Magic Moments

Margaret Ecker on early SHC work: dental screening in Williamson County, Tenn.

Margaret Ecker shares the story of Bill Dow’s and Pat Maxwell’s collaborative dental screening of children at a Headstart in Williamson County, Tenn. She frames it as an early manifestation of the SHC’s Saul Alinsky-inspired approach to addressing community public health needs. Follow this link for access to the full-length discussion. Recorded May 2019.

Coeducation at Vanderbilt

Charles Scott, professor of Philosophy at Vanderbilt University and early supporter of the Student Health Coalition (SHC), frames the development of coeducation and feminist-driven policy reform under Chancellor Alexander Heard and the Dean of Women, Margaret Cunningham–ongoing at the time he and Bill Dow first met–as the catalyst of a shift in the higher-education landscape …

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Did you ever feel afraid? Rosie Hammond shares.

Rosie Hammond responds to Margaret Ecker’s inquiry about whether she ever felt afraid during her time in the mountains. She describes an experience while staying with Vada Evans in White Oak, Tenn. Follow this link for full-footage of Margaret Ecker’s and Rosie Hammond’s reflections about their SHC experience in East Tennessee. Recorded Summer 2022.

Margaret Ecker’s perspective on local home-stays and her experience among the Melungeon Community

Margaret Ecker shares her perspective on the Coalition’s unique opportunity for students to stay with local families, and the power doing so had on the relationship-building element crucial to effective community organizing. As an example, she reminisces her experience among the isolated Melungeon community near Sneedville, Tenn. during the summer of 1970. Follow this link …

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On the joy and impact of living with local families in East Tennessee

Rosie Hammond shares the highlight of her SHC experience: living with and getting to know local families. She names several from her time in Briceville, White Oak, Petros, Stoney Fork, and Rose Creek, Tenn., including (but not limited to) the Phillips family, the Burns Family, Vada Evans, and J.W. and Kate Bradley. She also comments …

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Joe Little on Tricia Nixon’s visit and the Coalition/Center conflict

Joe Little frames Tricia Nixon’s visit to the Center for Health Services (CHS) as a microcosm for the conflict that was going on at the time: some SHC and/or CHS participants and alumni attended the meeting, entertaining the dialogue that other Coalition and Center affiliates protested just outside. See the full length panel discussion to learn more …

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