Local History Hour

About Natalie Williams

Natalie Williams, a Sandy Springer, attended Sherwood High School and went on to earn a Master of Education from Bowie University and a Masters from McDaniel College in Equity and Excellence in Education. She is a Counselor in Montgomery County Public School. Natalie taught middle school in Prince George’s County Public Schools and Montgomery County Public Schools where she specialized in African American History. Natalie is a member of the Board of Directors of the George and Georgianna Campbell Sandy Spring Slave Museum and African Art Gallery where she is the recording secretary and has developed educational programs set around slavery and the underground railroad that has reached more than 500 eighth grade students in Montgomery County Schools. Along with fellow board members Sandi Williams, Reynauld Smith, and Troy Boddy they present the Educator Institute Workshops on Black History and Equity to educators and other community partners

About the Sandy Spring Slave Museum & African Art Gallery, Inc.

The museum is a private non-profit organization located in historic Sandy Spring, MD in the “Freedman's Settlement” on Brooke Road. The museum does not receive local, state, or federal funding. The museum is a labor of love run 100% by volunteers. The Sandy Spring Slave Museum & African Art Gallery, Inc. (SSSM) was founded in 1988 by Dr. Winston Anderson, Ph.D., Presidential Award for Excellence recipient, with the following mission:

• Focus on the heritage of Blacks from their origin through the Middle passage, the salvation the Underground Railroad provided, the struggle for civil rights, and their accomplishments in the United States and African Diaspora; ​
• Bridge the information gap and inform all ethnic groups about the advantages of cross-cultural communication and diversity, as expressed through history, the arts and the humanities; ​
• Highlight the heritage of the African American families for whom Montgomery County is home; and ​​
• Display the rich and significant contributions that Africans and African Americans have made in the building of America.

About the Community Partners Program

Our vision with the Community Partners program at Olney Theatre Center is to partner with nonprofit organizations that echo our values and are working to achieve our overarching vision of creating an antiracist society. While we at Olney Theatre reach community through the arts, these organizations may or may not be in the arts sectors. We believe that the nonprofit community is an integral part of our economic and social ecosystem, and are thereby committed to fostering an environment that reflects our guiding principles of Community Engagement - Outreach, Participation/Access/Inclusion, Creativity, Gathering, Civic Duty. 

Health and Safety

We ask that if you are experiencing symptoms, please stay home. Use this CDC symptom checklist to see if you need to quarantine or get tested.

Masks and proof of COVID vaccination are required to attend for all patrons. Exemptions may be made for those who are not vaccinated, such as children under 5, people with certain medical conditions preventing vaccination, or those with closely held religious beliefs. These patrons must provide proof of a timely negative Covid-19 PCR test taken within 48 hours or a rapid antigen test taken within six hours of showtime. Feel free to email info@olneytheatre.org with questions.

Visit our Health and Safety page for our latest policies to keep you safe as we return to the stage!