Valada Parker Flewellyn
AUTHOR · POET · STORYTELLER · CURATOR
History lives when we tell it.
A life spent bringing hidden histories into the light.
Valada Parker Flewellyn has been a social justice advocate since age thirteen, when she led what Cleveland's Call and Post newspaper called, "a one girl campaign to get Negro history in the Cleveland Public Schools." She was mentored by Icabod Flewellen, a pioneer of the African American museum movement, and later by Dorothy Turner Johnson, a member of the historic 688th Central Postal Directory Battalion.
Valada is the author of seven books, a poet, storyteller, historian, museum-exhibition curator, and documentary collaborator. She serves as National Archivist Emerita for Jack and Jill of America, Incorporated, and as archivist for the National Black Golf Hall of Fame. Her work preserves African American history through books, poetry, photographs, artifacts, oral histories, exhibitions, and film.
Words made to last.
Poetry reading during the inauguration of Ben Vinson III, Ph.D., the 18th president of Howard University, November 4, 2023.
Books by Valada Flewellyn
Poetically, Just, c.1990
Yours Truly, c.1992
The Mosquito, c.1995
Their Voices Begged for More, c.1997
Jack and Jill of America, Incorporated: Into the New Millennium, c. 1999
African Americans of Sanford, c.2009
For The Children: The History of Jack and Jill of America, Incorporated, c.2018
Yours Truly, c.1992
The Mosquito, c.1995
Their Voices Begged for More, c.1997
Jack and Jill of America, Incorporated: Into the New Millennium, c. 1999
African Americans of Sanford, c.2009
For The Children: The History of Jack and Jill of America, Incorporated, c.2018
History, made present.
Through photographs, artifacts, artwork, literature, oral histories, and documentary film, Valada transforms historical research into encounters that visitors can see, feel, and remember.
THE PUZZLED PEACE INITIATIVE
All Stories Matter
The Puzzled Peace Initiative (2023) grew from Valada Flewellyn's poem, "Puzzled". Valada later wrote a second poem, and her daughter, artist and filmmaker Toya Flewellyn, responded with her collage Puzzled Peace. Valada then gave that name to the initiative, a continuing effort to use art, history, storytelling and shared truths to help "Peace Us Together." Visit: www. puzzledpeace.net
Puzzled Piece Initiative Linda Mills Alexander (left) and artist Carmen Nibbs-O'Garro both have art on display at the Orange County Regional Center's exhibit, "By Hand and By Heart". Linda's piece "Puzzled" is in the background on the left,
Painting Peace, Place and Possibility: The Art of Francine Levy
|
Presented at the Sanford City Hall Gallery from August through December 2026, this exhibition celebrates the art, faith, service and extraordinary international journey of Belgian-born artist Francine Levy. Curated by Valada Flewellyn in partnership with the Sanford Museum and the Puzzled Peace Initiative, the exhibition traces Levy's life through Belgium, France, Kenya, and the United States, connecting art and personal history with the continuing search for peace, place and possibility. The opening on August 10, 2026, included a City of Sanford proclamation recognizing Francine Levy Day.
|
A Pilot Lights the Way
EXHIBIT CELEBRATED THE FIRST AFRICAN AMERICAN NAVAL FIGHTER PILOT AND BLACKS IN AVIATION AS A PART OF THE U.S. NAVY'S CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION
Toya Flewellyn outside of the National Museum of Naval Aviation, Pensacola, Florida c.2011
Photographs, artifacts, literature, oral histories, documentary film, and artwork by Carl Purdy, including his depiction of the F4U Corsair, tell the story of Ensign Jesse LeRoy Brown, the first African American naval fighter pilot. In 2011, the exhibition appeared at the National Naval Aviation Museum during the centennial celebration of naval aviation. It traveled to Hattiesburg, Mississippi, Brown's hometown and home of the African American Military History Museum, and to the United States Navy Memorial's Naval Heritage Center, to the Warbird Museum in Titusville, Florida and to the Florida Instate of Technology at the invitation of former astronaut Winston Scott, the Sanford Museum, Sanford, Florida and to the University of Central Florida library..
Photographs, artifacts, literature, oral histories, documentary film, and artwork by Carl Purdy, including his depiction of the F4U Corsair, tell the story of Ensign Jesse LeRoy Brown, the first African American naval fighter pilot. In 2011, the exhibition appeared at the National Naval Aviation Museum during the centennial celebration of naval aviation. It traveled to Hattiesburg, Mississippi, Brown's hometown and home of the African American Military History Museum, and to the United States Navy Memorial's Naval Heritage Center, to the Warbird Museum in Titusville, Florida and to the Florida Instate of Technology at the invitation of former astronaut Winston Scott, the Sanford Museum, Sanford, Florida and to the University of Central Florida library..
Enter Colored Hats: Poetry and Presence
Enter Colored Hats was first presented at the Museum of Seminole County's History followed by the Sanford Museum and the University of Central Florida Library. It was later displayed as a cabinet exhibition in the hallway of UCF/s History Department.
Praise, Reach and Teach
This exhibition honored pioneering Florida educators Joseph and Wealthy Crooms, whose work helped shape educational opportunities for African American children in Sanford. Through photographs, documents, artifacts, and community memories, the exhibition preserved the history of Hopper Academy, Crooms Academy, and the educators' enduring legacy.
The past is not behind us. It is in our hands.
Valada's archival work recovers lives that map the larger African American story, from civil rights and education to military service, art, civic leadership, golf, faith, and community memory. These photographs, documents, oral histories, and personal collections preserve voices that might otherwise be over looked or forgotten.
Stories Documented
Valada Flewellyn has worked with her daughter, filmmaker Toya Flewellyn, and other collaborators as a producer, researcher, interviewer, scriptwriter, narrator, and historical consultant. Her documentary film credits include:
Goldsboro: An American Story
Ensign Jesse LeRoy Brown: The First African American Naval Fighter Pilot
If You Only Knew: Icabod Flewellen, Father of the African American Museum
National Black Golf Hall of Fame Ceremonial Tribute Films -VoiceOver
Wish You Were Here -VoiceOver
Goldsboro: An American Story
Ensign Jesse LeRoy Brown: The First African American Naval Fighter Pilot
If You Only Knew: Icabod Flewellen, Father of the African American Museum
National Black Golf Hall of Fame Ceremonial Tribute Films -VoiceOver
Wish You Were Here -VoiceOver
Commissioned Poems of Tribute for Meharry Medical College, Liberty Bank New Orleans, Howard University, and a host of others.
Bring a living history to your audience.
Valada Parker Flewellyn is available for speaking engagements, poetry readings, storytelling programs, exhibition consultations, interviews and collaborative public history projects.
For bookings, Puzzledpeace.net (contact) or from this site.
For bookings, Puzzledpeace.net (contact) or from this site.
