Intergenerational Participatory Heritage for Justice: Preserving the Legacy of a Black Community Contending With Gentrification/Displacement

• In Event: Fairmont Roundtable Session Four
  In Roundtable Session: Telling Our Stories: Critical Examination of School, Family, Community Experiences, and Student Development (Table 12)

Abstract

Many urban cities are experiencing rapid gentrification and residential displacement. These changes in one prominent Black community has made the preservation of its local high school’s history and legacy an urgent endeavor. This intergenerational participatory heritage project consisting of current students, older adult alumni, a public high school, and private university. Since 2019, our research team has been collecting oral histories and preserving the school’s many archives and artifacts using traditional mediums of preservation and artifact restoration, as well as contemporary digital technologies to create a school archive and repository. Our project seeks to inspire a new generation of leaders dedicated to the preservation of Black culture and social justice in urban communities.

Authors

• Ayana Allen-Handy, Drexel University
  Presenting Author

• Karena Alane Escalante, Drexel University
  Presenting Author

• Jahyonna Brown, Drexel University
  Presenting Author

• Marie Wilkins-Walker, School District of Philadelphia
  Presenting Author

• Neisha Terry Young, Drexel University
  Presenting Author

• Michelle Allen, West Philadelphia High School Alumni Association
  Presenting Author

• Ronald Ray, West Philadelphia High School Alumni Association
  Presenting Author

• Ann Nettles, West Philadelphia High School Alumni Association
  Presenting Author

• Bonnie Poole-Linder
  Presenting Author

• Rana Carter, West Philadelphia High School Alumni Association
  Presenting Author