October 4 through December 20, 2025
Steps Toward Democracy: Photographs by Deborah Hakes
Location: Marshall M. Fredericks Sculpture Museum
From 2005 to 2014, Saginaw Valley State University alumna, Deborah Hakes worked at former U.S. President Jimmy Carter’s nonprofit organization, The Carter Center. As part of the public relations office, Hakes traveled to more than 20 countries, a dozen with President and Mrs. Carter to raise awareness of and support post-conflict countries often holding their first ever democratic elections.
Impartial, credible observers play an important role in shaping perceptions about the legitimacy of electoral processes. By serving as observers themselves, the Carters also brought awareness to impoverished places and hope to millions. Hakes’ photographs have appeared in the New York Times, Associated Press, Atlanta Journal-Constitution, BBC, and more. She remained a trusted member of the extended Carter Center family and was honored to serve as a family photographer for President and Mrs. Carter’s memorial services in 2023 and 2025.
Deborah Hakes. Counting Ballots by Hand (detail), 2008. In the remote Himalayan country of Nepal, ballots from some of the 20,000 polling centers had to be flown in by helicopter or hand-carried up to seven days to counting centers. Here, President and Mrs. Carter, along with other observers, watch as ballots are counted in Kathmandu in 2008. After a decade-long conflict, a peace agreement between the government and Maoist rebel leaders led to this election to form an Assembly to draft a new constitution.
Add me to your mailing list please. Deb Jordan , 309 Alvena ave. Battle Creek,MI 49017
Tljwife@yahoo.com Thank you
Hi, Deb – Apologies for the delay. We have added you to our mailing list! We hope you will be able to come and see future exhibitions and events!