EVANSVILLE (Ind.) February 12, 2024 — The Soul Writers’ Guild(SWG) at the Evansville African American Museum, Inc., is honored to present the 7th Annual Dr. John M. Caldwell Lecture Series Award to Lana Burton, a co-founder of the Evansville African American Museum (EAAM).
Burton succeeded EAAM Founder Sondra L. Matthews as president of the Board of Directors in 2008. The presentation and lecture will be held 12 noon – 2 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 24, 2024, in the Browning Events Room of the Evansville Central Library, 200 S.E. Dr. M.L. King Jr.. Blvd.
The Caldwell Lecture Series is named for the late Rev. Dr. John M. Caldwell, who was pastor of Zion Missionary Baptist Church for over 50 years, and for his many accomplishments. For instance, he was the first African American elected to the Evansville City Council as 4th Ward councilor in 1967, president of the Evansville Branch NAACP, and author and publisher of his sermons.
Additionally, Dr. Caldwell was a teacher in the National Baptist Congress of Christian Education and a graduate of Evansville College (University of Evansville).
“Lana is a powerhouse in her own right,†said Aretha Sebree-Graves, SWG president. “We’re. honored to recognize her leadership in education as principal in several schools of the Evansville-Vanderburgh School Corp. (EVSC). As well, she has been a committed teacher and superintendent of Christian Education at Zion Missionary Baptist Church for decades, not to mention her community service to the museum.â€
In March 2020, students lost access to books as their schools closed because of the COVID-19 pandemic, though retired, Burton coordinated book donations to children at EVSC sites and those receiving food from the weekly giveaways by Feed Evansville at Hartke Pool. More than 18,000 books were given away.
She’s been a member of the UE Alumni Board of Directors and held leadership positions in the University of Evansville African American Alumni Association (UEAAA).
A graduate of Bosse High School, Culver, & Glenwood elementary schools. Burton has spent the past 40 years educating, empowering, and enhancing children and their families in Evansville.
Recipient of numerous awards, Burton was awarded the YMCA 100 Women Award in 2011 and was inducted into the EVSC Hall of Fame in 2020. She was named the Helen Klamer-Phillip Community Service Leadership Awardee by the Junior League of Evansville in 2022.
Burton is married to Rickey Burton and mother of Alexander Burton, 4th Ward councilor of the Evansville City Council, and grandmother to Arrington Burton. Previous winners have been current Evansville Mayor Stephanie Terry; Constance “Connie†Robinson-Blair, formerly 4th Ward City Council president and financial chairperson; Estella Moss, first African American elected Vanderburgh County Recorder; the late Deacon Thomas Pore and wife, Mother Jacqueline Pore, directors of Greater St. James Education & Recreation Center; James and Deborah Wagner, directors of EAAM Summer Theatre Camp, and Rev. Dr. Adrian M. Brooks, Sr., pastor of Memorial Baptist Church and president of Memorial Community Development Corporation.
The lecture series is free of admission and open to the public. For more information, contact Sebree-Graves at 812-802-9586 or 812-423-5188.
