Virgin Islands Humanities Council
"We the People" Project
2006
The National Endowment of the Humanities [NEH] supports a national initiative called “We The People.” Its goal is to encourage and strengthen the teaching, study and understanding of American history and culture through the support of projects that explore significant events and themes and advance knowledge of the principles that define America. In September 2005, NEH awarded the Virgin Islands Humanities Council a grant of $30,980 to support a state project, entitled “U.S. Virgin Islanders: A People’s Continued Quest for Self- Governance.” As the discussions about the islands’ political status and constitution heighten, the Humanities Council continues to educate our citizens about issues that advance their understanding of self-determination. The V.I. Humanities Council will support a variety of engaging and empowering “We The People” events by the way of a television forum, a Chautauqua Series, a Website and a lecture.
February 28, 2006
“An Objective Overview of the Virgin Islands Constitutional Conventions”
TV2 / Talk2
Time: 8:30 p.m. – 10:00p.m.
The first “We The People” event will be a live televised forum airing on TV2 / Talk2 with host Mr. Amos Carty, Esq. The forum is intended to give an objective overview of the previous Virgin Islands Constitutional Conventions. The panelists will include: Mr. Basil Ottley, Jr. – Political Analyst, Mrs. Rosalie Simmonds Ballentine – Legal Scholar, Dr. Ruth Beagles – Former Convention Delegate, and Mrs. Lorna Thomas – Board of Elections Representative. This live televised forum is intended to create public awareness on the past constitutions drafted for and by the people of the Virgin Islands.
Click here to fill out the audience survey.
May 2006
Chautauqua Series: “The Three Queens”
St. Thomas, St. John & St. Croix
Location TBA
A Chautauqua Series will present three of the six Virgin Islands “Queens:” Queen Breffu of the St. John Revolt of 1733-34, Queen Mary of St. Croix’s Fireburn of 1878 and Queen Coziah, who started the St. Thomas Mexican Silver Riot of 1892. A Chautauqua is a first person historical characterization or monologue based on biographies and historical information. It includes questions and answers during the performance. The Chautauqua Series is scheduled to tour all three Islands.
September 23, 2006
Heftel Lecture Series: “Women’s Suffrage and Role in Self-Governance”
Location TBA, St. Thomas
The 2006 Heftel Lecture will focus on women’s role in the past, present and future of Virgin Island Self-Governance. The Council will invite a notable speaker to present on women’s suffrage, and joining her will be a local scholar to focus on local suffragettes. They will also present the roles that women have played and will continue to play, in self-determination
October 2006
WTP Webpage
A WTP Webpage will be brought on line that will include both 2005 and 2006 “We The People” documents and source materials. The WTP Webpage will be linked to other educational institutions in the community and will contain a chronology of Virgin Islands historical events and persons related to our quest for self-governance. A WTP Webpage workshop designed for teachers will be conducted at MiniQuest.
For more information, please call the Virgin Islands Humanities Council at 776-4044. The Virgin Islands Humanities Council is a non-profit 501(c) 3 organization. Its mission is to provide opportunities for the diverse population of the Virgin Islands to participate humanities programs, which promote a love of learning, encourage dialogue, enhance understanding and broaden people’s judgment.
Any views, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this website do not necessarily reflect those of the National Endowment for the Humanities.
