The New England Historic Genealogical Society

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October 22, 2024 / 5 mins read

CFVI awarded a grant to American Ancestors/New England Historic Genealogical Society, with funding from the NEH United We Stand Program, to provide professional development to 31 educators across the US Virgin Islands. The program offered a full-day in-person workshop that equipped educators with tools to teach genealogy, family and inclusive history. The training included a workshop with hands-on activities, presentations by genealogists, and individual follow-up training for each educator. This empowered teachers to create their own engaging, culturally relevant lessons for their students that encourage them to explore their roots and make real-world, personal connections to history, while helping students develop critical research and thinking skills. A total of 12 schools and 5 institutions were represented serving grades 4-12 in a community based setting. The program received positive feedback with 96% of participants recommending this workshop to other educators and professionals. Students' understanding of themselves and their communities is a direct benefit from empowering educators to teach local and inclusive history.