History at High Noon: John Chavis Memorial Park Carousel

Speakers: Dana Brown, Assistant Director, John Chavis Memorial Park; Madison Phillips, Assistant Director, John Chavis Memorial Park

Join us as we welcome Dana Brown and Madison Phillips of John Chavis Memorial Park, as they give us the inside scoop on the beautiful, historical Allan Herschell carousel at Chavis Park, as well as how this space has served as a pillar of the downtown Raleigh African American community for decades!

Dana Brown was born and raised in Raleigh. She has her bachelor’s degree in sports science and fitness management with a concentration in leisure studies from NC A&T State University. She has her master's degree in parks, recreation, and tourism management from NC State University. Brown comes from a lengthy background in the parks and recreation field as her mother was the center director at the historic Method Community Center. Brown played professional basketball in Australia and worked for the Police Citizens Youth Club (PCYC), providing youth and community programs and services. She has worked for the city of Raleigh in various part-time capacities over the years and became an assistant director of John Chavis Memorial Park in January 2022.

Madison Phillips was born in Orlando, Florida, and later went to high school in Hillsborough. She has two bachelor of arts degrees in history and political science and a master of arts degree in public history, all from NC State University. Her research focus is on community and family history. She worked for three years at the City of Raleigh Museum as a part-time museum educator and then as a recreation intern for the city of Raleigh Parks, Recreation, and Cultural Resources. Phillips has been working as an assistant director at John Chavis Memorial Park since November 2022.