diff --git a/backend/uploads/documents/document-1743031855065-584387717.pdf b/backend/uploads/documents/document-1743031855065-584387717.pdf deleted file mode 100644 index d31c99c..0000000 Binary files a/backend/uploads/documents/document-1743031855065-584387717.pdf and /dev/null differ diff --git a/backend/uploads/textversions/text-1743031855070.txt b/backend/uploads/textversions/text-1743031855070.txt deleted file mode 100644 index 8de39ac..0000000 --- a/backend/uploads/textversions/text-1743031855070.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,111 +0,0 @@ -February 28, 2025 -Amy Adams, Program Coordinator -Museum of Deaf History, Art, and Culture -455 E Park St​ -Olathe, KS 66061 -Dear Amy, -When we stare into the night sky, each star tells a story - some burning bright with purpose, others -finding new positions as their time in a particular formation evolves. Today, I must acknowledge that my -star in the MDHAC constellation is shifting its orbit, no longer able to shine in the position it once held -with such pride. -The journey of a docent is like that of a sculptor, chiseling away at misconception until understanding -emerges from the stone of ignorance. For years, I have carved pathways through the museum's halls, -transforming everyday facts into transcendent experiences. Each tour became a living canvas where -visitors could witness the vibrant brushstrokes of Deaf history painting itself before their eyes. -My path with MDHAC officially began in 2018, during one of my darkest moments. After the election, I -felt lost - dismissed - crushed. When someone from MDHAC invited me to sit at the front desk, I -hesitated. Putting myself in public view again felt overwhelming, but it aligned with my passion for -writing legal advocacy strategies on my laptop. I accepted, not realizing this small "yes" would -transform my life's direction. -Nearly a year later, when docent training opportunities arose through a partnership with Nelson-Atkins -Museum of Art, my name wasn't on the candidate list. Yet somehow, as the person staffing the front -desk, I was invited to participate as an unofficial candidate. I never intended to excel - in fact, I secretly -hoped to perform poorly enough that I wouldn't be asked to lead tours. I worried the public wasn't ready -for my perspectives on Deaf history and culture, which some considered too direct or intense. -Then came that pivotal moment - giving a practice tour to volunteers from that same large museum. -Something unexpected happened. These visitors resonated deeply with my authentic presentation of -our Deaf history, perspectives, and visual way of experiencing the world. Their enthusiastic response, -coupled with encouragement from the same person who first invited me to the front desk, convinced me -to embrace this role I'd been avoiding. -Now I stand at a crossroads. My work building Deaf leadership across the nation flows like a river that -has outgrown its local banks and seeks broader horizons. This inner purpose draws me forward with -the gravitational pull of countless stars, irresistible in its power. -Meanwhile, the museum I once knew has transformed. Displays change without discussion, like -paragraphs rewritten mid-story. The narrative I carefully constructed now contains segments I did not -author, elements inserted without context, altering the story's very meaning. How can one tend a -garden when the landscape itself shifts beneath one's hands? - - Within these walls now exists a subtle current of dismissal - not violent like a storm, but persistent like -erosion. My contributions, once treasured insights, now seem to disappear into seas of indifference. In -spaces where my perspectives once flourished, I now perceive only fading impressions. -The displays I meticulously incorporated into my tours have been altered without consultation, creating -a disconnect between my prepared narrative and the visual story now presented. It feels like watching a -familiar landscape suddenly rearrange itself, making my carefully mapped journey impossible to follow. -My work on the proclamation for governors to recognize our community - words I selected to transform -perceptions from medical pathology to cultural celebration - was altered without discussion before its -presentation. The revised document, stripped of nuanced language highlighting our visual-spatial -intelligence and unique contributions to humanity, felt like watching a vibrant painting fade to muted -tones. When we reshape the public narrative about our existence but find our own words rewritten, we -lose the authentic perspective that makes advocacy powerful. -This pattern of disconnect feels especially poignant given the deep historical ties between KAD and this -museum. In the 1980s, KAD spearheaded crucial fundraising drives that helped transform MDHAC -from vision into reality. Even the LaRosh Fund contributed directly to this museum's construction. That -foundation of mutual support makes the current distance all the more striking - like two branches that -once grew from the same trunk now bending in different directions. -More recently, my research about local Deaf history and the LaRosh Fund scholarship hasn't received -the acknowledgment I believed it deserved. Offering these insights feels like extending a hand in -friendship only to find it remains unclasped. -I've also experienced a growing discomfort in the museum atmosphere. Where I once freely shared my -cultural knowledge, I now find myself constrained by an invisible boundary of judgment. The joy of -cultural exchange has been overshadowed by the weight of unseen scrutiny. What once felt like fertile -ground for authentic expression now feels like shallow soil where genuine contributions struggle to take -root. -Deafhood demands authenticity. It requires spaces where our truths can breathe without constraint. -When research meets skepticism, when history is treated as malleable rather than sacred, when lived -experience is subordinated to administrative convenience - these create rifts that widen with time. -I've been fortunate to witness different styles of leadership during my time at MDHAC. In the past, the -museum radiated a welcoming energy that made volunteers feel appreciated for their contributions -rather than merely fulfilling obligations. The atmosphere fostered creativity, mutual respect, and genuine -community building. Volunteers eagerly returned, knowing their passion for Deaf culture was valued -above all else. This collaborative spirit has dimmed in recent months, replaced by an environment that -treats freely given time as a commodity and passion as a resource to be managed. The contrast -between these approaches is evident in how volunteers now select their days of service, gravitating -toward times when their contributions are celebrated rather than merely extracted. - - The transformation in visitors' understanding when they grasp that being Deaf isn't about absence but -presence - a vibrant way of experiencing the world through visual and spatial intelligence - has been -the most rewarding aspect of my work. -With this letter, I am formally withdrawing from my dedicated volunteer position as a docent tour guide -at MDHAC. Like a meteor shower that transforms into individual shooting stars, each carrying wishes -across the sky, my experiences here have scattered brilliant moments of connection that will illuminate -paths I've yet to travel. -I extend my deepest gratitude to everyone at MDHAC who provided the space for me to develop as a -cultural ambassador. However, the current environment has become increasingly difficult for me to -navigate. The dismissive treatment of my contributions, changes made to exhibits without consultation, -and the uncomfortable atmosphere created by certain individuals have effectively pushed me away -from the institution I once loved serving. These behaviors have transformed from occasional -frustrations into a pattern that signals my full participation is no longer valued. While these experiences -have shaped me profoundly, it's clear I must direct my energy where toxic interactions don't impede my -ability to contribute meaningfully to our community's representation. -My connection to our cultural heritage remains undiminished. While stepping back from scheduled -docent responsibilities, I'll continue to visit the museum and participate in special events. Consider this -not a departure but a transformation - like a butterfly emerging from a chrysalis, my dedication to our -shared mission takes a new form while maintaining its essential nature. -I still believe in MDHAC's potential to be a sanctuary where Deaf culture, art and history can flourish -authentically. Perhaps when the museum establishes proper governance boundaries and accountability -structures, when power is distributed rather than concentrated, and when volunteer contributions are -welcomed rather than redirected, my regular involvement might resume. Until then, I must follow the -path that allows my energy to flow most freely toward the advancement of our community in the most -healthy form. -Even as I shift my position, my commitment to preserving and celebrating our cultural legacy continues -unabated. Like water finding a new channel, my dedication flows onward, nourishing different ground -but still part of the same essential river. -The stars in the night sky don't disappear when they move positions - they simply shine their light from -a new place. That's what I'm doing now. -With unwavering dedication to our shared journey, -Chris Haulmark -CC: Chriz Dally -CC: Suz Dennis​ -CC: Kim Anderson - - \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/backend/uploads/thumbnails/thumbnail-1743012900774.jpg b/backend/uploads/thumbnails/thumbnail-1743012900774.jpg deleted file mode 100644 index 53d40df..0000000 Binary files a/backend/uploads/thumbnails/thumbnail-1743012900774.jpg and /dev/null differ diff --git a/backend/uploads/thumbnails/thumbnail-1743014024744.jpg b/backend/uploads/thumbnails/thumbnail-1743014024744.jpg deleted file mode 100644 index 557bbba..0000000 Binary files a/backend/uploads/thumbnails/thumbnail-1743014024744.jpg and /dev/null differ diff --git a/backend/uploads/thumbnails/thumbnail-1743014125156.jpg b/backend/uploads/thumbnails/thumbnail-1743014125156.jpg deleted file mode 100644 index 557bbba..0000000 Binary files a/backend/uploads/thumbnails/thumbnail-1743014125156.jpg and /dev/null differ diff --git a/backend/uploads/thumbnails/thumbnail-1743014260739.jpg b/backend/uploads/thumbnails/thumbnail-1743014260739.jpg deleted file mode 100644 index 85a1c24..0000000 Binary files a/backend/uploads/thumbnails/thumbnail-1743014260739.jpg and /dev/null differ diff --git a/backend/uploads/videos/video-1743012900369-782430817.mp4 b/backend/uploads/videos/video-1743012900369-782430817.mp4 deleted file mode 100644 index 1f2e478..0000000 Binary files a/backend/uploads/videos/video-1743012900369-782430817.mp4 and /dev/null differ diff --git a/backend/uploads/videos/video-1743014024621-522531229.MP4 b/backend/uploads/videos/video-1743014024621-522531229.MP4 deleted file mode 100644 index 962bafb..0000000 Binary files a/backend/uploads/videos/video-1743014024621-522531229.MP4 and /dev/null differ diff --git a/backend/uploads/videos/video-1743014125037-198858363.MP4 b/backend/uploads/videos/video-1743014125037-198858363.MP4 deleted file mode 100644 index 962bafb..0000000 Binary files a/backend/uploads/videos/video-1743014125037-198858363.MP4 and /dev/null differ diff --git a/backend/uploads/videos/video-1743014260614-621605245.MP4 b/backend/uploads/videos/video-1743014260614-621605245.MP4 deleted file mode 100644 index 962bafb..0000000 Binary files a/backend/uploads/videos/video-1743014260614-621605245.MP4 and /dev/null differ