Voices of the VI Humanities Conference

Program Overview

CFVI, in collaboration with By the People, will host a two-day in-person convening bringing together humanities organizations, culture bearers, artists, and community leaders from across the Virgin Islands. The gathering will foster collaboration, networking, and dialogue through interactive workshops, presentations, and cultural showcases. Reflecting the future-facing theme, the program will include a public keynote open to the community and a youth–elder dialogue, ensuring intergenerational perspectives are actively included. All activities will be documented for the Smithsonian’s archives and digital platforms. The convening will also provide an opportunity to address challenges in the current funding landscape and explore possibilities for joint programming. 

Public Participation & Intergenerational Engagement Component

In addition to convening invited participants representing humanities organizations, culture bearers, and community leaders, the program will include intentional public-facing and intergenerational elements to deepen community impact. This public keynote will offer Virgin Islands residents, students, and lifelong learners a unique opportunity to directly participate in humanities dialogue alongside scholars and culture bearers. The conference will be promoted through community networks, social media, and local media outlets to encourage attendance from a diverse cross-section of the community.

As part of the future-facing theme, the convening will feature:

• A public keynote session — “108 years” of USVI Stories and its connection to the 250th Signing of the Declaration of Independence.
• A Youth–Elder Dialogue following the keynote, designed to foster intergenerational exchange. In this facilitated space, youth and elders from the community will reflect together on what traditions and values should be carried forward into the next generation.
• Documentation of these conversations (with participant permission) to be archived and shared digitally, preserving intergenerational perspectives for broader learning and reflection.

This public and intergenerational integration not only invites the community to witness history and culture being honored, but also ensures that youth voices are present in shaping a shared vision for the future.

Program Goals

• Encourage cross-island partnerships and intergenerational exchange.
• Highlight expressive culture and humanities-based programming in the USVI.
• Provide capacity-building and resource-sharing opportunities.
• Create space for networking and idea incubation.
• Facilitate public and intergenerational engagement in humanities dialogue through an open keynote and youth–elder dialogue circle.