Valada Parker Flewellyn
Author, Poet, Storyteller
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.valadaflewellyn.com
Valada Parker Flewellyn, has been a social justice advocate since age 13 when she waged what the Call and Post newspaper in Cleveland, Ohio called “a one girl campaign to get Negro history books in the Cleveland Public Schools” (April 1968). Valada is proud to have been mentored first by Icabod Flewellen, the Father of the African American Museum, and later by his contemporary, Dorothy Turner Johnson, the namesake for the Orlando Branch of the Association for the Study of African American Life and History (ASALH). She is a lifemember. Valada earned her Bachelor of Science degree from Marymount College, Tarrytown, NY (now Fordham University).
Valada Parker (age 13, standing 2nd L. Icabod Flewellen, pioneer of AA Museum seated 2nd L (1965)
Valada Flewellyn is author of For the Children: The History Of JJ of America, Inc. (2018) , and the co- author of Jack and Jill of America Incorporated: Into the New Millennium(1999) . Valada was made poet laureate of Jack and Jill by National President Nellie Thornton (1992) and currently serves as National Archivist.
She is the archivist for The National Black Golf Hall of Fame and has curated a number of historical museum exhibits. Her exhibit, A Pilot Lights the Way, traveled to several cities and was on display at the National Museum of Naval Aviation, in Pensacola, Fl and at the U.S. Naval Heritage Center in Washington, D.C.
Valada Flewellyn serves on the Board of the Crealde School of Art and the Hannibal Square Heritage Center, in Winter Park, Fl. She is a social justice activist, member of Bridging the Color Divide, founding member of The Alliance for Truth and Justice (ATJ) in partnership with the Equal Justice Initiative.
Valada works closely with her daughter Toya, a filmmaker, and has participated in historical documentaries as producer, researcher, interviewer, scriptwriter, and voiceover.
Valada is an Honorary Member of the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated (2002), a life member of the Association of the Study of African American Life and History (ASALH). A member of the NAACP, Past President of the Sanford Historical Society, a member of Bridging the Color Divide, Democratic Black Caucus of Seminole County, and The League of Women Voters Seminole County. She is a supporter of several museums and art organizations. Valada received numerous honors and proclamations, including the City of Orlando, City of Cleveland, Orange County Public Schools, Case Western Reserve AA Historical Society, Central State University, AA Student Union UCF, and numerous other organizations.
Books by Valada Flewellyn
Poetically, Just Us (1990)
Yours Truly (1992)
The Mosquito (1995)
Their Voices Begged for More (1997)
Jack and Jill of America: Into the New Millennium (1999)
African Americans of Sanford (2009)
For the Children: The History of Jack and Jill of America, Incorporated (2018)
Exhibits Curated by Valada Flewellyn
A Pilot Lights the Way: Story of Ensign Jesse Leroy Brown, 1st AA Naval Fighter Pilot (2009-2011)
Enter Colored Hats: Poetry and Presence (2006-2008)
Praise, Reach and Teach: A Tribute to Joseph and Wealthy Crooms, (pioneer Florida educators) (2014)
Dr. Alzo J. Reddick: A Man of Vision, (FL State Rep. and founder of Soldiers to Scholars at UCF) (2013)
John T. Washington: A Man Called, First AA Professor at UCF(2015)
He Shook Hands with Martin Luther King: Attorney James Purdy (2016)
Thy Kingdom Come: Dr. Myron Moorehead: First Black Laser Surgeon and Zulu King of Mardi Gras 1999 (2017)
National Black Golf Hall of Fame (Traveling exhibit)
Documentary Film Credits
Goldsboro: An American Story
Ensign Jesse LeRoy Brown: The First AA Naval Fighter Pilot
If, You Only Knew: Icabod Flewellen: Father of African American Museum
National Black Golf Hall of Fame
Wish You were Here (voiceover)
Community Theatre
For Colored Girls Who Consider Suicide, When the Rainbow is Enough (Lady in Red)
The Colored Museum
From Sun to Sun, Zora Neale Hurston Festival
I Have A Dream
Sanford’s “Celery Soup”
Poems of Tribute and Special Occasions
Jack and Jill of America, Inc (60th and 85th Anniversary)
Unveiling of Stature for Mary McCleod Bethune (Onyx Magazine)
25th Anniversary of Liberty Bank, New Orleans, LA
100 Anniversary of Meharry Medical College
100 Anniversary of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated
Miss America, Erica Dunlap
Graduation of Lucille O’Neal from Bethune Cookman College
Women on the Move (Onyx Magazine)
Coretta Scott King Tribute
Retirement of Adelle Wilson Baker
60th Anniversary of Chief & Virginia Wilson
75th Birthday of Annie Aker (1st Lady of WSPC)
National Black Golf Hall of Fame
100th Anniversary of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.
Investiture of Howard University’s 18th President, Dr. Ben Vinson III
Dr. Johnetta Cole, "Women of the Year", Onyx Magazines
