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The Descendants of Enslaved Communities at UVA

The Descendants of Enslaved Communities at UVA

Reclaim - Honor - Repair

Reclaiming the narrative and
honoring our ancestors.

The Descendants of Enslaved Communities at UVA serves as the collective voice all descendants of enslaved and free Black communities who labored at the University of Virginia through intensive research, education, and preservation.

Reclaiming the narrative and honoring our ancestors.

The Descendants of Enslaved Communities at UVA will serve as the collective voice of all descendants of enslaved and free Black communities who labored at the University of Virginia through research, education, and preservation.

Learn About the DEC at UVA

Follow @descendantsUVA and #DECUVA on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook

DEC-UVA will be exhibiting at this years AAHGS-Afro-American Historical and Genealogical Society Conference! This year the conference will be taking place on October 10-12, online through the Whova app. The theme of the conference is "Fighting Erasure: Staying Visible by Keeping African American Genealogy and History in Focus."

Visit the DEC-UVA Booth! To discover how DEC-UVA is reclaiming the narratives of enslaved families. Learn about our statewide initiative, membership perks, and how to get involved in preserving our shared history.

You will also have the chance to win exclusive DEC-UVA merch and our Genealogy Resources Giveaway to help you on your family research journey!

Cannot wait to see you all October 10-12th!

Please use visit our Facebook for more information.

DEC-UVA will be exhibiting at this years AAHGS-Afro-American Historical and Genealogical Society Conference! This year the conference will be taking place on October 10-12, online through the Whova app. The theme of the conference is "Fighting Erasure: Staying Visible by Keeping African American Genealogy and History in Focus."

Visit the DEC-UVA Booth! To discover how DEC-UVA is reclaiming the narratives of enslaved families. Learn about our statewide initiative, membership perks, and how to get involved in preserving our shared history.

You will also have the chance to win exclusive DEC-UVA merch and our Genealogy Resources Giveaway to help you on your family research journey!

Cannot wait to see you all October 10-12th!

Please use visit our Facebook for more information.

Many thanks to the Hall Family and Hallxpress2 Production for this video recap of our event!! Take a peek to experience the magic of Descendants Day: The Family Reunion.

And please join us in giving a virtual thanks to this amazing family for their beautiful work.

Many thanks to the Hall Family and Hallxpress2 Production for this video recap of our event!! Take a peek to experience the magic of Descendants Day: The Family Reunion.

And please join us in giving a virtual thanks to this amazing family for their beautiful work.

Celebrate the joy of Descendants Day 2024! Our immense gratitude to all who made this special day possible, and to those who attended.

Special thanks to PuraPhoto (Photos 1, 4, 6) and Hall Family Photography (Photo 2, 3, 5, 7, 8) for capturing this memorable day. View the full album on our Facebook page!

Celebrate the joy of Descendants Day 2024! Our immense gratitude to all who made this special day possible, and to those who attended.

Special thanks to PuraPhoto (Photos 1, 4, 6) and Hall Family Photography (Photo 2, 3, 5, 7, 8) for capturing this memorable day. View the full album on our Facebook page!

What a fantastic symposium! Relive the magic of this event through these photos.
Thanks to Out of Sight Events for capturing these remarkable pictures of our Descendants Symposium.

Visit our Facebook page for the full album.

What a fantastic symposium! Relive the magic of this event through these photos.
Thanks to Out of Sight Events for capturing these remarkable pictures of our Descendants Symposium.

Visit our Facebook page for the full album.

Join our friends and colleagues at One Shared Story for their upcoming events Celebrating Black Church History! Join them in Norfolk and Roanoke for meaningful workshops and opportunities to highlight Black Church History. Register at via the link on our Facebook page.

Join our friends and colleagues at One Shared Story for their upcoming events Celebrating Black Church History! Join them in Norfolk and Roanoke for meaningful workshops and opportunities to highlight Black Church History. Register at via the link on our Facebook page.

On behalf of all of us at DEC, we would like to THANK YOU for helping make our Descendants Day 2024 events a success! We couldn't have done it without you, and remain so deeply inspired, moved, and motivated by these events.

To all volunteers, organizers, attendees, speakers, performers, supporters, friends, family, and everyone who made these past two days possible, we extend our deepest gratitude. We look forward to our continued collaboration and journey forward together.

On behalf of all of us at DEC, we would like to THANK YOU for helping make our Descendants Day 2024 events a success! We couldn't have done it without you, and remain so deeply inspired, moved, and motivated by these events.

To all volunteers, organizers, attendees, speakers, performers, supporters, friends, family, and everyone who made these past two days possible, we extend our deepest gratitude. We look forward to our continued collaboration and journey forward together.

We had an absolutely wonderful time at our Descendant Symposium yesterday. Thanks to all who attended.

Today, we celebrate! We look forward to welcoming friends and family to our Descendants Day: The Family Reunion program today from 11-4 at the Rotunda and the Memorial to Enslaved Laborers. Here's the a great end to a powerful two days!

We had an absolutely wonderful time at our Descendant Symposium yesterday. Thanks to all who attended.

Today, we celebrate! We look forward to welcoming friends and family to our Descendants Day: The Family Reunion program today from 11-4 at the Rotunda and the Memorial to Enslaved Laborers. Here's the a great end to a powerful two days!

Today's the day!! We are BEYOND thrilled to connect with speakers, attendees, and community partners at our inaugural "From Chains to Change" Descendants Symposium.

We can't wait! Here's to a powerful and meaningful gathering. Thank you all for your support and your attendance.

Today's the day!! We are BEYOND thrilled to connect with speakers, attendees, and community partners at our inaugural "From Chains to Change" Descendants Symposium.

We can't wait! Here's to a powerful and meaningful gathering. Thank you all for your support and your attendance.

We are excited to announce that our Descendants Symposium registration now FULL! We look forward to seeing attendees tomorrow!

For more information on the program, please visit our website.

We are excited to announce that our Descendants Symposium registration now FULL! We look forward to seeing attendees tomorrow!

For more information on the program, please visit our website.

And closing out our speaker spotlight is none other than Mr. Jason George. Join us this Saturday as Nicka Sewell-Smith shares Mr. George's family history LIVE at The Rotunda! And stay around afterwards for our family reunion programming at the Memorial to Enslaved Laborers.

To RSVP, visit our website.

More about Mr. George: Jason George is an actor with over fifty guest star and nine series regular television roles to his credit in primetime television. Seen for the last five seasons of Grey’s Anatomy as Bailey’s husband, Dr. Ben Warren, Jason was also a regular on Mistresses with Alyssa Milano. George is also known for his work on Eve and Eli Stone with Victor Garber and Jonny Lee Miller or films such as PLAYING THE FIELD with Gerard Butler. Other projects include With This Ring with Jill Scott, Eve and Regina Hall, Witches Of East End, The Climb or Barbershop with Anthony Anderson and Ice Cube.

When not on stage or in front of the camera, George’s passion turns to educating and engaging with other artists and young people.

After receiving a BA from the University of Virginia, Jason went on to get his Master of Fine Arts in Acting from Temple University and served on the Board for Temple’s School of Communications and Theater. He is currently the chair of the national union’s Diversity Advisory committee, has been Chair or Co-Chair of the legacy unions’ National or Hollywood EEO Committees and has been part of the unions’ negotiating teams for the last several prime-time television and film contracts where he has been instrumental in helping protect performers and championing diversity. Jason is extremely pleased to put all of this experience to work in Collaborations Workshop, a weekly workspace he hosts for actors to further their craft and their career.

And closing out our speaker spotlight is none other than Mr. Jason George. Join us this Saturday as Nicka Sewell-Smith shares Mr. George's family history LIVE at The Rotunda! And stay around afterwards for our family reunion programming at the Memorial to Enslaved Laborers.

To RSVP, visit our website.

More about Mr. George: Jason George is an actor with over fifty guest star and nine series regular television roles to his credit in primetime television. Seen for the last five seasons of Grey’s Anatomy as Bailey’s husband, Dr. Ben Warren, Jason was also a regular on Mistresses with Alyssa Milano. George is also known for his work on Eve and Eli Stone with Victor Garber and Jonny Lee Miller or films such as PLAYING THE FIELD with Gerard Butler. Other projects include With This Ring with Jill Scott, Eve and Regina Hall, Witches Of East End, The Climb or Barbershop with Anthony Anderson and Ice Cube.

When not on stage or in front of the camera, George’s passion turns to educating and engaging with other artists and young people.

After receiving a BA from the University of Virginia, Jason went on to get his Master of Fine Arts in Acting from Temple University and served on the Board for Temple’s School of Communications and Theater. He is currently the chair of the national union’s Diversity Advisory committee, has been Chair or Co-Chair of the legacy unions’ National or Hollywood EEO Committees and has been part of the unions’ negotiating teams for the last several prime-time television and film contracts where he has been instrumental in helping protect performers and championing diversity. Jason is extremely pleased to put all of this experience to work in Collaborations Workshop, a weekly workspace he hosts for actors to further their craft and their career.

We're also glad to feature artist Ms. Marisa Williamson as one of our featured speakers! Ms. Williamson is a project-based artist and professor at UVA who will be speaking on "Cultural Preservation: Celebrating Heritage and Identity Through Arts and Culture." You won't want to miss this!

The symposium is almost here! Visit www.descendantsuva.org to learn more.

We're also glad to feature artist Ms. Marisa Williamson as one of our featured speakers! Ms. Williamson is a project-based artist and professor at UVA who will be speaking on "Cultural Preservation: Celebrating Heritage and Identity Through Arts and Culture." You won't want to miss this!

The symposium is almost here! Visit www.descendantsuva.org to learn more.

Today's speaker spotlight is Dr. Andrea Douglas. Dr. Douglas is the founding executive director of the Jefferson School African American Heritage Center, a sponsor of our Symposium and friend of DEC. We look forward to hearing from Dr. Douglas in just a few short days! Register today!

Visit our website to RSVP.

Today's speaker spotlight is Dr. Andrea Douglas. Dr. Douglas is the founding executive director of the Jefferson School African American Heritage Center, a sponsor of our Symposium and friend of DEC. We look forward to hearing from Dr. Douglas in just a few short days! Register today!

Visit our website to RSVP.

We're also featuring Ms. Bettina Byrd-Giles, speaker for session "Community-Based Archives and Oral History Projects!" Ms. Byrd-Giles is a filmmaker and author with extensive experience capturing our histories. We look forward to hearing from her!

Join us for this event. Register by visiting our website.

We're also featuring Ms. Bettina Byrd-Giles, speaker for session "Community-Based Archives and Oral History Projects!" Ms. Byrd-Giles is a filmmaker and author with extensive experience capturing our histories. We look forward to hearing from her!

Join us for this event. Register by visiting our website.

With immense thanks to Dr. Shelley Murphy and the Jefferson School African American Heritage Center, we are so thrilled that scanning and digitization will be available at our Descendants Symposium for registered attendees!

Throughout the day, come scan and digitize up to 10 family photos (pre-1970s) or documents using scanning software from Vivid-Pix (photos and documents need to be 11”x17” or smaller). Don't miss this exciting opportunity!

Documents Include:
Birth Records
Death Records
Marriage Records
Pages in the Family Bible
Funeral Programs
Church Obituaries
Slavery-related documents
Old family photos
Pre-1970- family, neighborhood & business photos
Community Elders can be interviewed & recorded!

With immense thanks to Dr. Shelley Murphy and the Jefferson School African American Heritage Center, we are so thrilled that scanning and digitization will be available at our Descendants Symposium for registered attendees!

Throughout the day, come scan and digitize up to 10 family photos (pre-1970s) or documents using scanning software from Vivid-Pix (photos and documents need to be 11”x17” or smaller). Don't miss this exciting opportunity!

Documents Include:
Birth Records
Death Records
Marriage Records
Pages in the Family Bible
Funeral Programs
Church Obituaries
Slavery-related documents
Old family photos
Pre-1970- family, neighborhood & business photos
Community Elders can be interviewed & recorded!

Today, learn more about the Daughters of Zion Cemetery. Ms. Edwina St. Rose will be speaking on behalf of the organization, and sharing more about the phenomenal work they do. Come learn more about this powerful group and ongoing efforts!

Learn more at www.descendantsuva.org

Today, learn more about the Daughters of Zion Cemetery. Ms. Edwina St. Rose will be speaking on behalf of the organization, and sharing more about the phenomenal work they do. Come learn more about this powerful group and ongoing efforts!

Learn more at www.descendantsuva.org

Let's also give a virtual round of applause for DEC-UVA Board Member, and longtime community advocate and genealogist, Ms. Karice Luck-Brimmer! Ms. Luck-Brimmer will be featured in our plenary session, and will be sharing resources with attendees. Be sure to chat with her on her work and initiatives!

Register via our website. Limited spaces still available.

Let's also give a virtual round of applause for DEC-UVA Board Member, and longtime community advocate and genealogist, Ms. Karice Luck-Brimmer! Ms. Luck-Brimmer will be featured in our plenary session, and will be sharing resources with attendees. Be sure to chat with her on her work and initiatives!

Register via our website. Limited spaces still available.

Up next, learn more about Symposium Speaker, Mr. Brian Palmer! Mr. Palmer is a Peabody Award-winning journalist based in Richmond, and is also a founding member of the Friends of East End Cemetery.

Come hear from Mr. Palmer and others at our symposium! Visit our website to register.

Up next, learn more about Symposium Speaker, Mr. Brian Palmer! Mr. Palmer is a Peabody Award-winning journalist based in Richmond, and is also a founding member of the Friends of East End Cemetery.

Come hear from Mr. Palmer and others at our symposium! Visit our website to register.

We couldn't help ourselves - here's one more speaker spotlight for the day! Learn more about Mr. Timothy Roberts. Mr. Roberts is the founder of Black Star Cultural Resources LLC, which focuses on historical and archeological investigations. He will be joining Dr. Andrea Douglas in the session "Land Reparations and Property Restitution."

Thanks for joining us, Timothy! Sign-up to attend the symposium at www.descendantsuva.org

We couldn't help ourselves - here's one more speaker spotlight for the day! Learn more about Mr. Timothy Roberts. Mr. Roberts is the founder of Black Star Cultural Resources LLC, which focuses on historical and archeological investigations. He will be joining Dr. Andrea Douglas in the session "Land Reparations and Property Restitution."

Thanks for joining us, Timothy! Sign-up to attend the symposium at www.descendantsuva.org

We're thrilled to feature Ms. Jenna Owens with the Getting Word Oral History Project as our speaker spotlight for the day! Jenna is the Oral Historian at Getting Word, and has extensive experience with descendant work and historic preservation.

Come hear from Jenna and our other powerful speakers - sign up today while spaces are still available! Registration info at www.descendantsuva.org.

We're thrilled to feature Ms. Jenna Owens with the Getting Word Oral History Project as our speaker spotlight for the day! Jenna is the Oral Historian at Getting Word, and has extensive experience with descendant work and historic preservation.

Come hear from Jenna and our other powerful speakers - sign up today while spaces are still available! Registration info at www.descendantsuva.org.

Speaker spotlight for today: Dr. Rovenia Brock, PhD, aka Dr. Ro! Dr. Ro is the Executive Producer of Dr. Ro Morning Show on 101.3, and is a nutritionist, lecturer, and reporter. She considered a top nutritionist in the Nation, and we're thrilled to have her discuss wellness in descendant communities at our upcoming symposium!

@everythingro
To learn more and sign-up, visit our website.

Speaker spotlight for today: Dr. Rovenia Brock, PhD, aka Dr. Ro! Dr. Ro is the Executive Producer of Dr. Ro Morning Show on 101.3, and is a nutritionist, lecturer, and reporter. She considered a top nutritionist in the Nation, and we're thrilled to have her discuss wellness in descendant communities at our upcoming symposium!

@everythingro
To learn more and sign-up, visit our website.

Check out more about Ms. Enjoli Moon, founder of the Afrikana Independent Film Festival and Co-Founder of The JXN Project! Ms. Moon will be speaking on "Cultural Preservation: Celebrating Heritage and Identity Through Arts and Culture." We hope you will join us for this powerful discussion. Register for the symposium today!

Check out more about Ms. Enjoli Moon, founder of the Afrikana Independent Film Festival and Co-Founder of The JXN Project! Ms. Moon will be speaking on "Cultural Preservation: Celebrating Heritage and Identity Through Arts and Culture." We hope you will join us for this powerful discussion. Register for the symposium today!

We can't forget about our AMAZING performers!! For our Saturday Descendants Day event, this year's lineup includes Ivan Orr and Friends, Yolonda Coles Jones, Veronica Price-Thomas, and 100 Proof Band!! You won't want to miss out!!

Visit our website to learn more & RSVP!

We can't forget about our AMAZING performers!! For our Saturday Descendants Day event, this year's lineup includes Ivan Orr and Friends, Yolonda Coles Jones, Veronica Price-Thomas, and 100 Proof Band!! You won't want to miss out!!

Visit our website to learn more & RSVP!

We are so grateful that Dr. Shelley Murphy will be joining us for our symposium! Come hear from Dr. Murphy as she shares more tips and tricks of genealogy and family research.

Register for our symposium today by visiting our website.

We are so grateful that Dr. Shelley Murphy will be joining us for our symposium! Come hear from Dr. Murphy as she shares more tips and tricks of genealogy and family research.

Register for our symposium today by visiting our website.

Our Descendants Day: The Family Reunion lineup is here!! You won't want to miss actor Jason George, 100 Proof Band, family photos, oral histories, and so much more!!

Register via our website!

Our Descendants Day: The Family Reunion lineup is here!! You won't want to miss actor Jason George, 100 Proof Band, family photos, oral histories, and so much more!!

Register via our website!

Thanks to Mr. George Monroe, Executive Director of the Montpelier Descendants Committee, for joining us for our symposium. Mr. Monroe will be a speaker during our plenary session, as well as during a breakout focused on the MDC's work. This session will be a collaborative workshop, and we look forward to this powerful discussion!

Register today on our website.

Thanks to Mr. George Monroe, Executive Director of the Montpelier Descendants Committee, for joining us for our symposium. Mr. Monroe will be a speaker during our plenary session, as well as during a breakout focused on the MDC's work. This session will be a collaborative workshop, and we look forward to this powerful discussion!

Register today on our website.

One more spotlight for the day - please join us in extending a warm welcome to Ms. Lisa Fager! Ms. Fager is going to speak on "Cemeteries and Burial Preservation." She is the first executive director of the Black Georgetown Foundation, and is a dedicated activist and preservationist. We look forward to hearing from her!

RSVP today! Visit www.descendantsuva.org

One more spotlight for the day - please join us in extending a warm welcome to Ms. Lisa Fager! Ms. Fager is going to speak on "Cemeteries and Burial Preservation." She is the first executive director of the Black Georgetown Foundation, and is a dedicated activist and preservationist. We look forward to hearing from her!

RSVP today! Visit www.descendantsuva.org

For today's speaker spotlight, we are proud to share more about Ms. Renate Yarborough-Sanders. Renate is a noted educator and genealogist, and a dear friend of DEC's. We are so thankful for her remarkable contributions to the descendant movement, and her ongoing efforts and collaborations. You won't want to miss hearing from her!

Join us for our descendants weekend. RSVP by visiting our website.

For today's speaker spotlight, we are proud to share more about Ms. Renate Yarborough-Sanders. Renate is a noted educator and genealogist, and a dear friend of DEC's. We are so thankful for her remarkable contributions to the descendant movement, and her ongoing efforts and collaborations. You won't want to miss hearing from her!

Join us for our descendants weekend. RSVP by visiting our website.

It's here!! We are so excited to announce our Descendants Day Symposium Lineup! Featuring incredible speakers on a broad range of topics, this is an event you won't want to miss. (Full schedule can be found on our website)

Register today! Visit our website to RSVP now.

It's here!! We are so excited to announce our Descendants Day Symposium Lineup! Featuring incredible speakers on a broad range of topics, this is an event you won't want to miss. (Full schedule can be found on our website)

Register today! Visit our website to RSVP now.

Today's speaker spotlight, learn more about Mr. Lorenzo Dickerson. Lorenzo is an Albemarle County native and an Award-winning documentarian. He'll be speaking on Community-Based Archives and Oral History Projects during our Descendants Symposium.

Be sure to register today to hear from Lorenzo and others! Visit: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/descendants-of-enslaved-communities-symposium-descendants-day-tickets-929436498587

Today's speaker spotlight, learn more about Mr. Lorenzo Dickerson. Lorenzo is an Albemarle County native and an Award-winning documentarian. He'll be speaking on Community-Based Archives and Oral History Projects during our Descendants Symposium.

Be sure to register today to hear from Lorenzo and others! Visit: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/descendants-of-enslaved-communities-symposium-descendants-day-tickets-929436498587

For today's speaker highlight, we'd like to spotlight Ms. Nicka Sewell-Smith. Nicka is a dedicated member of our DEC-UVA board, and a remarkable genealogist, speaker, and consultant.

Nicka will be speaking with actor and UVA alum Jason George at our Descendants Day event as she shares his family history live.

RSVP today to reserve your spot for this exciting weekend! Visit our website to register today.

For today's speaker highlight, we'd like to spotlight Ms. Nicka Sewell-Smith. Nicka is a dedicated member of our DEC-UVA board, and a remarkable genealogist, speaker, and consultant.

Nicka will be speaking with actor and UVA alum Jason George at our Descendants Day event as she shares his family history live.

RSVP today to reserve your spot for this exciting weekend! Visit our website to register today.

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