Thank you for your interest in our Web site! Here's a little bit more about us...
Janice Blizzard
Hey, I am Janice and I am currently a junior at Doris M. Johnson High School class of ’08. I grew up in Baltimore on the corner of Popular Grove Street off of Westwood. I am in JROTC, and I am the cadet captain; I want to be a good role model for my fellow cadets. This is my third year working with the Maryland Historical Society. This project has helped me get noticed by administrators from my school as well as colleges. When I interviewed people that were involved in the civil rights movement, I was really interested in their stories. I am the president of the junior class and by completing this project, I plan to be a role model for my fellow classmates.
Mandela E. Brown
I am 16 and I was born on June 22, 1990. I enjoy driving, painting, acting and football. I want to go to college for performing arts.
Epiphany Butler
Hi, my name is Epiphany Butler or you can call me Piph. I was born and raised in Baltimore. I am 16 and I live with my grandmother and sister. I am a junior at Doris M. Johnson High School. I have been on the honor roll since I started high school. I made the principal's list with a 91% GPA. I am a member of our school's drama club called Unchained Talent. This is my second project with the MdHS.
Kenneth Griffin
My name is Kenneth Griffin. I am 18 and I am a junior at Doris M. Johnson High School. I play for the high school football team and I run track too. I chill with my older brother. We enjoy life. I also want to go to college to be a lawyer and play college football. I hope to play in the National Football League (NFL) someday.
Felicia Harris
My name is Felicia Harris and I am a senior at Doris M. Johnson High School. When I get older, I plan to be a lawyer and make a difference in this country. The college I plan to attend is St. Mary's College of Maryland and my planned major is political science. I have been in the Maryland Historical Society project since the tenth grade. I participate in a program called the Algebra Project where I tutor students in math and I advocate for funding for education.
Brian Hill
Hi! My name is Brian Hill and I am a 16-year-old junior at Doris M. Johnson High School. I was born and raised in Baltimore. I am one of four children. My dream is to become an electrical engineer and to become a businessman. In my free time, I like to drive and work on my car. I also like to have fun with my best friends Mandela Brown and George Jacobs. I am also a fun person to be around and I am very nice. I describe myself in these words: Brilliant, Radiant, Intelligent, Amazing, Nice.
Towlya Key
My name is Towlya Key. I am a senior at Doris M. Johnson High School. I joined the historical society project when I was in the 11th grade. It was a very good experience for me. This year I did a research on the Morgan State students. I also interviewed a few of the Morgan students who remembered what went on during the 1950s and 1960s. When I am not doing projects for the historical society, I enjoy going out with my friends to parties and bowling. I enjoy movies and dinner with my family and I like going on dates with my boyfriend.
William Morgan
My name is William Morgan. I am 16 and a junior at Doris M. Johnson High School. I am a laid back person who likes to have fun. I am very athletic and love to play sports. My favorite thing to do is chill with my friends.
Taivon Murphey
Hi, I am Taivon Murphey and I am a junior at Doris M. Johnson High School. I was born and raised in Baltimore. I spend my spare time working in the studio that was just built under our school’s drama group, Unchained Talent. I enjoy writing songs and producing beats.
Samantha Porter
Hi! My name is Samantha Porter and I am a senior at Doris M. Johnson High School. This is my third time participating in the research project with the Maryland Historical Society. In my spare time, I listen to 1970s and 1980s music because that is when real music was at hand. I enjoy learning new things and I love school.
Arkeema Reid
Hi, my name is Arkeema Reid. I am a junior at Doris M. Johnson High School. I love to act and I am apart of a theater group called Unchained Talent. Currently, I have participated in six plays. In my spare time, I like to play the Sims 2 and play with my new puppy Nitko Lin.
Arkeena Reid
I am 16 years old. I attend Doris M. Johnson High School. My extra curricular activities are Drama Club and choir. I like to run and hang out with my best friends. This is my first time being in the Maryland Historical Society project.
Maryland Shaw
My name is Maryland Shaw and I am a senior at Doris M. Johnson High School. I have been a part of the Maryland Historical Society project for the past three years. The first year, I researched the background on Clifton Park. This inspiration comes from my curiosity of wanting to know the background of my school and its surroundings. The second year, I wrote about the integration of Baltimore City parks. I wanted to research the parks because I was surprised to learn that there were public pools in the city that were white only. This year I wrote about the Black Panther Party. I did this topic because I wanted to know why the Black Panthers used an armed struggle approach instead of a nonviolent direct action approach. When I am not doing research for the Maryland Historical Society, I am dancing at church or working with the Baltimore Algebra Project. My research at the MdHS helped in my quest to learn about and understand why segregation existed and I brought this new knowledge with me to my Algebra Project meetings. Due to my activism with the Algebra Project, I have spoken at the School Board at least 20 times, and helped organize and promote student protests.
Todd Sheridan
Hello, my name is Todd Sheridan. I am 16 years old and I am currently a sophomore at Doris M. Johnson High School. I am the youngest of seven children. I am a very devoted student and try to excel at higher levels of learning. In the future, I want to attend Harrisburg University because I am interested in science, technology, and new innovative approaches that will lure me to the professional goals I have in mind. My hobbies are football, piano, drawing, and reading.
Violet Smith
Hi! My name is Violet Smith. I am a junior at Doris M. Johnson High School. I have been a part of the Maryland Historical Society project for the last three years. Being in this project has done a lot for me these past three years. I learned a lot of history that I did not know previously. This has also prepared me to do research once I attend college. I am a part of this program because I like to learn and it is also fun. I plan to be a part of this research project during my senior year.
Warren Sweeley
My name is Warren Sweeley. I am a junior at Doris M. Johnson High School. I am in my school's drama club, Unchained Talent. I have 6 pets (5 cats and 1 dog). My favorite movie is "High School Musical" and my favorite TV show is "Family Guy." My favorite class is French so far. I've been on the honor roll since 7th grade.
Jade Thompson
My name is Jade Thompson. I am 17 and a senior at Doris M. Johnson High School. I enjoy designing clothes, sewing, shopping and singing. I have been accepted to Potomac State College of West Virginia University, Coppin State University and Baltimore City Community College. I plan to be majoring in either dentistry or nursing. My favorite subjects are history and anything science related like biology and chemistry. In the future, I hope to pursue some of my other dreams like owning my own boutique and then a clothing line, getting married and having children.
With Special Thanks To:
Interviewees, 2007:
Julia Davidson-Randall
James Griffin
Charles Mason
Steve McCutchen
Beverly Reid
Interviewees, 2006:
Rev. Marion Bascom
Judge Robert Bell
Samuel J. Brown, Jr.
Anita Hunter
Moses Newson
Donna Orange
Gloria Richardson-Dandridge
Patricia Roberts
Rev. Douglas Sands
Walter Sondheim, Jr.
Sponsors:
Annie E. Casey Foundation
Associated Black Charities
Assisting Organizations:
Durham School Services
Enoch Pratt Library
Howard County-Cornish Chapter
of the Morgan State University Alumni Association
Doris M. Johnson and MdHS Staff:
Ron Barbagallo, Information Technology Manager,
Maryland Historical Society
Naomi Coquillon, School Resources Coordinator,
Maryland Historical Society
Mike Douglas, Teacher, Doris M. Johnson High School
Tricia Rock, Principal, Doris M. Johnson High School
Jennifer Janssen, Associate Director for School Programs, Maryland Historical Society
And to Clarence Logan, for his continued support and
Teddy Greene for helping us arrive safely and on time to MdHS