The Hilliard Institute

The Hilliard Institute is a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation offering sensory education programing, experiential learning, and academic research and publishing while also supporting philanthropic initiatives through fundraising and educational training and activities—all under the umbrella of the concept of Educational Wellness. 

The Hilliard Institute. 4440 Savage Pointe Drive. Franklin, TN 37064

Email Dr. K. Mark Hilliard at mark.hilliardinstitute@gmail.com

or Professor Jessa R. Sexton at thehilliardpress@gmail.com.

 

Hilliard Institute Doings in 2020–2021

 
 

The Power of Words Festival and Anthology

The Power of Words Festival in Ireland is an annual celebration of words—written, spoken, acted, and sung—that began in the beautiful heritage town of Abbeyleix, Co. Laois, in 2019.

Because of the Covid-19 restrictions, the 2020 Power of Words Festival was postponed. But, in its place was created a joint venture between The Power of Words Festival—Abbeyleix and Hilliard Press (the publishing division of The Hilliard Institute). The result was a short story writing competition! This competition was meant to keep our Irish writers writing during all the Covid-19 lockdowns—and it served as a bridge between our 2019 and 2021 in-person festivals.  

This short story competition took place beginning the 31st of August, 2020, until the 4th of December, 2020. Irish writers were invited to submit short stories of up to 5000 words, on any theme. Approximately forty stories were submitted and our competition judge, renowned Irish author, Amanda Carter, selected the top ten stories which are published within this anthology. The stories then went through the hands and reviews of four editors in Ireland and four editors in Tennessee.

Hilliard Press was then honored to be the publisher for the first Power of Words Abbeyleix Anthology released the summer of 2021 in Ireland, then in Tennessee. Hilliard Press also has a deep heritage and history with Abbeyleix and the County Laois through their mutual ties to the O’More clan. We were thrilled to be a part of the new venture. 

 

A Hymn a Day: The Complete Edition

We edited, assisted with research, and published the complete edition of a historical hymn stories book for Graham McKay to be used in religious and academic classroom settings and lectures.

 

Tours West Campaign

We continue to support one of our major academic authors and teachers, John Smith, as he travels and talks about childhood education each year (especially helping children of abuse). Mr. Smith is a retired special education teacher formally working troubles students in a school system in Tennessee. Each spring he conducts his “Tours West Campaign” to some of the western states of American taking with him his mule (Tiger of the Tiger the Mule , a story created to help children who have gone through physical or mental abuse).





Cherokee Missions

We have continued our non-profit partnership with Cherokee Missions in Cherokee, North Carolina, at the Cherokee Church of Christ on the Cherokee Indian Reservation. This church started in the 1940s, and in 1998, Dr. Hilliard lived and worked on the reservation while conducting research for his doctoral dissertation on teaching and learning styles of the Eastern Band of the Cherokee. Dr. Hilliard’s interest in this culture and this church began as a youth when his father led mission work there. The Hilliard Institute also raises all the financial support for a full-time ministerial couple, who live and work on the reservation.