FRIDAY, JUNE 7
Book and Service Awards Presentation starting at 6:00 pm.
KEYNOTE SPEAKER
STEPHANIE GILBERT
SOJOURNS IN TRUTH
Stephanie Gilbert has dedicated her research to uncovering her family’s profound history linked to the antebellum South, slavery, and the quest for freedom. Her work extends beyond oral family traditions into pivotal moments in American history, inspired by the legacy of figures like her ancestor Oliver Cromwell Kelly Gilbert and other relatives involved in significant historical milestones such as the founding of the AME Church and the Wilmington, NC massacre. Stephanie’s role as a family historian and archivist has allowed her to preserve extensive records, including unpublished memoirs and primary source archives that illuminate the struggles and resilience of enslaved people seeking freedom. Her quest to maintain the ties to her enslaved ancestors’ remains was chronicled in a Washington Post article titled; She Cherished The Home Where Her Family Fled Slavery. Then A Stranger Bought It. For more information, go to her website: www.ocgilbert.com.
IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING THE AWARDS CEREMONY
VIRTUAL AFTER PARTY & COCKTAIL MAKING with CHEF keesha o’Galdez
SATURDAY, JUNE 8
RMEMBRANCE CEREMONY
REVEREND DOCTOR KHADIJAH MATIN
PLENARY SPEAKER
CHRISTIAN JOY MAIDEN
You are the Legacy of Your Ancestors
BREAKOUT SESSION A
10:30AM – 11:30AM
GIGI BEST-RICHARDSON
Ancestors who lost their Indigenous Roots by Faulty Documentation and Deliberate Acts
LIVE (VIRTUAL)
This discussion delves into the practical aspects of using genealogy as a foundation for reparations claims. By intertwining genealogical evidence with legal arguments, we aim to strengthen the case for reparations, emphasizing the need for acknowledgment, restitution, and reconciliation.
ORICE JENKINS
THE STORY OF BETSY GRANT: A FIGHT FOR FREEDOM, LAND, EDUCATION, AND LOVE
LIVE (VIRTUAL)
Sarah Elizabeth Grant, also known as Betsy, was born enslaved in 1837 in Greene County, Georgia. In 2022, a tweet from the Smithsonian Transcription Center shed light on a letter she wrote to the Freedmen’s Bureau, showing up on the timeline of one of her great-nephews: Orice Jenkins. Further research by Orice revealed Betsy’s complex story, as the daughter of an enslaved woman and a free man of color, who sued her enslaver after emancipation. Various resources were used to determine the identity of her parents, including DNA results, court records, Freedmen’s Bureau records, newspapers, and the new Full-Text Search feature on FamilySearch, leading to the uncovering of a historical phenomenon in the Grant family.
Cynthia Evans
10 Million Names Project
live (virtual)
10 Million Names is dedicated to recovering the names of the estimated ten million men, women, and children of African descent who were enslaved in pre- and post-colonial America (specifically, the territory that would become the United States) between the 1500s and 1865. 10 Million Names is engaging a collaborative network of expert genealogists, cultural organizations, and community-based family historians. Together we will amplify the voices of people who have been telling their family stories for centuries, connect researchers and data partners with people seeking answers to family history questions, and expand access to data, resources, and information about enslaved African Americans.
LUNCH
11:30AM – 12:30PM
Stephanie Gilbert
the story of isabella and the overground railroad
I’ll use the 45 minute lunch session to delve more deeply into one of the prevalent stories associated with a memoir, which is the story of Isabella and her escape from Baltimore. There is a connection to UGRR operatives, which makes it fascinating.
12:30PM-1:30PM
lunch cook-a-long with CHEF keesha o’Galdez
Join us for an exciting cooking presentation with Chef Keesha O’Galdez, where she will demonstrate how to create a mouthwatering Soul Food Bowl. This flavorful dish features Cajun-spiced chicken bites, sautéed collard greens, creamy fonio grits, and roasted maple sweet potatoes. Watch and learn as Chef Keesha shares her culinary secrets and brings these vibrant flavors to life.
BREAKOUT SESSION B
1:30PM – 2:30PM
KATHRYN PUCKETT
FREEDOM SEEKERS OF THE UNDERGROUND RAILROAD
LIVE (VIRTUAL)
This presentation delves into the courageous self-emancipation efforts of enslaved individuals, with a particular focus on Ohio’s pivotal role. This presentation uncovers the daring journeys of those who risked everything for liberty, highlighting the Cozad Bates House in Cleveland, a crucial haven on the path to freedom. Through powerful narratives and historical insights, attendees will gain a profound understanding of the resilience and bravery that defined the Underground Railroad’s legacy.
janice gilyard
Resistance Through the Underground Railroad – My Ancestral Connections and Their Interactions With Freedom Seekers
LIVE (VIRTUAL)
This session will focus on my personal discovery regarding ancestors who were connected to the Underground Railroad, major historical difference makers my ancestors collaborated with to assist freedom seekers (Frederick Douglas, William Lloyd Garrison, Charles Sumner, and Basil and Thomas Dorsey). This session will also highlight some of the communities they lived in with other history makers in Pennsylvania and Massachusetts.Participants will learn the importance of considering historical timelines/narratives and how that history may have impacted their ancestors as well as being challenged to take another look at their research to determine if their ancestors were history makers.
Shar Goolsby
Exploring the epigenetic impact of American slavery on Black maternal health and/or fertility
pre-recorded w/ live Q&A
My presentation will be about the results of generational patterns and the impact of trauma. One area of my focus as a trauma therapist is Ancestral/Intergenerational Trauma or Transgenerational Trauma. Trauma experienced during the developmental stages of childhood can alter the development of the individual’s nervous system resulting in diagnoses of eczema, ADHD, ADD, and personality disorders for many. Traumatic experiences impact our entire being as well as creates an environment that supports genetic modification. Simply stated deeply painful experiences perceived by an individual as traumatic impacts the health of that individual and can be biologically passed down to the next generation. This is a very basic breakdown of research made available through the study of epigenetics. Epigenetics is one mechanism by which environmental factors such as childhood stress, racial discrimination, economic hardship, and depression can affect gene expression without altering the underlying genetic sequence.
Mark Wolynn is a psychotherapist and director of the Family Constellation Institute. He has been researching the topic of inherited family trauma extensively and in his book “It Didn’t Start with You: How Inherited Family Trauma Shapes Who We Are and How to End the Cycle” he provides numerous case studies from his clients to illustrate how inherited family trauma can manifest in different ways, including anxiety, depression, addiction, and physical ailments.
Research by Rachel Yehuda on the epigenetic impact of the Holocaust and determined that Holocaust offspring whose mothers or both parents had PTSD, also experienced symptoms that mirrored those of the parents. When only paternal PTSD was involved, there were less epigenetic changes present in the Holocaust offspring.
According to The Centre Against Violence, recent ground-breaking research by Dr. Ayellet Cohen-Vider, a clinical psychologist, reveals that women who experienced sexual abuse were twice as likely to encounter infertility issues. Given this consideration, there must be an epigenetic impact on the current fragility of Black Maternal Health. My presentation will explore this subject further.
BREAKOUT SESSION C
2:45PM – 3:45PM
Jonnie brown
Joining Sons & Daughters: Join Our Lineage Society
LIVE (VIRTUAL)
In her informative presentation, Jonnie Brown, award-winning author, member of several hereditary organizations, and board member of Sons & Daughters of the United States Middle Passage (SDUSMP), provides essential tips and guidance for individuals looking to join the SDUSMP, an organization dedicated to descendants of enslaved Africans. Jonnie will share valuable genealogical strategies to help attendees trace their lineage, offering advice on navigating historical records and overcoming common research challenges. Her session is designed to assist anyone interested in connecting with their heritage and becoming a part of this important hereditary group.
JANICE M. SELLERS
THEY SUED STANDARD OIL — AND WON!
pre-recorded w/ live Q&A
Henry Crawford and his wife, America Brooks, were born into enslavement. Yet in Georgia in 1917, although they were poor and illiterate, they and several family members sued a major U.S. corporation, Standard Oil, for damages after being sold what they claimed was a mislabeled product that caused an explosion and killed three family members. They won a settlement from Standard. Documentation was found in newspapers and court records.
Allister J. Barton
Affirmations of Black Loyalists
pre-recorded w/ live Q&A
3000 Black Loyalists – They saw slavery. They saw war. They saw an evacuation to Nova Scotia. Their names, gender, age, where and when they escaped enslavement, and whom they ran from, are written in the Inspection Roll of Negroes ledger of 1783 (AKA The Book of Negroes). The Book of Negroes is described as “the single most important document relating to the immigration of African Americans to Nova Scotia following the War of Independence.” Allister has traced his lineages to the Company of Black Pioneer soldiers, and Black Loyalists, who were formed by the British military during the American Revolution and evacuated to Nova Scotia. Join this presentation to learn about his ancestors’ escape from slave plantations in Virginia, to where our Black Loyalist communities have been settled in Digby, Nova Scotia, since 1783!
biographies
stephanie gilbert
Stephanie Gilbert (b. 1968) was first inspired to research and re-tell her family’s history when her father, Frank E. Gilbert, Esq (1936-2020) shared interesting and inspiring stories of the family’s legacy in Philadelphia. Stephanie, however, became even more interested when she extended the family’s historical reach into Delaware and Maryland. Stephanie’s journey traveled beyond the confines of the family’s oral traditions and into the uncharted territories of the antebellum south and…..slavery.
Discovery after discovery, the family’s rich history began to spring forth like a garden from well-nourished soil. The ancestors came forward with light and love, guiding Stephanie on paths which revealed pivotal moments and daring experiences as well as tender opportunities to learn from people who’d stood in the cauldron of American history and had not only lived to tell the tale, but had documented the story for the world to know.
Stephanie resides just outside of Philadelphia, PA.
In 2021 she retired after 28 years from her role as an executive for AT&T and now serves the role of Chief Commercial Officer for an African American owned and operated technology outsourcing firm.
REVEREND DOCTOR KHADIJAH MATIN
REVEREND DOCTOR KHADIJAH MATIN (Roundtable Facilitator) is part of the national dialogue, exploring culturally competent education, within accurate historical context, and considers her works in African American family and faith history as her calling and a continuation of her family’s traditions in the ministry and education. Khadijah’s research focus areas include an examination of faith and family history in the shaping of identity and community, and the varied ways in which history and spirituality intersect. Current projects include developing models of learning and service based upon the journey of African Americans, particularly prior to the mid-20th century. She is SOFAFEA’s Chaplin General. She is a member of the Society of the Sons and Daughters of the U.S. Middle Passage. She will lead a national discussion with Revolutionary War health scholars on the Revolutionary War Medicine on the Battlefields.
Christian Joy Maiden
Christian Joy Maiden, an attorney based in Cleveland, Ohio, combines her passion for law with a deep interest in ancestry and genealogy. Born and raised in Northeast Ohio, Christian has always been curious about her roots and the stories of her ancestors. Christian’s interest in her genealogy began when she matriculated at Howard University School of Law. Her dual passions for law and genealogy reflect her commitment to understanding the past while shaping the future. Whether delving into legal precedents or ancestral records, she approaches each pursuit with meticulous attention to detail and a genuine enthusiasm for discovery. In her spare time, Christian enjoys sharing her findings with others, fostering connections within her community, and promoting a deeper understanding of both legal rights and personal histories. Her dedication to her profession and her heritage make her a valued member of the Cleveland legal community and a passionate advocate for preserving and celebrating individual stories.
Gigi bEst-richardson
Gigi Best-Richardson is a Historian (Phi Alpha Theta), Genealogist, Speaker, and a Virginia Humanities Scholar. She is an award-winning author. Her book, “Thomas the Melungeon: His Locust Family of Free Persons of Color Civil and Revolutionary War Patriots” – Vol 1 was published in 2015 and has been recently revised. She attended Morgan State University’s Graduate Program 1992-1996. She is a member of many national hereditary societies, i.e., The Order of First Families of North Carolina; Daughters of the American Revolution; Vice President of SDUSMP, and Historian General of the Society of the First African Families of English America. She consults with other genealogists and speaks professionally to large and small groups. Gigi is the Vice President of the Afro-American Historical and Genealogical Society, where she utilizes research skills and records primary documentation. She is the Docent of the nonprofit museum and teaches clients genealogy to prove their pedigree through several generations. She has verified her progenitors in colonial America, including her 9th great-grandmother. The latter arrived in Jamestown, Virginia, in 1619.
janice cross gilyard
Janice Cross Gilyard is a charter member of The Harriet Tubman Chapter of Sons & Daughters of the US Middle Passage, The Afro-American Historical and Genealogical Society – New Jersey Chapter (two terms as President and three terms as Vice President), and The National Genealogical Society.
Janice serves on the following boards: Sons & Daughters of the US Middle Passage, The National Genealogical Society, The Genealogical Society of New Jersey, The 313+ Ancestors Speak Project, and she is a member of the History Team for the Historic James Howe House Project in Montclair, NJ.
Janice has conducted her family research for the past 26 years and documented her family history back to 1720 (African American, Indigenous/Native American, and European). She is proud of her ancestors, which include authors, professors (two founded colleges), abolitionists, mariners, midwives, political campaigners, farmers, and pastors. Janice is enthusiastic about history and genealogy and believes that her ancestors chose her to research, document, share, and preserve their stories.
Janice has made numerous genealogy presentations at genealogical and lineage societies, churches, libraries, universities, and she has presented for RootsTech – Genealogy Conferences for 2021-2024.
Janice is a Paul E. Sluby African American Scholarship Recipient presented by the Board for Certification of Genealogists (2021) and host a Podcast in partnership with Cherekana Feliciano: Speak On It! History & Genealogy Conversations with Janice & Cherekana. Janice’s professional experience includes over 20 years in Public Relations and 13 years managing Consumer Services. She loves history, genealogy, and traveling.
Cynthia Evans
KATHRYN PUCKETT
Kathryn Puckett JD-MM, Northwestern University School of Law and Kellogg School of Management is Board Chair of the non-profit Restore Cleveland Hope, Inc. (www.restoreclevelandhope.com). Restore Cleveland Hope operates the historic Cozad-Bates House Underground Railroad Center in Cleveland, OH. Open to the public without charge, this pre-Civil War structure built by anti-slavery sympathizers offers exhibits and presentations to enrich understanding of America’s seminal freedom movement. Guided by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr’s vision of the “Beloved Community,” RCH conducts programs for audiences of all ages that explore the struggle for freedom in the United States of America.
CHEF KEESHA O’GALDEZ
Keesha O’Galdez is a personal chef. She has completed the Chef’s training program at the Natural Gourmet Institute for Culinary Arts in New York City. Focusing on organic, vegetarian, vegan and other health supportive diets. Also a BS in Information Systems Engineering from Buffalo University—SUNY and a MBA from Simmons College in Boston, MA. Worked in the non-profit, academic, public and financial sectors as a project consultant and operations manager. She has graced the kitchens as a Pastry Chef in Smith Canteen in Carroll Gardens Brooklyn, Amy’s Bread, and Smile to Go in Soho and savory as a catering chef at Patina Events. You may have seen Chef Keesha on multiple episodes of Epicurious’s 50 Person Prep challenge web series that has reached over 10 million views and Food Network’s Chopped.
jonnie ramsey brown
Jonnie Ramsey Brown holds an MBA, a CPA certificate and is a Certified Information System Auditor. She worked at colleges and universities for over twenty years managing various accounting and budgeting functions. Jonnie served on the 1984 Los Angeles and 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games organizing committees, her two most exciting employment experiences ever. Jonnie retired from the US Department of Homeland Security in 2019. Jonnie is a “Gold Medal Mom” as her son, Michael Marsh, a track sprinter, won two gold medals at the 1992 Barcelona Olympic Games and a silver medal at the 1996 Atlanta Games. Jonnie is a storyteller and family historian, formally documenting her family back to slavery, the American Revolution, and earlier. She holds membership in the Sons and Daughters of the US Middle Passage, the Daughters of the American Revolution, and several other lineage organizations. She also belongs to many genealogical and historical societies around the country. The 2024 SDUSMP Phillis Wheatley Book Award in the Historical-Family Stories recognizes Jonnie’s effort to bring awareness to racial disparities in healthcare, in honor of the legacy of her late husband, Thomas James Brown.
janice m. sellers
Janice M. Sellers is related to actor Peter Sellers and to John of Gaunt, son of a king and father of a king. At least that’s what her grandparents told her. Unfortunately, they were wrong, but that’s why she has researched her family for almost 50 years and now helps others find the right pieces to fit their genealogy puzzles. She specializes in Black, Jewish, forensic, and newspaper research and has taught at local to international levels. Her site is ancestraldiscoveries.com.
Shar Goolsby
Shar Goolsby is a Clinical Mental Health Therapist with a focus on Traumatic Stress. She specializes in the intersection of ancestral and intergenerational trauma, familial behavioral and/or thought patterns, and the connection to physiological symptoms and chronic illness. Currently pursuing licensure and certification in clinical mental health counseling with a specialization in trauma, Shar is committed to offering an integrated approach to healing that encompasses physical, emotional, and psychological aspects. Shar is a dedicated healthcare provider with a unique gift for healing, which has been deeply influenced and supported by ancestral wisdom. She has a background in serving the community in various healing capacities, which includes licensure as a physical therapist assistant and certification as an integrative energetic medicine practitioner. Shar completed her M.Ed. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling with a concentration in Military and Veteran Family Trauma from the College of William & Mary in Williamsburg, VA, and has received her National Counselor Certification (NCC). Shar will be completing her post-graduate trauma certification in Traumatic Stress Studies through the Trauma Research Foundation. Shar holds a BA in Sociology with a concentration in race, gender, and inequality from Georgia State University and an AS in Physical Therapy from Jefferson College (formerly the College of Health Sciences).
orice jenkins
Orice Jenkins is a recording artist, genealogist, educator, and author from Hartford, Connecticut. He began researching his family history upon discovering that Whitney Houston’s grandparents were from his grandmother’s hometown of Blakely, Georgia. Since then, he has traced his ancestry back to 1755, uncovering the stories of several formerly enslaved Americans.
Orice is a charter member of the Sons and Daughters of the U.S. Middle Passage. He has been featured on genealogy shows such as “Research at the National Archives & Beyond” and “Grating the Nutmeg” and presented his findings to Racial Justice Rising and at the Indiana African American Genealogy Group annual conference. Orice has worked as a consultant for Dr. Matt Baker, the creator of UsefulCharts.com, collaborating on genealogy videos that have garnered millions of views on YouTube. Most recently, he contributed to Bernice Bennett’s new book: Black Homesteaders of the South (Arcadia Publishing/The History Press). Orice also publishes a blog called Chesta’s Children, and serves as the Executive Director of a youth music program in Greenfield, Massachusetts.
Allister J. Barton
Allister J. Barton is an 8th-generation African Nova Scotian. Allister’s genealogical research reveals a collection of stories that affirm African Nova Scotians’ documented journey. He enjoys presenting his research to community groups, libraries, and genealogical societies.