This is the late September MAPACA Newsletter. The next conference is November 8-10, 2018 (Baltimore, MD).
In this newsletter, we have:
2018 Divine Impact Award Announcement
Late Registration Deadline for #mapaca18
Hotel Information for #mapaca18
Special Events at #mapaca18
Response Call for Reviews
Student Workers Needed
Call for Badge Holders
2018 Divine Impact Award Recipient: Rabia Chaudry
We are pleased to announce our 2018 winner of the Divine Impact Award, Rabia Chaudry. A longtime resident of Baltimore, Ms. Chaudry is a wife, mother, attorney, and a 2016 Jennings Randolph Senior Fellow at U.S. Institute of Peace, where she researched the intersection of religion and violent extremism. Ms. Chaudry brought Adnan Sayed’s story to the attention of Sarah Koenig, who turned it into the popular podcast Serial, launching the true crime podcast phenomenon. While Serial was popular, Ms. Chaudry wanted to continue working for justice for Adnan Sayed and others like him, so she started her own podcast, Undisclosed, with two other lawyers. Undisclosed, which has reached over 2 million downloads, covers cases of wrongful conviction and police misconduct, and partners with the Innocence Project to overturn wrongful convictions. Ms. Chaudry is also the author of the New York Times bestselling Adnan’s Story, which delves further into the evidence in Sayed’s case. We are honored to present Ms. Chaudry with our 2018 Divine Impact Award. Ms. Chaudry will participate in a Q&A and reception at our November conference. For more information about Ms. Chaudry and Undisclosed, please see http://www.rabiachaudry.com/ and http://undisclosed-podcast.com/
Late Registration Deadline for #mapaca18
It’s not too late to register for #mapaca18! The late registration deadline is October 1st. Go to mapaca.net to register for this year’s conference, dinner, and special events.
Dinner at #mapaca18:
All registered participants who make a reservation are welcome at our annual meeting and dinner at no additional cost. You may also purchase a dinner reservation for a guest who is not registered for the conference. However, please help MAPACA keep conference costs low and avoid food waste by reserving your spot at dinner only if you have firm plans to attend our dinner meeting on Friday night. If you do not know your dinner plans, please do not order a dinner reservation at registration. If your plans change, please email ED@mapaca.net by October 1st to either be added to or to be removed from the reservation list, whichever applies.
Need Help with Registration?
Can’t remember what you ordered or if you are registered? Your 2018 registration status is indicated in your profile. If you purchased your own registration, program, tour, etc. you can also log in and look at your orders in your profile. You can also print invoices from your profile. If someone else purchased your registration or if you need to purchase a printed program or change your dinner plans please contact ED@mapaca.net.
Hotel Information for #mapaca18
MAPACA has reserved a block of rooms at the Lord Baltimore at a special rate for conference attendees. In doing so we make MAPACA financially responsible to the hotel to book a minimum percentage of the block, striking a balance between ensuring enough discounted rooms for attendees and protecting the financial health of the organization. Our block of hotel rooms is being held until October 17, though some days may sell out before that. If days in our block sell out before the cutoff we will request more rooms, but they may not be available. After October 17, our block will be released for the hotel to sell at their standard rates. Attendees may still request rooms at the Group rate based on hotel availability. Reserve your room in the Lord Baltimore Hotel! Conference rate rooms will go fast: Guests may book by calling 855-539-1928 or by going online to https://reservations.travelclick.com/85390?groupID=1977708.
Special Events at #mapaca18
Play Studies:
What better place to enjoy Victorian Era entertainment than the historic Lord Baltimore Hotel? Join Play Studies for an irreverent experience playing parlor games! We’ll briefly discuss the background of this genre, consider familiar favorites as well as some more contemporary and unusual games, and play a round or two. Take a break from the normal panel format and come play!
Food Studies Round Table and Farmers Market Visit:
Join the Food and Culture Area for a fun and interesting look at local food production. Our Saturday morning market excursion to Fells Point Farmers’ Market will give you a chance to check out local, seasonal foods and take in a beautiful view of the water. Meet in the Lord Baltimore Lobby at 7:15am to ride to the market; we’ll split cabs or Uber over and be back in time for the 9:00 panels! Panelists will speak about the increase in interest in local food sources, artisan food producers, and farm to table chefs and restaurants.
Writing and Urban Culture:
Please join area chair Blagovesta Momchedjikova for a unique workshop on writing about urban culture. Past topics include food in the city, urban performances, and urban memories. Enter the ranks of the myriad writers who have taken the city as their inspiration by penning your own story of the ever-evolving miracle of the human will.
Mt. Vernon Ghost Tour:
Please join us Friday evening as we embark on a ghost walk of Baltimore’s oldest neighborhood, Mt. Vernon. Tour guides from Baltimore Ghost Tours℠ will be sure to scare up some frightening facts about this storied section of the city, which has been designated a National Historic Landmark District. The tour will begin at 8:30 pm in the lobby of the Belvedere Hotel, a short walk from our conference site. Ticket price ($13) includes a tip for the guide. Space is limited, so reserve your tickets today for some fearsome fun! To register please go to: https://mapaca.net/store/2018/baltimore-ghost-tour
Response: Call for Reviews
Response wants your (informed) opinion! The editorial board is currently accepting reviews of books, films, cultural events, and everything in between. Please send proposals, questions, and drafts to publications@mapaca.net by October 15th to be considered for our Fall issue. Further information regarding submissions and content can be found on our CFP: https://responsejournal.net/cfp.
#mapaca18 Seeks Student Workers
MAPACA seeks undergraduate and graduate students to work the conference check-in desk and other miscellaneous tasks required to run a conference. If you are a student interested in volunteering or want to learn more about compensation contact ED@mapaca.net.
Call for Badge Holders
As part of our ongoing efforts towards environmental (and fiscal) responsibility we ask that you bring your gently used, clear plastic, 3x4” name badge holders. We’re offering a prize (to be announced in the next newsletter) for the person who brings us the most (usable) badge holders.
Mid-Atlantic Popular & American Culture Association (MAPACA)
P.O. Box 25033 Philadelphia, PA 19147-0033