The Johnson City Parks and Recreation Department has selected Adam Dickson to become the first Langston Centre supervisor. Dickson’s first day will be Monday, July 22.
“We are very excited to have Adam join our team to oversee the new Langston Centre,” said James Ellis, Parks and Recreation director. “Adam’s past experience with volunteer groups and nonprofits as well as his knowledge and involvement of the Langston project and the community made him our candidate of choice.”
He currently serves as vice mayor on the Jonesborough Board of Mayor and Aldermen, and formerly served as Appalachian Community Federal Credit Union regional community development coordinator.
Dickson holds a bachelor’s degree in political science from Carson-Newman University and a master’s degree in public administration from East Tennessee State University. He has been an adjunct political science instructor at ETSU for more than 14 years, lecturing on issues related to American politics and teaching a course designed to expose students to a variety of political philosophies.
“I know and understand the desire of LEAD to see the Langston Centre properly memorialize their alma mater while also set a tone of inclusion and community for Johnson City and the Tri-Cities region,” Dickson said. “Volunteers will be essential in the early days of the Langston Centre. I believe that I have the interpersonal communications skills to interact with a variety of groups and organizations.”
LEAD is an acronym for Langston Education and Arts Development Inc., an organization founded by alumni of Langston High School to preserve the integrity, legacy and historical value of the property, which served as the City’s African-American public high school from 1893 until 1965 when Johnson City Schools were completely integrated. The City of Johnson City began extensive renovation of the building in October 2018, turning the school’s gymnasium and former shop area into the Langston Centre.
Located at 315 Elm St., Langston Centre is slated to open this fall with the central goal of providing cultural arts and education to the public. The two-story, nearly 13,000-sqaure-foot facility will host events and programming in the arts, music and a wide array of educational classes and assistance for youth, including job preparation.
To learn more about the Langston Centre, call 423.283.5815.
