City Forum
Donovan Spann is a researcher and tour guide for Black Austin Tours, a company that was founded by Dr. Javier Wallace, a local Austinite, UT doctoral grad and now Duke professor. Presently, Donovan leads visitors, tourists, local leadership, and companies through the rich black history of Austin in East Austin, Downtown, on the Colorado River and in Pease Park. Additionally,
he is currently working as a researcher for a documentary on the history of an iconic Texan ranch. His specialization is in the Black history of Austin; however, as a recent graduate from UT Austin, Donovan studied philosophy and anthropology with an interest in the subjects of existentialism, Mexican culture, the philosophy of language, Jewish culture, Native American cultures and languages, and Indian philosophies. Furthermore, during his time as a student, Donovan conducted oral histories on people such as Rep. Elliott Naishtat and various folk artists and groups within Oaxaca, Mexico.
Currently, he remains in Austin, TX with a focus on expanding his research on the history and material conditions of East Austin, and community organizing regarding housing justice and educating people on how to help the most marginalized people of our society.
City Forum is a planning and urban issues speaker series coordinated by the UT School of Architecture's Community and Regional Planning program. The series is intended to provide a space for open, critical dialogue regarding crucial planning-related issues in Austin and elsewhere, and to encourage discussion of diversity, multiple publics, and social change.
All participants are welcome. Lunch will be provided; first-come, first-served.