Honoring Dominican Ancestral Voices through Storytelling: A Genealogy Workshop

Honoring Dominican Ancestral Voices through Storytelling

The Dominican Writers Association (DWA) presents the "Honoring Dominican Ancestral Voices through Storytelling" workshop—a transformative 6-week hybrid experience. This initiative focuses on connecting Dominican writers and community members with their cultural heritage through genealogy, storytelling, and multimedia.

Guided by esteemed Dominican writers and genealogy experts, participants will immerse themselves in their cultural history, culminating in the creation of family narratives and visual representations. Through virtual sessions, attendees will gain practical skills in genealogy research, narrative crafting, and multimedia integration. Collaboration will be encouraged, fostering a supportive community.

The project aims to deepen participants' sense of Dominican identity, equip them with storytelling tools, and empower them to become cultural stewards. Ultimately, this workshop seeks to honor Dominican ancestral voices, fostering unity, understanding, and empowerment within the community.

Workshop Highlights:

- Genealogy Research: Learn to navigate various genealogy resources and records to trace your Dominican family roots.

- Historical Context: Understand how personal family history fits into the broader tapestry of Dominican history.

- Storytelling Skills: Develop your narrative crafting abilities with guidance from esteemed Dominican writers and experts.

- Multimedia Integration: Enhance your storytelling with digital tools to create visual representations of your family history.

ALL SESSIONS WILL BE RECORDED.

This workshop series is meant to offer a rich, engaging experience that not only uncovers personal histories but also strengthens communal bonds through the shared exploration of Dominican heritage.

SIGN UP FOR PAYMENT PLAN HERE.

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About the Facilitators:

Jasmin Kateri Rivera is a writer and genealogist specializing in Dominican genealogy. Her literary work has been published in Rigorous magazine and DWA's De Eso No Se Habla. Jasmin has conducted genealogical research interning at the CUNY Dominican Studies Institute and more recently as an assistant on a historical-fiction project with a Harvard professor and author. She also contributed to the NYPL LibGuide "An Introduction to Dominican Genealogy", developed in collaboration with a genealogy librarian to assist researchers in exploring Dominican heritage. Passionate about uncovering and preserving family histories, Jasmin has guided many individuals on their genealogical journeys. She is a recent graduate of Harvard University Extension School and is excited to share her expertise in this six-week course on Dominican genealogy.

Gerald Lopez was born in the United States but spent much of his early childhood and many summers in San Francisco de Macorís, where his passion for history, genealogy, and Palo music began to take root. His interest in history and genealogy was sparked by conversations with elders, listening to and remembering their stories. During celebrations, he learned to play Palo music from his relatives, which became a significant part of his cultural experience. This blend of history, genealogy, and music grew into a deep passion, eventually becoming a hobby and a support to his career in information security. Today, Gerald runs a genetic-genealogy consulting company called Buscafamily, where he helps others discover their roots. In addition to his work, he continues to play music for those who wish to celebrate their heritage.