CELEBRATING
Throughout the year we recognize, honor, and celebrate our varied cultures in the Upper Cumberland. This is our way of promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion.
Doctor Woman of the Cumberlands
Upper Cumberland Diversity Advocates sponsored a one-woman play about local hero Dr. May Cravath Wharton at the Art Circle Public Library in Crossville on March 11, 2026. Debra Graham portrayed Dr. Wharton—known as the “Doctor Woman of the Cumberlands”—before an audience of 106. The performance was followed by a presentation on the history of Pleasant Hill by Deanna Smith of the Pioneer Hall Museum in Pleasant Hill.
Billie Holiday: God Save the Child at Cumberland County Playhouse
Upper Cumberland Diversity Advocates sponsored the Jazz Legacy Project's Billie Holiday: God Save the Child at the Cumberland County Playhouse on February 26, 2026 as part of the 2026 Mainstage Concert Series.
A soulful journey through the life and music of jazz legend Billie Holiday came alive in this moving concert experience. Featuring the remarkable Maria Howell, this tribute explored Holiday's groundbreaking contributions to jazz, her distinctive vocal artistry, and her courageous fight for equality. Through live music, narration, and rare video footage, audiences gained a deeper understanding of how Holiday’s legacy shaped generations of musicians and paved the way for women and African Americans in the industry.
Martin Luther King, Jr. Lunch
NAACP Cookeville/Putnam County branch celebrated the birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr on Monday, January 19, 2026 with a lunch held at Algood United Methodist Church. Upper Cumberland Diversity Advocates members in attendance from (l-r) Holly Neal, Betty Jackson, Wilson Jackson, Read Saunders, Karen Saunders, and Barbara Smith. Not pictured, Dr. Vicky Markham.