F. Y. I. to Virginia educators. Please respond to the address below.

John

-----Original Message-----
From: Teresa Dowell-Vest [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: Tuesday, June 04, 2002 6:10 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Workshop Announcement: Oral History Workshop for Virginia
Educators - June 21, 2002


Workshop Announcement
Oral History Workshop for Virginia Educators
June 21, 2002

Dear Virginia Teacher:

Long before electronic mail, "snail" mail, or any other written form of
communication, humans shared stories, historical accounts and information
about their communities 
orally.  The West African term "griot" describes an elder in a village or
tribe who tells stories as a means of educating younger people about the
legacy of his or her tribe.  The tradition of storytelling and the role of
the griot survived the Middle Passage, endured slavery, and comforted as
well as educated millions through Reconstruction and the Civil Rights
Movement to the present 
day.  Today, the oral tradition continues to flourish in African American
communities as a viable means of informing 
people of their past.  With the numerous technically advanced resources
available such as video recording, audio 
recording, and the internet, these stories and historical recollections can
service a much larger "village"?a global village.

The Virginia Foundation for the Humanities invites you to attend an Oral
History Workshop at the VFH Conference Center in Charlottesville.  On June
21, 2002, the workshop will be reserved for teachers and other educators who
use oral history gathering and dissemination as an educational exercise and
resource.  The process of oral history documentation opens doors for young
people, helping them to 
become more fully aware of and engaged in the stories of their communities.

With the generous support of the Virginia Center for Digital History, the
Virginia Foundation for the Humanities 
will offer these workshops as a collaborative effort between the African
American Heritage Program and the Virginia Folklife Program.  An esteemed
panel of scholars and historians has been invited to offer their expertise
in 
the field of oral history documentation.  The panel will include Paddy
Bowman, Director of the National Network for Folk Arts in Education; Daryl
Dance, Professor of English, University of Richmond; Will Thomas, Director,
Virginia Center for Digital History; John Blythe, Associate Producer, With
Good Reason, VFH; Jon Lohman, Director, Virginia Folklife Program, VFH; and
Terésa Dowell-Vest, Director, African American Heritage Program, VFH.
Additional materials for this workshop will be provided by the Duke Center
for Documentary Studies.  The workshop will 
begin at 10AM and will adjourn at 4PM.  Lunch will be served.   While there
is no charge for to attend the workshop, the seating is limited and is on a
first come- first served basis.  It is important that you RSVP no later 
than June 14, 2002, 5PM by email to [log in to unmask]  If you have
any questions or concerns about the workshop, please feel free to contact us

at 434.924.6345 or [log in to unmask]

Please note that the Virginia Foundation is also offering a 
separate oral history workshop on June 20 for representatives of community
groups and organizations. Individuals may register for one but not both of
these programs.

Thank you for your contribution to the preservation of African American
history and folk life in Virginia.



Terésa Dowell-Vest
Director
African American Heritage Program
Virginia Foundation for the Humanities

Jon Lohman
Director
Virginia Folklife Program
Virginia Foundation for the Humanities



434.924.3296
434.296.4714 fax


Teresa Dowell-Vest
Program Director, African American Heritage Program
Virginia Foundation for the Humanities
145 Ednam Dr.
Charlottesville, VA  22903
434.924.3296
434.296.4714 fax

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