» Unveiling the Legacy of Avery: Monica Spells

Avery is a part of me.  I carry with me its essence as a community gathering place and foundation for education, advocacy, and leadership in my current role as a public sector executive in the National Capital Region.  Each day presents me with an opportunity to support individuals in their quest to achieve and maintain a positive quality of life for everyone, both today and in the future.

Avery is a place like no other.  During my time at the College of Charleston in the mid-1990s as a U.S. History student, I had an opportunity to serve as a docent at Avery.  I have fond memories of my interactions at Avery with Dr. W. Marvin Dulaney, Mr. Sherman Pyatt, and Mr. Curtis Franks, and their mentorship.  Quiet research time into the lives and contributions of local trailblazers from Mamie Garvin Fields and Lucille Simmons Whipper to J. Arthur Brown and Philip Simmons, to so many others served as reminder for the responsibility within each of us to use our voice, talent, and efforts as not only a show of esteem and respect for those who came before us, but also as a blueprint on how to move forward in service to others.

My docent experience at Avery enhanced my time at the College and academic studies and helped to prepare me for graduate school, but the people and place of Avery lent much more to my growth as a person and sense of being.  Through its gate, up the stairs, and past its doors and unforgettable red brick, one finds a home, inspiration, and insights where moments from the past become meaningful for today, and the aesthetics of art help us to see what was, what is, and what can be.  Through its various iterations, Avery has remained a steward of service, knowledge, and community, influencing my career path of public service.