Norman Jordan, founder and director emeritus of the African American Arts and Heritage Academy (AAAHA) located on the campus at West Virginia University, died on June 27, 2015. A celebration of his life was hosted by his family on Saturday, July 11, in the Gov. Hewlett C. Smith Theater at the Tamarack Arts and Crafts Center in Beckley, WV.
Norman Jordan was an internationally recognized poet, playwright, author and arts museum administrator. Earning a BS degree of Fine Arts in Theatre from West Virginia University and a Master’s degree in Black Studies from Ohio State University, he felt the need to give back to the community. This began when professional football player Jim Brown asked him to direct a youth oriented community center project. Since that time he has mentored many youth, performed at the Apollo Theatre in NYC, written plays and created amazing poetry earning him a United Nations International Playwright’s Award.
After returning to teach African American literature at West Virginia University in the 1970s, Norman’s inspiration to create the Arts Academy came while serving as an events coordinator for Camp Washington Carver. For the past 30 years, he has served as the president and director of the African American Heritage Academy for youth ages 13-18.
Roanoke residents Laurice Hampton and her brother, Joseph Bundy have been affiliated with the Academy as instructors since its inception. As a result of that connection, a coveted relationship was formed when the Roanoke Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority began awarding scholarships to the camp. Since then, over 30 scholarships to students from the Roanoke Valley were awarded annually to attend the Arts Academy.
