Coded Messages and Songs of the Underground Railroad

Communication and secrecy were key to the successful operation of the Underground Railroad.  Safety was more important than quickness.  Therefore, both fugitive slaves and members of the Underground Railroad learned to code and decode hidden messages, to disguise signs and to avoid capture.  There were code names for towns on the routes and code numbers for towns.  There were signs and songs.  A quilt hanging on a clothesline with a house and a smoking chimney among its designs indicated a safe house.  The song, "Follow the Drinking Gourd" served as directions to Canada.  Using storytelling, activities, and songs, this presentation will depict the ingenuity and resiliency used by those involved in the Underground Railroad to help over 100,000 slaves escape to freedom between 1810 and 1850.

Dr. Tamika Sanders has over 15 years of experience working with schools and business in the areas of teaching, training, curriculum design, public programming, strategic planning, and professional development.  She has a PhD in Higher Education, a Master's in Business Administration, and a Bachelor of Arts in Communication.

Her work revolves around bringing diversity of real-world perspectives into programming initiatives and creating strategic community partnerships that can generate revenue and provide access to resources and opportunities for marginalized groups.

In 2009, Dr. Sanders started her company Savvy Pen to provide interactive programs that incorporate arts learning and multicultural training. She is also a producing collaborating partner of the Bi-National Arts Residency (BNAR), which connects cultural communities in the Sonoran Desert together with issues of social justice and identity through art.

Dr. Sander's work in the community earned her an invitation to speak at the TEDx Phoenix Salon about community sustainability in 2012, a Community Luminary Award in 2014, a nomination for the 2015 Humanities Rising Star Award for individuals using creative approaches to engage the public in humanities topics, and a Women of Distinction Award in 2022.  Her goal is to continue using the arts to break barriers, inspire youth, and create social change.