In the summer of 2019, award-winning broadcaster Alvin Hall, and associate producer Janée Woods Webber hit the road, driving 2,021 miles from Detroit to New Orleans collecting personal stories from Black Americans who used or knew about the Negro Motorist Green Book during segregation and Jim Crow to navigate trips, patronize Black-owned businesses, and create communities in the face of institutionalized racism. He transformed these recollections (some heartbreaking, some uplifting, but all incredibly moving) into the 10-episode Driving the Green Book podcast series, providing essential historical and human context to life as a Black American during segregation and in today's world.

Richard "Mers" Mersereau is a Curtis Board Member and Development Committee Alum. Mers got to know Alvin in 1971, when he was a Bowdoin College student and Mers returned to campus to work as an admissions officer. They’ve maintained a friendship over the years, aided by Alvin's close ties to the College as a two-term trustee, his long-time service on the Bowdoin College Museum of Art Advisory Council, and Mers' trips to New York City on behalf of the Bowdoin development office. Alvin always has two or more fascinating and meaningful projects on his agenda at all times. Driving the Green Book podcast and writing its companion book are just two of the latest.

We encourage you to listen to this educational and entertaining podcast over the coming weeks, and then Zoom in live on Thursday, April 29 at 6:30 pm as Alvin and Mers sit in the Fireplace Room of the original 1904 Building for an informed evening of history and storytelling.

Please click the link below to join the webinar:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84175851422?pwd=bzk3ZGFQRHVmdzhTOFpVQXFGa3czQT09

Passcode: 338433