This Jane’s Walk, taking place in the Summerhill Neighborhood in Atlanta, and focuses on themes of History, and Culture.
Join artist, historian, teacher, and curator Joel Silverman for an inspiring walk through Atlanta's historic Summerhill neighborhood. Once a vibrant immigrant Jewish community from 1850 to 1950, Summerhill stands out as one of the few places where white and Black residents lived side by side in 19th and early 20th century Atlanta.
Sadly, many families faced displacement due to the construction of the interstate highway and Braves Stadium in the 1950s and 60s. On this walk, we’ll visit significant sites, including:
- The very location where Hank Aaron broke Babe Ruth’s home run record
- The spot where Muhammad Ali lit the Olympic Torch in 1996
- The original site of Piedmont Hospital
- The historic locations of Atlanta’s synagogues and Jewish institutions
- Important sites linked to civil rights, such as the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee’s 1966 Summerhill Rebellion and the path of the 1906 Atlanta Race Massacre.
About the Walk Leader
Joel Silverman is an artist, historian, and curator whose work uncovers stories of community resistance and justice through counter-monuments—digital projections and immersive installations that challenge dominant narratives. His site-specific works, activated by motion and sound, serve as urban archaeology, reviving lost histories and engaging audiences in reenacting moments of liberation. A former lawyer and political organizer, his approach is shaped by democracy work and the Civil Rights Movement’s vision of a “beloved community.” Silverman has been at the forefront of digital art conservation and interactive storytelling, merging law, cartography, and critical theory into narratives of power and advocacy. His contributions to Atlanta’s arts scene began in 1997 when he successfully overturned the city’s ban on busking. He later worked with Georgia leaders to integrate arts funding and environmental justice into regional planning. Since leaving law at 30, he has pursued art and photography while teaching at Emory, Georgia State, and Agnes Scott, focusing on social justice in photography, printmaking, and filmmaking.
Joel is the founder of Drift the Map, a regular series of city walks that he leads in collaboration with the Museum of Design Atlanta and ThreadATL.
About Jane’s Walk
Jane’s Walk is an annual global festival honoring the legacy of urbanist, activist, and writer Jane Jacobs with free, citizen-led walking tours through the neighborhoods that lend so much character to our cities.
The festival promotes civic engagement and encourages leaders and participants to share stories about their communities and use walking as a means of connecting with their neighbors.
Location
- Begin: 39 Georgia Avenue, Atlanta, GA 30312 -- We will meet in the parking lot at the intersection of Georgia Avenue and Fraser Street.
- End: Loop
The Details:
- Distance of Route: 2 miles
- Duration of Walk: 90 minutes
- Walk Language: English
- Accessibility: Terrain: Paved A combination of paved and unpaved terrain, This event IS Wheelchair accessible. There is one 20 minute stop to view the vista from the top of a parking deck which will involve climbing stairs, but this stop can be bypassed if stair accessibility is a concern.
- What to Bring: This walk will be through an urban landscape with little shade, please bring a bottle of water and wear good walking shoes.
- No weather-based adjustments. Walk will occur rain or shine.
Cancellation Policy
MODA reserves the right to cancel a program if the minimum enrollment requirements are not met.
If you need to cancel your plans for any reason, we kindly request that you notify us 48 hours prior to the event start.
By doing so, we can release your seat to another individual interested in joining us for this Jane’s Walk!
Photo Disclaimer: Pictures and videos will be captured during MODA public programs and may be published on the official website, social media, and newsletters of the Museum of Design Atlanta. If you do not wish to appear on these platforms, please write to felicia@museumofdesign.org.
