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Join the African-American Genealogy Group of Kentucky for their third Saturday webinar series. On Saturday, August 17, 2024, Brittany Thompson and Paul Bartels will discuss creating platforms where individuals with differing viewpoints, in disputed areas, can come together on equal ground and express their perspectives. They strive to elevate the voices of minority communities and promote diversity.

Register here for the zoom link.

About Paul Bartels:

Paul Bartels, hailing from rural southwestern Oregon, is a first-generation college graduate from a working-class background. He graduated maxima cum laude from the University of Portland's Honors Program with a degree in history. Furthering his education, he obtained an MA in early American history from Villanova University, a MAT in secondary education from the University of Portland, and a dual-genre MFA in creative nonfiction and poetry from Regis University in Denver, Colorado.

Currently, Paul is a history faculty member at the Francis Parker School of Louisville, where he imparts knowledge at both secondary and university levels. Additionally, he is an esteemed member of the statewide executive committee for the Kentucky Civic Education Coalition (KCEC). During his diverse career, Paul has also delved into public history and academic publishing.

About Brittany Thompson:

Brittany Thompson, a resident of Lexington's East End community, is currently pursuing a PhD in Anthropology at the University of Kentucky with a specialization in historical archaeology. Her research focuses on African Diasporan landscapes in the United States.

In a field where the majority are middle to upper-class European men, Brittany, as a Black woman, offers a unique and underrepresented viewpoint. Her exploration of the African Diaspora highlights aspects of African American history often overlooked in both archaeology and the mainstream American historical narrative.

Brittany's dedication lies in investigating sites of enslavement in Kentucky, utilizing community-engaged archaeology to encourage positive social change in historically contested areas. Her current dissertation project examines the history of enslaved Africans and their descendants at Henry Clay's plantation, Ashland, located in Lexington, Kentucky. This study involves extensive collaboration with the community to address differing perspectives on site management and the presentation of an inclusive historical account.