From the president
Jamie Raczynski, a history major at Virginia Tech, is a student leader dedicated to addressing the root causes of social issues through community-based research for public history and public health. Over the past year, she has served as an intern with Monuments Across Appalachian Virginia (MAAV), a Mellon-funded initiative supporting civic engagement and monument creation for untold stories. Jamie played a central role in the 23/54 Project, which honors the 23 parents from Pulaski County, VA, who, in 1947, sued for better educational facilities for 54 Black children. She researched and connected with descendants, guided them in creating quilt squares to share their family histories, and ensured the designs reflected their values. Jamie’s work centers local voices and demonstrates how history can fuel civic participation and social change.
Personal Statement
For the past year, I have been working with an organization called Monuments Across Appalachian Virginia that aims to create nine new monuments by telling the untold stories of Appalachian communities. I worked closely with the Black community of Pulaski County throughout the research, design, and digitizing processes of the 23/54 project, a quilt and digital exhibit highlighting the stories of 23 families with 54 children who signed onto a 1947 NAACP lawsuit demanding equitable education. How I approach social issues relevant to our public memory projects, such as racism, generational trauma, financial disparity, and lack of accurate historical representation, is by working with the community and individuals affected. By using historical research conducted by fellows like me, along with the stories and ideas brought on by the community, the 23/54 project has bridged the gap between academic and community-based engagement work to successfully create a project where the community tells their own story.