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Participant Biographies
Descendant Communities Speak Plenary Panel
Vanessa Adams-HarrisJacqueline Bridgeforth-Williams
Darius Johnson
Brian Palmer
Details on this dynamic panel of local and regional leaders are forthcoming.
Panel 1: Reclaiming the 19th Century History of the Amblers House in James City County, Virginia
Laura Hill, President/ Executive Director (Panelist) Virginia Racial Healing Institute Pronouns: She/her Laura Hill is the President and Executive Director of Virginia Racial Healing Institute. She is also the founder of Coming to the Table - Historic Triangle, a chapter of Coming to the Table, a national racial reconciliation organization. As executive director, she launched and plans three annual community programs to bring diverse people together to have civil conversations about race - the Greater Williamsburg National Day of Racial Healing, Journey to Racial Healing, and Heal Greater Williamsburg, Heal the Nation Community Day. In 2025 her popular column "Building a Bigger Table," earned a first place column writing award from the Virgina Press Association. A collection of her columns will be published in 2025. Laura serves on the City of Williamsburg's first-ever Truth and Reconciliation Committee, the Racial Trauma committee of the Greater Williamsburg Trauma-Informed Community Network (GW-TICN) and James City County's Social Services Advisory Board. She also co-chaired Coming to the Table's National Reparations Working Group.
DeVeria Gore, Executive Board Member (Moderator) Virginia Racial Healing Institute Pronouns: She/her DeVeria Gore is a native of Newport News, VA. However, she has lived on both coasts journeying to California upon marrying her late husband of 46 years. She completed her college degrees at the following institutions: University of Va., Pepperdine University, and The George Washington University. She is a retired education administrator (37 years in education) and helped lead the diversity training program in Williamsburg-James City County Schools in the late ‘90’s. Currently, she serves on the board of the Va. Racial Healing Institute where she continues the work for improving understanding among the diverse members of the community. Gore is a published author, speaker and minister, but Ms. Gore is most proud of her two children and six grandchildren.
Jaenya Cooper, (Panelist - PowerPoint presenter) Virginia Racial Healing Institute Research Intern 2025 William and Mary undergraduate student, Class of 2026 Pronouns: She/her Jaenya Cooper is pursuing a degree in Anthropology at William and Mary, where she has developed a strong foundation in both quantitative and qualitative research methods. Her academic coursework has provided me with proficiency in Python, STATA, and LexisNexis, essential tools for data analysis, legal research, and performance monitoring. As a student fellow on the Black Histories Project, she worked on documenting disparities and displacement for people of color in Williamsburg, VA. Personal experiences with economic inequality in education have driven her commitment to social justice and equity. Her career goals are to work in public policy and law, focusing on issues of economic inequality and social justice. She has gained a deeper understanding of the factors contributing to these disparities.
Panel 2: From Ancestral Ground to Living Monument: Courage, Dignity, and Hope in the 313+ Ancestors Speak Project
Stan Neron
Jocelyn Francis-White
Nancy And Rob Benz
Giacomo Sacca
Wanda Lundy, Moderator
Rev. Dr. Wanda Lundy – Faculty/Administrator – Elizabeth Destination Marketing Organization and Greater Elizabeth Chamber of Commerce Director of Operations – Union Theological Seminary (NY) Rev. Dr. Wanda Lundy is the visionary lead of the 313+ Ancestors Speak Project. A public theologian, professor, and activist, she has guided the project's historical research, community engagement, and monument construction. Her leadership exemplifies how sacred memory and grassroots organizing can fortify Black communities and transform public space into testimony and healing.
Dr. Linda Caldwell-Epps, founder of 1804 Consultants and co-founder of the Sankofa Collaborative, is a historian and higher-education leader with over 45 years of experience. Formerly President of the New Jersey Historical Society, she advances equity, education, and public history through consulting, community engagement, and institutional transformation. Jocelyn Francis-White – Descendant of the VanDevere Family - Community Member – 1719 William Trent House Museum Trustee Jocelyn Francis-White is a direct descendant of Mr. Henry Philip VanDevere, one of the over 313 people of African descent who were free or enslaved and buried at the First Presbyterian Church of Elizabethtown. As a member of the extended 313+ community, Jocelyn brings a deeply personal voice to this collective memory work. Her reflections embody generational courage, resilience, and the honor of naming and uplifting one’s ancestors.
Nancy Benz – Descendant of the Crane Family – Daughters of the American Revolution - Community Member Nancy Benz, a descendant of the Crane family interred in the same cemetery, has been a dedicated partner in the 313+ initiative. As a European American descendant, her participation models how white individuals can engage in historical reckoning and reparative work. Nancy offers a heartfelt perspective on shared land, shared responsibility, and healing across racial lines.
Stanley Neron – Administrator - Community Member – Union County Commissioner Stan Neron, Director of Recreation for the City of Elizabeth, has been a steadfast civic partner in the 313+ initiative. He helped secure city resources for the monument and continues to champion historical justice through local government. His leadership highlights how public officials can honor Black legacies with boldness and care.
Chief Giacomo Sacca of the Elizabeth Police Department is a founding board member of the 313+ project and a critical ally. His role challenges assumptions about law enforcement by showing how officers can act as bridge-builders in community healing. His presence signals the dignity and trusts possible when institutions align with truth and justice.
Panel 3. Unfinished Business: An Unpanel with Enslaved and Enslaver Descendants
Kerri Moseley-Hobbs
MaryLyle Buff
Michael Hudson
Dr. Kerri Moseley-Hobbs is an author, researcher, public historian, dedicated to illuminating the lives and legacies of the enslaved. She is the sixth-generation descendant of John Fraction, who was enslaved at Smithfield Plantation—now part of Virginia Tech’s campus—and she has spent more than two decades researching her family’s history. Her book, More Than a Fraction: Based on a True Story, blends archival research and creative narrative to bring to life the experiences of her Fraction ancestors. Beyond her writing, Moseley-Hobbs is also the founder and executive director of the More Than a Fraction Foundation, an organization focused on research, education, and public engagement around the histories of slavery and its legacies. She is also a director of policy implementation for a U. S. federal agency. With experience in higher education administration and cultural programming, Moseley-Hobbs frequently lectures and leads discussions on history, reconciliation, and descendant engagement. Her work emphasizes the importance of truth-telling, repair, and dignity in confronting the unfinished business of slavery. She is a 5th generation descendant of John Fraction, the subject of her first Creative Nonfiction book “More Than A Fraction: Based on A True Story.”
MaryLyle Buff works in Information Technology as a project manager, instructional designer, and data analyst. She has a background in education, behavioral therapy, and mind-body integrative practices. She and her husband have two young sons and enjoy spending time as a family being creative and playing outdoors. A descendant of James Patton Preston she is currently collaborating with close and extended family and the More Than a Fraction Foundation to explore descendancy and cultural reconciliation.
Michael Hudson is the Executive Director of Historic Smithfield, the 1774 home of William Preston in Blacksburg, Virginia, and a site deeply tied to the history of slavery and the founding of Virginia Tech. In his leadership role, Hudson has guided Smithfield through a period of transformation, expanding its mission from interpreting the lives of the Preston family alone to telling the fuller, more inclusive story of the enslaved people and their descendants who lived and labored there. Hudson has worked in museums and historic sites for more than two decades, with a focus on inclusive interpretation, community partnerships, and descendant engagement. At Smithfield, he has prioritized collaboration with descendants of both the enslaved and the enslaver families, helping the site become a space for dialogue, truth-telling, and reconciliation. His work reflects a deep commitment to public history as a tool for repair and education, ensuring that the legacy of enslavement is neither forgotten nor marginalized. Under his direction, Historic Smithfield continues to evolve as a place where historical memory and contemporary conversations meet.
Panel 4: Curating 400 Years Of African American History on Maryland’s Eastern Shore
Darius Johnson, Moderator
Jaelon Moaney
Carolyn Brooks
Airlee Ringgold Johnson
Moderator: Darius Johnson (he/him), Washington College, Starr Center for the Study of the American Experience/Eastern Shore Native, Darius Johnson is a public historian, cultural strategist, and program director who reimagines heritage as a tool for justice and community empowerment by collaborating with Black, rural, and descendant communities. As Project Director for Chesapeake Heartland: An African American Humanities Project at the Starr Center for the Study of the American Experience at Washington College, he leads a team digitizing African American history across Maryland’s Eastern Shore for inclusion in a community archive and for deployment at public engagements across the region. Johnson serves as a Trustee of the Maryland Historical Trust, sat on the Stories of the Chesapeake Heritage Area board, and is President of the Chesapeake College Foundation. With professional experience spanning affordable housing, land conservation, workforce development, and construction, he brings interdisciplinary insight to heritage work. He is completing a Master’s degree in Historic Preservation from Goucher College and earned a B.A. in Business Management from Washington College in 2015.
Airlee Ringgold Johnson (she/her), Washington College Starr Center / Eastern Shore Native, Airlee Ringgold Johnson is a native of Chestertown, Maryland, and a graduate of the historically Black Garnet High School. She earned a B.S. in Business Administration from the University of Maryland Eastern Shore and an M.S. in Human Resources Management from the University of Utah’s European Campus. As Community Historian for Chesapeake Heartland, Johnson leads community curation efforts, helping residents locate, digitize, and interpret family and local histories. A longtime volunteer and outreach historian with Washington College’s Starr Center, she has co-coordinated national collaborations such as the Smithsonian’s Museum on Main Street project. Johnson also chairs Kent County’s Legacy Day, a celebration of African American cultural heritage, and co-curated African American Entrepreneurs of the 1950s and 1960s in Kent County. A founding member of the Social Action Committee for Racial Justice, she received the 2018 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Humanitarian Award for her leadership in advancing racial equity and historical visibility.
Carolyn Brooks (she/her), Washington College Starr Center / Eastern Shore Native, Carolyn Brooks is a native of Kent County, Maryland, and a graduate of the historic Garnet High School in Chestertown. She earned a B.S. in Psychology from Morgan State University and an M.Ed. in Special Education from Coppin State College. Brooks dedicated 43 years of service to the Maryland Department of Labor, assisting jobseekers across Baltimore and Maryland’s Eastern Shore through vocational training and employment counseling. Following retirement, she became deeply involved in public history and volunteer work with the Starr Center for the Study of the American Experience. She co-coordinated The Way We Worked, a collaboration between the Starr Center and the Grand Army of the Republic Post – Sumner Hall in partnership with the Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service (SITES), highlighting 150 years of African American labor history in Kent County. Brooks continues to research and write the histories of her home church, elementary school, and the Coleman community—advancing the preservation of Black working-class legacies.
Jaelon T. Moaney (he/him), Washington College, Starr Center/Eastern Shore Native, Jaelon T. Moaney is Deputy Director of the Starr Center for the Study of the American Experience at Washington College. An interdisciplinary visionary and historic resource steward, Moaney’s lineage in the Chesapeake Bay region traces back several generations, including ancestors who helped found Unionville—believed to be the only American village established by formerly enslaved soldiers. Appointed in 2023 by Governor Wes Moore as the youngest member of the Maryland Commission on African American History & Culture, Moaney has become a national leader in preservation policy. His advocacy has contributed to major federal designations including the Southern Maryland National Heritage Area, Brown v. Board of Education National Historical Park expansion, and the Emmett Till & Mamie Till-Mobley National Monument. A graduate of Williams College, he serves on multiple state and national boards and co-founded The Needle’s Eye Academy, a literacy initiative for Black & Brown youth on Maryland’s Eastern Shore.
Panel 5: The Road to Dawn: Resilience, Repair and the Power of Stories
The Rev. Robin Mines, she/her/hers
Johnie Tillman, he/him/his
Ann Morris, she/her/hers
Kate Tweedy, she/her/hers
Dr. Jody Allen, Moderator
Kate Tweedy is a writer, teacher, and former civil rights lawyer, who has, since 2022, focused on confronting her ancestral history of enslaving workers in Caroline County, Virginia. As a member of the Meadow Families Linked Descendants, she has worked to reestablish childhood ties within Dawn, the free community founded after Emancipation. With colleagues linked both biologically and historically, she has been working to uncover and preserve historic legacies within that community. She lives in Ashland, VA.
Born in 1951, Johnie Tillman grew up in Dawn, VA and attended segregated schools there until as a rising junior, he was given an opportunity to attend Phillips Exeter Academy in New Hampshire. He attended that prestigious institution due to a scholarship and support from the A Better Chance (ABC) Program, sponsored by the Rockefeller Foundation. After Exeter, Johnie attended and graduated from Dartmouth College, majoring in Physics and intending to go to medical school. In the Fall of 1974, he matriculated at the Medical College of Virginia (MCV) in Richmond. While attending MCV, he received a Health Professions Scholarship, which required him to join the Army. Graduating from MCV, he attended a Family Medicine Residency at Fort Lewis, WA. In his career as a military physician, he held many positions –- staff physician, teaching medical students, training Family Medicine Residents, operational medicine planner and hospital commander. In retirement, Johnie enjoys volunteering, serving in his local church and being a loving husband, father and grandfather. He has stayed connected to Dawn, returning frequently, always looking for ways to “pay it forward.” He is an active member of the Meadow Family Linked Descendants.
Born and raised in Roanoke, VA Ann Morris is a retired journalist who worked for daily newspapers for three decades, most recently as managing editor of the Greensboro (NC) News & Record. She now spends her time making “good trouble,” serving on the board of the Community Foundation of Greater Greensboro and working for social justice and racial equity through engagement with many nonprofit, political and faith organizations. In recent years, she has focused on understanding the truth about her family’s history as enslavers in Virginia. Her 3rd great grandfather enslaved roughly 100 people on the Meadow Plantation in Caroline County – a property that later became Meadow Stable, home of Secretariat, and is now Meadow Event Park. Her journey led her to meet white cousins as well as descendants of families who were enslaved by her ancestors. Together they have forged a dedicated group, Meadow Family Linked Descendants, committed to truth telling, healing and reparative action. The opportunity to bust the Lost Cause myths she grew up with and to build honest, loving relationships with her linked descendants has been life changing for her. Ann lives in Greensboro, NC.
The Rev. Robin D. Mines grew up in Richmond, attending public schools there during the years of integration. She was a high school athlete, band member and student government representative. She attended Norfolk State University, and then honorably served in the U.S. Air Force from 1980-1986, living in Minnesota and other distant locations. Returning home to Richmond, she has served as a civic association president, PTA president, Communities in Schools volunteer, “Growing up Civil Rights” representative at the University of Richmond, and on the advisory board of the Richmond Department of Social Services. She attended Samuel DeWitt Proctor School of Theology at Virginia Union University, graduating in 2016. 2013-2016. She is an ordained elder in the African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church. She currently serves on the boards of Coming Together Virginia and the Virginia Interfaith Council for Public Policy, and as Associate Minister at Common Table Church of Reconciliation in Richmond. Her passion is bringing congregations together, crossing complexion and denominational lines in missions, outreach, worship and fellowship. She is an active member of Meadow Families Linked Descendants.
Panel 6: Reckoning and Relationship: Descendant Collaboration in Amherst College’s Racial Reckoning Project
Nicka Sewell-Smith
Marcus Smith
Allen Hart
Julia Carroll
Panel 7: Flesh and Fragility: Recentering the Black Male Gaze
Kyle R. Fox, Ph.D. , Moderator
William Marshall
Zachary “ZAQ” Jackson, M.Ed.
William Marshall, William Marshall is a multidisciplinary creative, curator, and storyteller whose work explores identity, vulnerability, and reclamation through the lens of Black masculinity. He is the co-creator of Good Form: Flesh & Fragility, an art experience that examines the intersections of body, beauty, and being, featuring visual art, a confessional installation titled The Undressing Room, and a dialogue series on mental health within the Black community. Guided by the belief that art is both mirror and medicine, William’s projects blend performance, design, and social engagement to create spaces where truth and tenderness coexist. His curatorial approach draws inspiration from the Harlem Renaissance—an era that championed creative expression as resistance and restoration. In addition to his artistic work, William is the founder of The Coffer, a modern speakeasy and safe space inspired by that same period’s ethos of community and courage. His ongoing mission is to create platforms that honor complexity, foster connection, and center voices often overlooked in traditional narratives of art and wellness.
Zachary “ZAQ” Jackson, M.Ed, Zachary Jackson is a Washington, D.C.–based visual artist, educator, and photographer whose work bridges the worlds of fine art, personal storytelling, and social impact. With over 15 years of experience teaching visual arts at Dunbar High School, he has inspired generations of young creatives through rigorous instruction in drawing, painting, Black art history, and AP Studio Art. As founder of the Kuumba Art Society, Jackson cultivates student voices through exhibitions and community-centered projects that merge art and activism. Beyond the classroom, he is the visionary behind ZAQ Photography, a brand celebrated for its bold, high-contrast imagery and emotionally charged portraiture. His ongoing photography series—such as Bare Elegance, Good Form, and Power of Connection—explore themes of vulnerability, identity, body positivity, and queer Black expression. A bodybuilder and creative entrepreneur, Jackson embodies discipline and artistry, often blending fitness, self-image, and cultural reflection in his visual narratives. His work continues to challenge conventions, illuminate the beauty of authenticity, and inspire others to see themselves as living art.
Kyle R. Fox, Ph.D., Chair, Department of Arts and Humanities, College of Coastal Georgia, Dr. Kyle R. Fox is currently Chair of the Department of Art and Humanities and an Assistant Professor of Communication at the College of Coastal Georgia. Kyle also serves as faculty representative on CCGA’s President Commission on Diversity and Inclusion and serves as the college’s representative on the University System of Georgia Regents’ Advisory Committee for Communication. Kyle is a graduate of The University of Alabama, where he received a BA in Political Science and African American Studies. He also holds a MA in Communication Studies with concentrations in Gender, Race, and Political Rhetoric from The University of Alabama’s College of Information Sciences and a Ph.D. in Humanities with a concentration in African American Studies from Clark Atlanta University. His research interests focus on the construction and performance of gendered and raced identities, specifically, Black masculine identities. Kyle is the co-creator of Good Form: Flesh and Fragility.
Panel 8: Rewriting 300 Years of Public History at the Rosewell Ruins
Dr. David Brown
Anna Rhodes
Darold Cuba
Markita Brooks
Lori Jackson Black, Moderator
Moderator: Lori Jackson Black, She/Her. The Fairfield Foundation; Genealogist; Community Member, Lori Jackson Black is the Donor Relations Officer and Project Manager for the Fairfield Foundation where she leads donor engagement, preservation and research projects, and interpretive planning. She completed the Family History (Genealogy) program at Monterey Peninsula College and holds a BA in History from Columbia College and an MA in Public History from American Military University. Prior to working for the Fairfield Foundation, Ms. Black worked as an independent Genealogist and Historian for over 15 years and co-founded the non-profit Preservation Mathews, Inc.
Dr. David Brown, He/Him, The Fairfield Foundation, The College of William and Mary, Dr. David Brown received a BA in Anthropology/Art History from William & Mary, an MA in History/Historical Archaeology from the University of Massachusetts, Boston, and a PhD in American History from William & Mary. He has worked as an archaeologist and draftsman with the College of William & Mary, the William & Mary Center for Archaeological Research, and the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation. Dr. Brown serves as Co-Director of the Fairfield Foundation, and is co-owner of DATA Investigations, a cultural resource management firm. Dr. Brown is a founding member of the Werowocomoco Research Group and an adjunct professor of history at William & Mary.
Anna Rhodes She/Her, The Fairfield Foundation; Community Member, Anna Rhodes is the Senior Staff Archaeologist at the Fairfield Foundation, where she leads field research, public archaeology programs, and interpretive initiatives focused on Virginia’s deep and diverse cultural heritage. She holds a BA in Anthropology from William & Mary and a MA in Historical Archaeology from the University of Massachusetts, Boston.
Darold Cuba, He/Him, Cambridge University; Community Member, Darold Cuba is an intellectual historian, social intrepreneur and media veteran (NYT, Vice, TriBeca, Fox, Wikipedia) with an interdisciplinary background, researching "landed Blackness” as "United States Post Emancipation Marronage (USPEM)." A founder of Marronage.Org, a social innovation enterprise preserving marronage communities and freedom colony settlements around the globe, incubated in the inaugural Cambridge Enterprises CRoSS (Commercialising Research out of the Social Sciences) Ideas Incubator c/o 2023; Oxbridge Africas (OA) a media initiative solving for the lack of representation, parity, inclusion and equity in Western narrative industries, a member of the Clinton Foundation’s CGIU2024 cohort; and the Cambridge Histories of Marronage (CHoM) Workshop, he’s a Teaching Fellow at the Global History Lab (GHL) and a Research Associate at the Cambridge Black Advisory Hub (CamBAH). A native of the Virginia Tidewater, raised in Gloucester as a descendent of Indigenous, African and European communities, he’s a History PhD candidate at St John's College, Cambridge, and holds graduate degrees from Harvard (MPA) and Columbia (MA), and a BA from Temple (Communications & PPE).
Markita Brooks, She/Her, Church Leader, Community Member, Apostle Markita Brooks is the Founder and Ministry Leader of The Truth In The Spirit, based at the Historic Antioch Baptist Church in Hayes, VA. The Truth In The Spirit is focused on transformation and empowerment for individuals, ministries, businesses and communities. Markita holds a BA in Leadership Studies from the University of Richmond. She has been trained through Kad-Esh MAP Ministry’s Global Revival Messianic Apostolic Prophetic Bible School and the Messianic Yeshiva of the International Alliance of Messianic Congregations and Synagogues. Markita is a motivational speaker and the published author of The Road to Damascus: Transformation for the Next Level and 5 Biblical Keys to Unlocking Wealth. She leads the Company of Apostles and Prophets, the Ecclesia Network of Ministries, the Nehemiah Network of business owners, the Invitation Movement and the National Kingdom Council. Apostle Markita also serves on 5 non-profit boards of directors and as the spiritual covering of many other ministries worldwide, while training pastors and leaders in various other ministries as well. She is also the Founder and CEO of Kingdom Wealth, LLC, a Bible-based business coaching firm, as well as the Founder and President of the Ari Network, Inc., a global network connecting Kingdom entrepreneurs.
Panel 9. Resilience of Communities through Art, Culture, and Intellectual Legacies
- Daraja Carroll, Dressed and Dripping in Dignity: A Visual Journey Through Black Style and Resistance
Daraja Carroll is a civil rights attorney and family historian with newly uncovered roots in Mecklenberg County, Virginia. Originally from the Bay Area, California, she moved to Washington D.C. to pursue her legal career and has since become passionate about exploring the intersections of history, pop culture, and identity. Daraja’s early experiences sparked her deep appreciation of culture and community as she was raised in the rich traditions of Black church and family life, spending Sundays at Baptist and Church of God in Christ services with her mother and grandparents, and summers at cookouts and family reunions with her family in Marshall, Texas. Daraja recently presented at the 2025 D.C. History Conference and looks forward to sharing and learning from others at the 16th Annual Lemon Project Spring Symposium.
- darlene anita scott, Feelin’ Good: The Pleasure Practices of Black Folk
darlene anita scott is a writer and multidisciplinary artist who explores corporeal presentations of trauma and the violence of silence, especially in Black girls. She has exhibited her artwork on the “good girl” widely including as cover artist for Girls In Global Development: Figurations of Gendered Power and her scholarship appears in Ourselves In Our Work: Black Women Scholars of Black Girlhoods. She is author of two poetry collections: Marrow and What We’ve Become and co-editor of the creative-critical volume Revisiting the Elegy in the Black Lives Matter Era.
- Nyree Dowdy, Shadows and Light: Picturing Black Hampton Roads through FSA Photography
Nyree Dowdy (she/her/hers) is an Art Bridges Curatorial Fellow at the Chrysler Museum of Art. Working with both the Curatorial Department and local Historically Black Colleges and Universities, she helps increase access to the Chrysler's collection through on-campus exhibitions and programming. She is committed to expanding the representation of Black history in museums by creating engaging and inclusive spaces that celebrate Black culture and heritage. She currently serves on the advisory councils of both the Virginia Museum of Contemporary Art and Norfolk State University's James Wise Gallery. Nyree holds a bachelor's degree in history from Oglethorpe University and has worked in several museums along the East Coast.
- Rashid Faisal, Dr. Carter G. Woodson and Negro History Week: Fortifying Black Communities through the Black Intellectual Legacy Model
Dr. Rashid Faisal is an Associate Professor and Department Chair at the College of Urban Education. He specializes in pre-Brown African American education, urban education, and the academic identity and achievement motivation of Black American male students. He is the developer of the Black Intellectual Legacy Model. This framework draws upon the history of Black intellectual and scholastic production to strengthen the academic identity of Black students, foster achievement motivation, and challenge deficit narratives and stereotypes surrounding Black success. Dr. Faisal’s work bridges scholarship, community engagement, and leadership to advance culturally responsive and historically grounded practices that affirm the dignity, resilience, and intellectual contributions of African Americans in education.
Panel 10. Stolen, Trafficked, Enslaved, Erased: Reclaiming and Retelling Their Stories and Ours
Johnette Weaver, Moderator
Liza Rodman
Melanie Roberts
Walter English
Johnette Gordon-Weaver (Moderator) She/Her, Johnette Gordon-Weaver is an American historian, genealogist, and activist. She is active in the restoration and historical preservation of Black history in Williamsburg, Virginia. In October 2023, she became the first woman of color to join the Williamsburg Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution, one of the society's oldest and largest chapters. She is also the co-founder of Williamsburg History. Gordon-Weaver is a media consultant for Williamsburg Action, an organization formed after the Murder of George Floyd that is focused on racial justice and equality in Williamsburg. She is active in Reservation, the Village Initiative, and other organizations and projects that restore and preserve African-American history in Williamsburg. She serves on some of the organization's advisory boards. Gordon-Weaver wrote an essay that was included in a history book published by William & Mary's Bray School Lab. She is also an oral historian.
Melanie Roberts, She/Her, Community Member, Berkeley Plantation, Charles City, Va, Researcher/ Historical Interpreter, Member of National Association of Interpreters, While working as a historical interpreter at Berkely Plantation, Melanie researched, created and is currently giving historical tours about the individuals enslaved at Berkeley. Her research has uncovered the names and history of previously unmentioned people enslaved at Berkeley and primary documents to support their stories. She created the first exhibit at Berkeley dedicated to honoring the lives of the enslaved, currently on display in the cabins used for the production of the 2019 Oscar-nominated film Harriet. Her documentation and storytelling has reclaimed the truth of American chattel slavery at a site where it started.
Liza Rodman, She/Her, Community Member Liza represents the Contraband Historical Society. On the night of May 23, 1861 less than 24 hours after Virginia ratified its ordinance of secession, Frank Baker, Shepard Mallory, and James Townsend, self-emancipated, crossed under the cover of night to Fortress Monroe, which was still flying the flag of the United States. The proclamation originated at Fort Monroe and rippled across the war-torn landscape: Escaped formerly enslaved men and women will no longer be returned by the Union Army to their owners as mandated by the "Fugitive Slave Act" and instead will be confiscated as "Contraband" of war. Union Army Maj. Gen. Benjamin Butler's decision changed the landscape of the Civil War and put pressure on President Abraham Lincoln to issue the Emancipation Proclamation. o Grand Contraband Camp – City of Hampton Established in 1861 following the Union Army's occupation of Fort Monroe, the Grand Contraband Camp was a sanctuary for thousands of enslaved individuals seeking refuge behind Union lines. Cemeteries associated with the site are being encroached upon by Interstate 64 expansions. Overgrowth in these regions has led to some graves being lost entirely.
Walter English, He/Him, Professional, Founder Brister English Project, The Brister English Project provides direct assistance in building family trees, offer a comprehensive database of free genealogy resources, and conducts educational workshops for the Black community. Our goal is to bridge the gap between the past and present by making genealogical research accessible and meaningful. We've partnered with institutions like the Santa Cruz Museum of Art and History on the London Nelson Legacy Initiative. Our work has not only enriched individual lives but has also contributed to a more inclusive and accurate historical narrative. The Brister English Project offers a range of resources to support genealogical research for descendants of American chattel slavery. These resources include guides for tracing ancestors, general resources for African American genealogy, Freedmen's Bureau records, information on ancestor nicknames, censuses, newspapers, military records, obituaries, Social Security records, insurance policies, records of enslaved births, church records, slave ship manifests, and even a section with resources for African Caribbean ancestry.
Panel 11: The 2025 Preservation Virginia African American Fellowship: A Summer of Community Research
Viola Baskerville, moderator
Karice Luck-Brimmer, panelist
Sheila Wilson-Elliott, panelist
Marlo Green, panelist
Karice Luck-Brimmer served as an Education Community Initiatives Program Associate for Virginia Humanities, with a primary focus on the Dan River Region. In her role at VA Humanities she collaborated with local community members to maintain a robust network of cultural organizations dedicated to fostering positive changes. Karice also oversees the General Assembly’s African-American Cultural Resources Task Force, dedicated to promoting positive change in Virginia. With over 20 years of experience as a genealogist and historian, she conducts extensive genealogical research in the Pittsylvania County, Virginia. Karice’s work highlights critical needs to conserve sacred grounds, historic sites, and oral histories. Karice served on the board of the Department of Historic Resources (DHR) from 2019 to 2023. Luck- Brimmer has been featured in several prominent publications and media outlets, including The Washington Post and 60 minutes.
Sheila K. Wilson Elliott, Pharm.D., MBA, comes to the Preservation Virginia African American Fellowship Program from a career in pharmacy services spanning over 40 years. Nearing the end of her career in the medical field and being a citizen of the Nottoway Indian Tribe of Virginia, she is interested in exploring a second career in preservation. Sheila has been an active citizen of the Nottoway Indian Tribe of Virginia for over 10 years. She is currently the Chair of the non-profit arm of the tribe, the Virginia Nottoway Indian Circle & Square Foundation. In addition, she has served as Chair of the Citizenship-Genealogy Committee.
Marlo Green, a Certified Public Accountant (CPA), currently serves as the Director of Financial Operations at Virginia State University. She holds a bachelor’s degree in accounting from Virginia Commonwealth University and is pursuing an MBA at Virginia State University. Growing up in public housing, she never imagined leading projects focused on historic preservation and community revitalization. Marlo has called Petersburg home since 2016, but discovered the Pocahontas Island Historic District after watching a video featuring Richard Stewart. Inspired by the island’s deep history and cultural significance, she began researching property because she knew she needed to build her home there. In 2023, Marlo held a groundbreaking ceremony to commemorate the first new home built on Pocahontas Island in over 30 years.
Panel 12. Learning from Genealogy and Family Histories
- Alan B. Taylor, Celebrating a Combined History of Maryland's Elite on the Eve of America’s 250th Anniversary: A Case Study of Two Stone Families of Poynton Manor
Alan B. Taylor has a wide range of interests; however, he is most noted as a historian. As a researcher, Taylor is part of the Stone Family of Madison County, Kentucky, Genealogy Team. Since 2015 he has dedicated his free time seeking family information surrounding their origin and migration into Kentucky. His quest has unlocked countless colonial connections to Pennsylvania, Virgina, North Carolina and Maryland that would have otherwise gone unnoticed. Originally from Springfield, Ohio, Taylor currently lives in Dallas, Texas. A graduate of Central State University, Wilberforce, Ohio, and Indiana State University, Terre Haute, Indiana. Taylor is a retired Army Civil Engineer Officer and a three-time Afghanistan combat veteran.
- Terrie Gaskins-Bryant, Family History at the Hanna African American Cemetery of Lake City, South Carolina
Dr. Gaskins-Bryant is a family historian and descendant of families interred at Hanna African American Cemetery. As founder of Saint Teresa Community Outreach and Empowerment, she leads initiatives to preserve African American heritage through genealogical research, cemetery restoration, and educational programs. In partnership with Francis Marion University History Department and the Lynches Lake Historical Society, Dr. Bryant focuses on connecting descendant communities with local history to foster resilience, collaboration, and reparative practices.
Tonia Cansler Merideth is currently a faculty member with the Social Sciences department at Lone Star College-Tomball. She formerly served as the oral historian for the William & Mary Bray School Lab, where she collaborated with the descendant community to create an archive of oral histories for the Williamsburg Bray School, currently archived with William & Mary Special Collections Research Center. Tonia was a contributor for the book, The Williamsburg Bray School - A History through Records, Reflection and Rediscovery, which recently earned the 2025 Excellence Award from the American Association for State and Local History. She is a descendant of the Black Burwells and has been researching the genealogy and history of the Burwell family of Virginia and beyond.
Debbie-Ann Paige is a public historian, genealogist, and educator specializing in local African American history. She co-founded the Staten Island chapter of the Afro-American Historical and Genealogical Society (AAHGS) and is an adjunct lecturer at the College of Staten Island. She serves on committees for the NY & NJ Middle Passage Port Markers Project, Staten Island Museum, and Historic Richmond Town. Paige has led numerous projects, including establishing a site on the National Park Service Underground Railroad Network and creating the Staten Island African American Heritage Tour App. Her work has been featured on PBS, WITF, WNYC, the NYTimes, the Staten Island Advance and various podcasts. She holds a BS in Business, a BA and an MA in History, and is a doctoral candidate in Community-Based Leadership at the College of Staten Island.
Panel 13. Community Resilience
- Donovan Branche (accompanied by Dr. Karen Ford), Mentorship as Resilience: Lessons from Leaders of Color in Building Collaboration and Repair
Dr. Donovan D. Branche is an associate professor of business at Mary Baldwin University. She has held leadership positions in the private, public and nonprofit sectors. Dr. Branche teaches a variety of courses that mostly focus on the people portion of the triple bottom line. Her academic interests are leadership diversity and leader emergence. She often focuses on women in leadership and leadership and people of color. When Donovan is not focusing on her academic career, she enjoys travel and all sorts of fiber crafts.
- LaToya Gray-Sparks, Preserving Dignity Through Documentation: Using State Resources to Fortify Black Communities
LaToya Gray-Sparks, is the Coordinator for African American Community Outreach at the Virginia Department of Historic Resources (DHR). She has a bachelor’s degree in political science and a master’s degree in urban and regional planning from Virginia Commonwealth University. LaToya’s work is deeply rooted in historic and cultural preservation, community engaged research and preservation, and the intersection of the African American experience and urban planning. She brings a unique perspective to her role, driven by a passion for critical cartography and ensuring that African American history remains visible and preserved for future generations.
- Darren Wayne Jackson II, MD, MPH, Improving Trauma-Informed Care Amidst Growing Gun Violence in Marginalized U.S. Communities
Darren W. Jackson II, MD, MPH is a physician, educator, and mental-health advocate dedicated to advancing trauma-informed care through clinical practice and community engagement. Trained in psychiatry at The George Washington University Hospital, he integrates behavioral science, public health, and social innovation across Washington, D.C., and Baltimore. Dr. Jackson is the founder of Project R.O.L.L., a youth violence-prevention and wellness initiative, and co-founder of The Link Up DC, a community wellness collective promoting healing through roller skating, movement, music, and cultural connection. As Chief Behavioral and Mental Health Director for Ascension Medical Educators (AME), he develops evidence-based programs bridging medicine, mentorship, and advocacy to foster healing, equity, and resilience in marginalized communities nationwide.
Marvin Tupper Jones is a documentary photographer whose career served businesses, institutions and governments. He has been published in well-known magazines and has worked in South America, the Caribbean and Africa. Jones’ documentary photography in his native Hertford County, Haiti and the East African nation of Somaliland has been exhibited in one-person shows in North Carolina, Washington, DC, Maryland and California. Jones’ decades-long career expanded to other forms of documentary media. He founded the Chowan Discovery Group. Its mission researches, documents, preserves and presents the 440+ year-old history of the tri-racial people of Hertford County, North Carolina. Among the awards, he received are from the Afro-American Historical and Genealogical Society, the Sons and Daughters of the United States Middle Passage and the Society of the First African Families of English America.
Panel 14: Joy, Memory, and Power: How Descendant Communities are Fortifying the Future
Devon Williams
Star Reams, Moderator
Lorenzo Dickerson
Bertha French
Panel 15. Black Women’ s Lives and Histories
Dr. Gaila Sims is a public historian and museum educator specializing in African American history. Originally from Riverside, California, Dr. Sims received her BA in History and African American Studies from Oberlin College and her MA and PhD in American Studies from the University of Texas at Austin. Dr. Sims has held positions at several museums, archives, and cultural institutions, including the George Washington Carver Museum and Cultural Center, the Bullock Texas State History Museum, the Harry Ransom Center, and the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History. She most recently served as the Curator of African American History and Vice President of Programs and Interpretation at the Fredericksburg Area Museum in Fredericksburg, Virginia.
- Audrey Landell Perry Williams, In Spite of It: God Still Moves: The Untold Story of Virginia Mae Burnette/Perry/Perry
This presentation relates to the question: How Black People and their Community fortify themselves through Powerful History. The presentation will focus on the strength of a Black Woman, Virginia Mae Burnette Perry/Perry who loss her husband suddenly, on June 6, 1964, the day her youngest daughter was to graduate from high school, had a pregnant daughter, whose son was born June 28th, 22 days after the death of his grandfather, and would be returning to college for her sophomore year, had no guaranteed income, but never missed a beat. Thus, not only was she backbone of our family, but of her community.
- Cydny A. Neville, Champion for Education Equity: Yvonne Bond Miller's Legislative Legacy and the Path to Post-Massive Resistance and Reconciliation
Ms. Cydny A. Neville brings a wealth of knowledge, passion, a unique background in Education and Policy. She is an accomplished Community Organizer, veteran Educator - she holds a bachelor's degree in English, a master's degree in Curriculum & Instruction, and is a current PhD student - Education Leadership Policy and Justice at VCU. She is the owner of a boutique Education consulting firm Cydny Consults and The Virginia Black Lifestyle Magazine LLC &hosts the annual Virginia Juneteenth Parade, a reputable Professional Development Trainer, two-time Fulbright-Hays Fellow, celebrated Humanitarian, former Elected Official, the first Black woman to Chair the Northern Virginia Regional Commission (NVRC) where she advocated for the development of a satellite HBCU campus in the Northern Virginia Region and led its delegation on a Sustainable Energy tour through Hamburg and Stuttgart Germany.
- Chelsea D. McNutt, Reparative Memory: Black Women, Archival Silences, and the Work of Remembering
Chelsea D. McNutt is a Ph.D. candidate in History at Cornell University and a Graduate School Dean’s Scholar. Her dissertation, Hidden Architects: Black Women NAACP Activists in the Jim Crow South, recasts the intellectual and organizing traditions of Black women who transformed local NAACP branches into engines of political labor, care, and community building between 1935 and 1970. She serves as a Co–Book Review Editor for American Nineteenth Century History (Taylor & Francis Group). McNutt has presented her research at national and international forums, and her work advances conversations in Black women’s intellectual history, archival studies, and the politics of repair. Her scholarship illuminates the courage, dignity, and joy that fortified Black communities across generations.
Panel 16: Displaced from the Birthplace of America
Jacqueline Bridgeforth Williams, Moderator
Andrea Claiborne
Johnella Carter
William S. Crump Jr.
Moderator: Jacqueline Bridgeforth Williams (she/her), Founder and Executive Director, The Village Initiative, Jacqueline Bridgeforth Williams is the founder and executive director of The Village Initiative, a grassroots, 501c3 organization dedicated to equity and justice in the Williamsburg-James City County Schools and community. The Village Initiative takes a four-pronged approach to social change, focusing on advocacy, school programming, community outreach and early literacy, and preservation of local Black histories. She is currently serving as Director/Producer of The Village Initiative’s documentary film, Displaced from the Birthplace of America. Jacqueline’s leadership in The Village Initiative has been recognized with a 2024 President’s Lifetime Achievement Award for Service from President Biden, a 2020 Commendation from the Virginia State Assembly, the 2024 Fitz-Turner Award from the Virginia Education Association, and a feature in Essence magazine, as well as through numerous local awards and honors. Jacqueline studied Business Administration at Strayer University and obtained a degree in Licensed Practical Nursing from Medical Careers Institute. She was selected as a candidate for The National Association of Leadership and Success Sigma Alpha Pi, was inducted into Le Cercle Charmant, and authored a chapter in the Amazon best-selling anthology, Sister Leaders: Reflections and Success Stories of Women Leaders Who Purposely Collaborate With Other Women.
Andrea Claiborne (she/her), Descendant Advisor, Displaced from the Birthplace of America, The Village Initiative, Andrea Claiborne is a Descendant Advisor to the documentary film, Displaced from the Birthplace of America, produced by The Village Initiative. The film shares the story her family and others’ displacement from the Triangle Block in Williamsburg, Virginia. She is the great-granddaughter of Virgie Webb Williams, owner and manager of the Triangle Restaurant, the great-niece of Clarence Webb, owner of Clarence Webb’s Grocery, and the great- great-granddaughter of William and Martha Webb, who purchased land in the Triangle Block in 1898 and helped their children to own and begin businesses. She is the granddaughter of QuoVadis Wright, historian of Black history in Williamsburg and curator of the QuoVadis Wright Family Papers in the William & Mary Special Collections Research Center. Andrea has been a social worker for over 14 years and recently reopened her private practice, QuoVadis Counseling PLLC, in memory of her grandmother, QuoVadis. QuoVadis is Latin for “Where are you going?”. Her grandmother would always say, “you don’t know where you are going until you know where you have come from.” Andrea guides others in navigating the issues of life by learning from and accepting their past. She equips others with the tools for healthy relationships and lives.
Johnella Carter (she/her), Descendant Advisor, Displaced from the Birthplace of America, The Village Initiative, Johnella Carter is a Descendant Advisor to the documentary film, Displaced from the Birthplace of America, produced by The Village Initiative. Johnella is the daughter of QuoVadis Wright, the granddaughter of Virgie Webb Williams, owner of the Triangle Restaurant, and the great-niece of Clarence Webb, owner of Webb’s Grocery Store, and the great-granddaughter of William and Martha Webb who purchased land in the historic Triangle Block of Williamsburg in the 1890s. She plays an active role in the Displaced from the Birthplace of America documentary and in The Village Initiative’s walking tours of the Triangle Block. Her mother was a Black historian in Williamsburg and never met a stranger. She knew everyone’s family history and could rattle off who they were related to. Johnella has fond memories of visiting her grandmother, Virgie Webb Williams, at her home above the Triangle Restaurant and visiting her uncle’s store many times. Johnella’s mother, QuoVadis, was always lending a helping hand to others and was recognized for her endeavors through Colonial Williamsburg with the Pineapple Award. She was always a sweet person no matter what she may have experienced. Their legacies live on through Johnella and generations to come.
William S. Crump Jr. (he/him) Descendant Advisor, Displaced from the Birthplace of America, The Village Initiative, William S. Crump Jr. is a Descendant Advisor to the documentary film, Displaced from the Birthplace of America, produced by The Village Initiative. He is playing a central role in the production of this film that explores the history of displacement of Black communities in Williamsburg, VA. William has also played a major role in The Village Initiative’s walking tours of the Historic Triangle Block for K-12 classes in the Williamsburg-James City County and York County Schools and is guiding university students at William & Mary on their research on Black communities in Williamsburg. William comes from a long line of community leaders and activists who contributed powerfully to the Black community in the greater Williamsburg area, including his grandfather, Rev. Frank E. Segar, and his parents, William and Olivia Crump. While the effects of displacement pushed William out of Williamsburg, he carries on his ancestors’ legacy of community impact in Richmond, VA where he is known as “The Legend” for his decades of coaching multiple youth sports, including basketball. He continues to mentor and coach as a volunteer in the Richmond community.
Panel 17: Lemon Project Student panel
Kelly Conway
Jonas Darko
Nia-Patrice Lewis
Details are forthcoming.
Panel 18: Florence Barber's Norfolk Diary and the Black Women's Diaries Project
Sapphire George
Ziz Kilmer
Kirsten Lee
Rev. Christian Savage
Jennifer Putzi, Moderator
Sapphire George, presenter, undergraduate student, W&M (she/her) Sapphire George is a Junior at W&M studying in the English and Africana Studies departments. She began working with the Black Women’s Diaries Project in the Spring of 2025, and is currently researching the Norfolk YMCA and its effect on the community, along with Florence Barber’s personal connection to the YMCA and how she impacted the world around her. Next year, Sapphire will be pursuing an Honor’s Thesis on the Black Women’s Diaries Project and the role of race in the Digital Humanities.
Ziz Kilmer, presenter, undergraduate student, W&M (they/them) Ziz Kilmer will graduate from William & Mary with a degree in English and Gender, Sexuality, and Women’s Studies in May. They have worked for the Black Women’s Diaries Project since spring 2024 and are the student lead on the 1902 Florence Barber Diary. Ziz looks forward to a career in academia and plans to get their PhD in nineteenth-century American literature, focusing on African American literature.
Kirsten Lee, presenter, faculty, Auburn University (she/her) Kirsten Lee is an Assistant Professor of English at Auburn University, where she specializes in early African American studies. She is Project Co-Director of the Black Women’s Diaries Project. Her first book project, “Abolition Property”: Speculation and the Value of Freedom in Nineteenth-Century African American Literature, studies the aesthetic relationship between anti-slavery activism and Black calls for reparations across the antebellum and postbellum period. Her research and teaching focuses on material culture, bibliography and book history, geography, the public humanities, and Black women writers. Since 2023, she has served as the Academic Director of public history nonprofit 1838 Black Metropolis. For 2026, she has been named a Monument Lab Fellow.
Jennifer Putzi, chair, faculty, W&M (she/her) Jennifer Putzi is Sara & Jess Cloud Professor of English and Gender, Sexuality, & Women’s Studies at William & Mary. She is Project Co-Director of the Black Women’s Diaries Project and editor of The Reconstruction Diary of Frances Anne Rollin: A Critical Edition, published by the University of North Carolina Press in 2025. She is also the editor of Legacy: A Journal of American Women’s Writing. At William & Mary, she teaches courses in nineteenth-century American literature, women’s poetry, women’s diaries, and Digital Humanities.
Rev. Christian J. Savage, presenter, community member (he/him) Rev. Savage is pastor of St. John’s African Methodist Episcopal Church in Norfolk, Virginia, the mother church of African Methodism in the Commonwealth. Founded in 1840, the congregation has played a central role in the religious, civic, and cultural life of Black Virginians for more than 180 years. Rev. Savage earned the Master of Divinity degree from Yale Divinity School, where he also completed graduate-level coursework in U.S. history. This academic preparation informs his current pastoral assignment, which includes both the preservation and interpretation of St. John’s historic legacy. His present responsibilities include oversight of the restoration of the 1888 sanctuary and the 1907 parsonage; both are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Beyond preservation, Rev. Savage coordinates St. John’s role as a community resource, including food distribution in partnership with Operation Blessing, public health initiatives with Old Dominion University, and educational enrichment programming for neighborhood school children. He is an active member of the Downtown Norfolk Council and collaborates with municipal, academic, and nonprofit partners to ensure that St. John’s continues to serve both as a worshipping community and as a landmark of African American history.
Panel 19: It Takes a Village: The Evolution of Black Birth in America
Moira Offord, M.S.
Ashley Nelson, M.S.
Moderator: Helana Thomas
Moira Offord, M.S., Adjunct Professor, Virginia Peninsula Community College, Biology Department, Georgetown University and Old Dominion University Alumna, Graduate/Professional Alumni, Medical Student, Class of 2030, Moira Offord is a dedicated advocate for equitable healthcare for BIPOC women in Obstetrics and Gynecology. She earned her undergraduate degree in Biology, with a minor in Military Leadership, from Old Dominion University before commissioning as a naval officer in the United States Navy, where she served for over four years. During her military service, she pursued a Master’s degree in Physiology and Biophysics at Georgetown University. Her capstone research examined postpartum hemorrhaging and its comorbidities, identifying key factors that predispose African-American women to increased maternal mortality. Drawing on her experience as a surgical technologist in obstetrics and gynecology, she explored the pathologies disproportionately affecting Black women. Moira has taught, mentored, and guided future healthcare professionals at Norfolk State University, Virginia’s largest HBCU, where she worked to address health disparities and expand opportunities in medicine. She currently teaches at Virginia Peninsula Community College (VPCC). As a newly accepted medical student, Moira is committed to carrying forward her lifelong passion for equitable care. For her, women’s health is not just an area of interest but a calling: one that fuels her mission to improve the lives of women everywhere, regardless of background, and to advance medical equity worldwide.
Ashley Nelson, M.S., Adjunct Professor, Norfolk State University, Biology Department, Student Success Center; Christopher Newport University Alumna, Marymount University Alumna, Graduate/Professional Alumni, Ashley P. Nelson is a dedicated educator, aspiring physician, and community advocate based in Virginia. She currently serves as an adjunct professor of biology at Virginia Peninsula Community College and formerly at Norfolk State University, where she brings her passion for life sciences into the classroom. Ashley holds a Master of Science in Medical Science from Marymount University and a Bachelor of Arts in Spanish Language & Literature with a Pre-Medical Studies concentration from Christopher Newport University, where she also served as Black Student Union President. Her professional journey includes hands-on experience as a medical assistant in cosmetic surgery, field research with the Virginia Institute of Marine Science, and academic presentations on cross-cultural beauty standards. Ashley is also deeply involved in community service and youth development, serving as a certified tennis instructor and coach, and leading the Christopher Newport Multicultural Alumni Chapter. Her work has earned her recognition, including the United Healthcare Community Care Award and features in the Melanoma Research Foundation Newsletter. Ashley’s interdisciplinary approach to science, education, and service reflects her commitment to equity, representation, and holistic care—values that align with the mission of the Lemon Project.
Moderator Helana Thomas, Virginia Peninsula Community College, Norfolk State University Alumna: Undergraduate Alumni, Graduate Student, Class of 2028, Helana Thomas is an active scholar pursuing a Master of Science in Nursing with intentions of becoming a Certified Nurse Midwife. Her academic and professional interests focus on improving Black maternal health outcomes and addressing the structural inequalities that contribute to disparities among minority women. During her undergraduate studies at Norfolk State University, she conducted research examining the socioeconomic, psychological, interpersonal, and cultural dimensions of childbirth among minority women, exploring how these factors collectively inform their holistic perceptions and experiences of birth. She was also inducted into the Sociology Honors Society, recognizing her academic achievements upon earning her Bachelor of Arts in Sociology. From a young age, Helana has engaged in impactful community work within the Hampton Roads area, partnering with organizations such as Violence Intervention and Prevention, Parents Against Bullying, Teens With a Purpose, and Crime Survivors for Safety and Justice. Through various programs, she has worked to provide support and resources to communities in need. This work demonstrates her commitment to addressing maternal health disparities and reflects her dedication to improving the quality of life for all women.
Panel 20: The Labor of Storytelling
Moderator/Chair: Courtney Young (she/her) Director of Strategic Marketing & PR, ForeSight Communications Role: Professional/Community Member
Evelyne Del (she/her) Founder & Communications Strategist, Del Consulting Group / ForeSight Communications Role: Community Member / Professional
Kwadjo Campbell (he/him) Community Developer & Organizer, South Carolina African American Tourism Conference Role: Community Member / Professional
Courtney Young (she/her) Courtney Young is a seasoned communications strategist and cultural tourism expert with more than two decades of experience in strategic planning, brand development, and community engagement. As Director of Strategic Marketing and PR at ForeSight Communications, she has designed and led cultural heritage initiatives that merge storytelling, tourism, and economic development to advance equity and visibility for historically underrepresented communities. Her work spans large-scale heritage tourism campaigns, public engagement strategies, and fundraising efforts that preserve and promote African American and Indigenous cultural legacies. Courtney’s strategic approach integrates branding, partnership development, and experiential marketing to strengthen the sustainability of heritage organizations and cultural sites. She has spearheaded statewide cultural events, curated multi-day heritage festivals, and guided nonprofit leaders in aligning their missions with strategic funding and communication goals. With a reputation for bridging cultural authenticity and modern strategy, Courtney continues to shape innovative models for cultural tourism that inspire collaboration, honor ancestral stories, and drive long-term community revitalization.
Evelyne Del (she/her) Evelyne Del is an award-winning Communications and Brand Strategist, Speaker, and Storyteller whose work bridges creativity, culture, and strategy. As Founder of Del Consulting Group and Partner Strategist with ForeSight Communications, she helps organizations craft narratives that resonate with diverse audiences and strengthen community engagement. Evelyne’s expertise in brand storytelling, digital communications, and inclusive messaging has positioned her as a trusted advisor to corporations, nonprofits, and academic institutions. Her dynamic presentations inspire audiences to lead with authenticity, align strategy with purpose, and elevate marginalized voices through media. Recognized for her contributions to cultural advocacy and entrepreneurship, Evelyne translates complex communication principles into actionable insights. Her work centers on empowering communities to use storytelling as a tool for visibility, resilience, and economic advancement—reframing narrative power as a pathway to collective joy and repair.
Kwadjo Campbell (he/him) Kwadjo Campbell is a Community Developer, Cultural Heritage Consultant, and Organizer of the South Carolina African American Tourism Conference. With decades of experience in community planning, cultural preservation, and heritage-based economic development, he is dedicated to advancing opportunities for Gullah Geechee and African American communities across the Southeast. His work focuses on connecting cultural storytelling to economic sustainability—bridging the gap between history, tourism, and community revitalization. Kwadjo has led numerous projects that preserve sacred spaces, elevate local voices, and position heritage tourism as a tool for empowerment. Through his leadership, he continues to build networks of historians, business owners, and policymakers committed to preserving Black cultural legacies while ensuring descendants benefit from their ancestral contributions. His vision centers on cultural continuity, self-determination, and the economic vitality of heritage communities
Panel 21: Together, Lynchburg Stands – with Courage, Dignity & Joy
Deborah Smith (Deb) Moderator, Submitter, Executive Director, Jones Memorial Library; Community Member/Genealogist
Ramona Battle, Vice President, Silent Witnesses, Inc., Community Member
David Neumeyer (he/him/his), President, Silent Witnesses, Inc.
Gloria Simon (she/her/hers), Founders Board, Legacy Museum of African American History, University of Lynchburg staff
Ramona Battle, Vice President, Silent Witnesses, Inc., Community Member, Ramona Battle graduated with a B.S. from New Mexico State University and holds an M.S. from New York Institute of Technology. She has worked in various Educational and Human Services Administrative positions, in the states of New Mexico, California and ending in New York. Ramona retired early after 37 years of service in New York and relocated to Lynchburg in 2009 to become her late mother’s caretaker. Ms. Battle now focuses her energies as a volunteer with several local community organizations. In addition, she works and trains others in becoming Museum docents, provides curatorial support for local exhibits, continues to research her paternal family as well as documenting Enslavement history in Lynchburg. Ramona is a board member of The Legacy Museum of African American History and Lynchburg Museum Systems, and serves on the Poplar Forest African American Advisory Group, and Lynchburg Community Development Corp. Ms. Battle is a founding member and Vice-President of Silent Witnesses, Inc.
David Neumeyer (he/him/his), President, Silent Witnesses, Inc., Community Member, David Neumeyer is an attorney in Lynchburg. He served as executive director of Virginia Legal Aid Society, a nonprofit law firm which uses legal skills to solve problems affecting the basics of life for low-income people in south-central Virginia for 35 years and currently works with several organizations to increase access to justice. David was the founding president of Silent Witnesses, Inc., in 2021 and is board president of it and of the Legacy Museum of African American History in Lynchburg. He is a graduate of Brown University and the University of Maine School of Law.
Gloria Simon (she/her/hers), Founders Board, Legacy Museum of African American History, University of Lynchburg staff, Gloria Robinson Simon received her B.A. from Randolph-Macon Woman’s College, M.Ed. from Lynchburg College, and is enrolled in the Ed.D. program at the University of Lynchburg, where she is one of the Assistant Directors of Admission. Gloria is a current board member of Silent Witnesses, Inc., and a founding board member of The Legacy Museum of African American History. In addition to working in education from K12 to higher ed, Gloria is also a community performer.
Deborah Smith (Deb), Executive Director, Jones Memorial Library, Community Member/Genealogist, Deborah Smith joined Jones Memorial Library as Executive Director in 2022. She is a graduate of Oberlin College and has an M.A. from New York University and an M.L.I.S. from Kent State University. Deb is certified by the Roy Rosenzweig Center for History and New Media, the Society of American Archivists, and the state of Virginia. Her work on library science and income inequality has been recognized by the American Library Association’s Libraries Transforming Communities program. Deb has presented for the Mid-Atlantic Regional Archives Conference, the Virginia Association of Museums, and the Virginia Library Association; her research has appeared in the Journal of Slavery and Data Preservation and the Journal of Contemporary Archival Studies.