AAEP doctoral student Sharbreon Plummer will be presenting at the 11th Annual IU/OSU Student Conference in Folklore and Ethnomusicology, entitled Folklore at Work. The conference focuses on what it means to put cultural work to work in the world, with particular attention to public-sector, applied, community-based and advocacy folklore and ethnomusicology. Additional discussion points include experimental scholarship that engages topics of social justice and/or the “work” of cultural work. Sharbreon’s presentation, which will take shape as an experimental participatory session, is entitled “Discussion of Applied Research and Questioning of Institutionalized Epistemologies.” She hopes to examine topics such as how cultural work “works” for social change, the pasts, presents and futures of applied, public sector, community-based, activism and advocacy, and occasions for cultural work to disrupt, reframe and heal traditions of hate. This conference will be held on February 23rd in the Research Commons and February 24th in Denney Hall. Sharbreon’s presentation will begin at 3:00 p.m. on the 23rd in room 350 of the Research Commons, located in the 18th Avenue Library.

In addition to presenting at the IU/OSU Student Conference, Sharbreon has been selected as a participant in the YWCA Columbus Leadership for Social Change Program. Over a 10-month learning experience, she will engage in workshops with community experts working in organizations that create social change, while engaging in activities that facilitate with local resources and introduces participants to fresh ideas that align with their social justice interests and talents.