Managing the work-life balance can be a challenge but for Barbara Chandler, work and life are all about community.
As manager of the Hannibal Square Heritage Center she oversaw operations, organized events, and curated exhibitions that showcased the history and contributions of Winter Park’s historic Black community. Her efforts were recognized in 2022 with a spot on Orlando Sentinel’s “10 people who make Central Florida a better place to live.”
Chandler’s tenure with the Heritage Center ended in December when she was fired via email by Peter Schreyer, outgoing executive director of Heritage Center parent organization, Crealdé School of Art. “It was not just a job for me, it was part of who I am and what I do,” she said.
The circumstances of the firing have not been fully disclosed and attempts by the32789 to contact Schreyer for comment were unsuccessful. Chandler said an alleged lack of communication and unapproved partnerships in the production of events were among the reasons she had been given.
Chandler has spent most of her career in marketing and promotions. Her work ranges from event coordination and fundraising to advocating for disenfranchised communities and promoting local artists. She has regularly assisted local nonprofits and became associated with Hannibal Square Heritage Center as an event volunteer in 2009. The work evolved into an educational experience as she became familiar with the center’s operations and deepened her knowledge of local history. She was promoted when an assistant manager position opened in 2010 under then-manager, Fairolyn Livingston, who later stepped down to take the role of chief historian.
“She came in to visit one day and she never left,” said Livingston. “We’ve been friends ever since.”
Chandler was named as Livingston’s successor and began working beyond the position’s part time schedule to expand programming. She scheduled new events, added walking tours to further educate guests about the historic community, and worked with neighborhood advocates and city leaders on the Shady Park Pioneer Memorial and Unity Corner projects. Chandler also ran for City Commission Seat 4 in 2019 and despite losing her bid, she was the first African American since 1985 to run for Winter Park public office.
Hannibal Square Heritage Center temporarily closed after Chandler’s firing, but reopened on January 19 for the Winter Park Unity Heritage Festival. The center is currently co-managed by Livingston and Hannibal Square community activist and historian, Mary Daniels, while the search for a new manager continues. Crealdé Executive Director Emily Bourmas-Fry, who succeeded Schreyer in January, told the32789 that the school is working to expand community programs during the leadership transition. “We remain deeply committed to the Heritage Center’s mission and bright future,” wrote Bourmas-Fry in an emailed statement.
Chandler’s path forward is a continuation of per previous work. She is furthering her promotions and marketing efforts through Barbara Chandler Productions and is producing events for FRAME, a creative incubator for up-and-coming photographers. She is also producing an ongoing cabaret series in partnership with Winter Park Playhouse.
Sounds of the World: Celebrating Diversity in Music provides a quarterly platform for artists who otherwise would not have a place to perform. A March 6 production titled Extraordinary Women and their Music will commemorate Women’s History Month with a performance by vocalist, Mzuri Moyo Aimbaye. The setlist will celebrate Billie Holiday, Aretha Franklin, Ella Fitzgerald, Diana Ross, Whitney Houston, and more legendary vocalists.
Chandler maintains close friendships with Heritage Center volunteers and contributors, and is open to future opportunities to help support its mission. But she believes the success of the center relies on the same thing that her own future is focused on: partnerships that lift up the community.
“I’m excited to continue the work and the conversations,” Chandler said. “And grateful for the support of the community.”
