to determine who the museum’s audiences are and to help the educator develop a pilot project for one or more of the audiences identified. 

For more information call (229) 226-5029 or visit the museum webpage: jackhadleyblackhistorymuseum.com.