Division of Virgin Islands Cultural Education

About

About the Division of Virgin Islands Cultural Education

The Division of Virgin Islands Cultural Education is where Caribbean heritage meets 21st-century learning. Rooted in the vision of Dr. Charles Wesley Turnbull, who served as Commissioner of Education from 1979 to 1987, the Division was established to ensure that the cultural legacy of the Virgin Islands is present in every classroom, every subject, and every lesson. It was further strengthened by Act 4844, which mandated the teaching of Virgin Islands and Caribbean history in public schools.

But this Division goes beyond history. Using the Kallaloo Framework, cultural education is seamlessly embedded across all subject areas — from math and science to technical education and foreign language. This approach positions cultural knowledge not as a stand-alone course but as an active, essential part of daily learning. Students encounter local design principles in geometry, see sustainable practices in environmental science, and explore linguistic connections in world languages. Virgin Islands heritage isn't a chapter in a book — it’s the lens through which every subject is taught.

The Division works in tandem with Common Core Standards and aligns with 21st-century methodologies to create a learning experience that is both globally relevant and locally grounded. By linking local heritage to global competencies, students develop the critical thinking, analytical, and problem-solving skills they need to thrive in a modern world. Every teacher is equipped to teach culture not as "extra credit" but as the core fabric of every lesson plan.

This integrated model relies on the collective wisdom of teachers, elders, and cultural stewards, who contribute to the design of culturally responsive lesson plans. Together, they create a classroom environment where students see themselves reflected in the curriculum. This ensures that students don't just learn about the world — they see their place in it.

The Division of Virgin Islands Cultural Education is a reminder that education is not just about mastering subjects — it’s about mastering self and story. Through this work, every student gains the knowledge, pride, and purpose to face the future while remaining firmly rooted in the past. “Where culture lives in every lesson.”

About the Division of Virgin Islands Cultural Education

The Division of Virgin Islands Cultural Education within the Virgin Islands Department of Education strategically integrates the territory's dual Caribbean and American heritage into contemporary educational approaches. Inspired by the vision of former Commissioner of Education, Dr. Charles Wesley Turnbull (1979-1987), the Division was founded to embed the legacy of the Virgin Islands within all aspects of learning – across classrooms, subjects, and lessons. This commitment was reinforced by Act 4844, which mandated the teaching of Virgin Islands and Caribbean history in public schools.

The Division of Virgin Islands Cultural Education or (DVICE) operates as a catalytic hub advancing instructional equity, culturally responsive pedagogy, and 21st-century skill-building through the lens of Antillean identity and intergenerational knowledge transmission. Our mission is to position culture not as an accessory to learning, but as the very scaffold, currency, and driver of educational excellence. Through interdisciplinary integration, place-based praxis, and capacity-building for teachers and leaders, the Division fortifies a school system that reflects, respects, and examines the complexity of Virgin Islands heritage.

At the heart of this integration is the Kallaloo Framework, an instructional method that fundamentally positions culture as an essential component of every subject. This framework ensures that cultural knowledge is not a separate topic but an active and vital element of daily education. For instance, mathematics lessons utilize local architectural principles to illustrate geometry, environmental science explores sustainable practices rooted in the islands' ecological understanding, and world language curricula examine linguistic connections spanning the Virgin Islands, the wider Caribbean, and the global community. Virgin Islands heritage is not merely a class; rather, it serves as the guiding perspective for all learning.

Collaborating with Common Core and local VISA Standards that align with modern educational practices, the Division fosters a learning experience that is both globally relevant and locally contextualized. By connecting local heritage with global competencies, students cultivate the critical thinking, analytical, and problem-solving skills necessary for success in today's world.

Every teacher is equipped to weave in community knowledge not solely as a stand-alone course, but as the central component of every lesson plan.

This teaching model progresses through an ongoing process of shared work and enhancement. Instructors are vital to this endeavor, taking on roles as both students and leaders. Yet, this vision takes time and collective action to realize. We work closely with instructors to implement these concepts in classrooms. This happens through both careful, incremental progress and significant, impactful changes. Every engaging workshop, curriculum development meeting, and professional growth session offers a chance to improve, consider, and expand upon this effort. The Division continues to develop, continues to learn, and hopes to see these practices flourish in every learning space.

The Division’s efforts stem from the conviction that education is not solely about mastering academic subjects but also about fostering a sense of identity and connection to the complexities of today's world with confidence and self-respect. This effort is never truly complete, nor should it be, because quality education is always a vibrant and evolving journey. Where our surroundings enrich every lesson.

Our strategic efforts for SY24-25 were built upon four key pillars:

Broaden Reach: Making cultural education resources and programs widely available to all students and schools.
- Elevates literacy outcomes through the integration of local literature, oral tradition, ancestral naming systems, and vernacular codes.
- Expands reading comprehension through culturally rooted texts, and builds critical literacy skills via community narratives and primary sources.
- Equips students with multimodal communication tools rooted in identity and historical fluency.
- Partners with school leaders to align cultural education with school improvement plans and accreditation benchmarks.
- Supports schools in tracking and reporting outcomes through data storytelling frameworks that humanize achievement metrics.
Build Community Connections: Strengthening collaborations with community organizations to promote Virgin Islands heritage and foster shared learning experiences.
- Orchestrates immersive, authentic learning experiences that transform the classroom into a lab of cultural investigation: field studies, ancestral garden programs, storytelling intensives, and ceremonial site visits.
- Develops reflection-based performance assessments that bridge embodied knowledge and academic mastery.
- Encourages community-based participatory learning that honors elders as instructors and land as textbook.
Support Educators: Equipping teachers with the skills and knowledge to effectively integrate Virgin Islands culture and history into classroom instruction across all subjects.
- Integrates cultural content with digital fluency by supporting the use of virtual field trips, GIS-based estate mapping, digital archives, and AI-augmented oral history.
- Supports teachers in leveraging tech tools to produce student-centered cultural products, including podcasts, interactive timelines, and virtual exhibitions.
- Builds student agency in storytelling and archiving through project-based learning and tech-enabled inquiry.
- Builds educator capacity through high-impact professional learning communities (PLCs) focused on heritage integration, curriculum design, and culturally responsive instruction.
Inspire Student Engagement: Encouraging active student participation in understanding and valuing their cultural heritage and the history of the Virgin Islands.
- Designs culturally valid indicators of student success thru engagement, pride, community participation, academic confidence.

“Where community history lives in every lesson: Community history is the compass that guides every subject.”

Crucian Heritage and Nature Tourism

(VIAC) VI Architectural Center for Built Heritage and Arts and Society of Virgin Islands Historians

Dr. Amanda, a scientist and educator, applies her expertise in built heritage to explore the longevity of structures in "Freegut," one of the oldest Black free spaces in the Caribbean. She highlights the ingenuity and exceptional craftsmanship of Afro-Caribbean people, who constructed durable buildings in challenging environments that have outlasted many modern structures. She prompts her students to consider how this traditional construction knowledge can be reintegrated into contemporary building practices.

Kallaloo Framework: Cultural Standards

The Virgin Islands Cultural Standards

First page of the PDF file: KallalooFrameworkPrint

"This is where our local understanding guides us. Not as a topic. But as the entire learning."

In 2011, a Task force was established to begin the process of developing the Virgin Islands Guiding Principles for Learning, which are currently referred to as the Kallaloo Framework.

Dr. Chenzira Davis Kahina, Dr. Laverne Terry, who served as Commissioner of Education at the time, Dr. Sarah Mahurt, who served as Deputy Commissioner, and several other task force members to include the Division’s first Director, Dr. Lauren Larsen and a number of tradition bearers all contributed to the first draft of the principles that were adopted from the Assembly of Alaska Native Educators in 1998.

The Task Force suggested that public campaigns entitled "Keep VI Traditions Alive" be run. The overarching proposal is for local groups and historical institutions to work together in order to ensure the success of the local education guidelines. The learning principles that are now often referred to as the Kallaloo Framework were first developed in 2011 in compliance with GVI Order #422-2006, which is a component of Act 7167.

The Kallaloo Framework is a contextually relevant approach to education that integrates the layered background of the Virgin Islands into every aspect of learning. It centers the belief that learning is relational, communal, and lived, reflecting the values of both Virgin Islands' traditional wisdom and insights from global cognitive development research.

The framework draws on the developmental principles found in the works of Alaskan Indigenous education models, which prioritize locally grounded, hands-on learning rooted in lived experience. This approach aligns with the thinking of cognitive theorists like John Piaget, but it goes further by recognizing that learning through local traditions involves locally relevant stories, customs, and community interaction.

The natural progression of learning under the Kallaloo Framework allows students to build knowledge through local context. By engaging with their environment, island legacy, and our common past, students don't just memorize facts; they learn how to apply knowledge in real-world contexts. This process emphasizes:

Critical thinking: Students analyze traditional practices, local artifacts, and local ecological knowledge.
Problem-solving: They approach challenges with solutions drawn from both traditional practices and modern knowledge.
Valuing our local identity and responsibility: Students see themselves as contributors to the ongoing story of the Virgin Islands, not just consumers of content.

At the heart of the Kallaloo Framework is the belief that learning is a communal act. It’s not something students do alone at a desk. It’s a shared experience. It pulls from the stories of elders, the guidance of teachers, and the expertise of community knowledge holders.

Download Your Copy Here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1SjZLlk98RZqS2qthr4aj6uuq5JhhJ6fQ/view

Resources

Teacher and Student Free Genealogy Access

What if the key to understanding the history of these islands and your connection to them was sitting in plain sight, hidden in the tales of those who came before? The Virgin Islands Department of Education (DOE) is exploring this powerful idea with its new family history project in collaboration with American Ancestors, designed to bring genealogy into classrooms as a tool for discovering our past and learning.

At its core, this project is about giving students and teachers the resources to reconnect with their past while enriching their understanding of the legacy of the Virgin Islands. The Virgin Islands Heritage Learning, recently joined WTJX Radio NewsFeed to discuss the program. Division Director, Stephanie C. Brown, explained how the project serves as a bridge between the past and the present, helping students see those who came before not as distant figures, but as integral parts of the world they live in today.

The partnership with American Ancestors, a respected genealogical research organization, provides educators with tools to incorporate individual and local history into lessons that are as meaningful as they are impactful. Teachers will have access to resources that make it easier to weave Virgin Islands narratives into classroom projects.

To hear more about how this program is bringing the past to life for the benefit of Virgin Islands students and educators, listen to Director Brown’s full interview on WTJX Radio NewsFeed. Access the podcast episode here:

WTJX NewsFeed – January 22, 2025 https://newsfeed.wtjx.org/podcast/wtjx-newsfeed/2025-01-22/wtjx-newsfeed-january-22"

Projects

Uncovering Our Roots: VI Students Become Young Researchers and Genealogists!

The Virgin Islands Department of Education's Division of Virgin Islands Cultural Education has teamed up with some amazing partners to bring history to life for our students! We're excited to share about our collaboration with American Ancestors – A National Center for Family History, Heritage & Culture, and the support from the Community Foundation of the Virgin Islands. This powerful partnership is helping young Virgin Islanders explore their family stories and connect with our rich history like never before!

Becoming "Young Researchers" Through Genealogy

Imagine being able to trace your family back generations, uncovering fascinating details about where your ancestors lived, what they did, and how they contributed to the Virgin Islands. That's exactly what our students are doing through the Youth Genealogy Curriculum provided by American Ancestors.

This special program gives all schools in the territory free access to the American Ancestors platform, a powerful online tool for genealogy research. Think of it like a detective's toolkit for history! Students and their teachers can:

Dive into historical records: Explore census documents, immigration files, and vital records that tell personal stories from the past.
Trace family stories: Discover their own roots and how their families fit into the larger narrative of the Virgin Islands.
Connect with history: Use interactive tools and multimedia to make learning about history personal and engaging.

The goal isn't just to learn facts, but to develop important skills like critical thinking, analysis, and problem-solving. By understanding their own heritage, students gain a deeper appreciation for the resilience and unity that have shaped our collective identity as Virgin Islanders.

Celebrating VI History Month with the "VI Ancestry Challenge"

As part of the Virgin Islands History Month celebration (which happens every March!), our Division of Cultural Education launched an exciting contest: the "VI Ancestry Challenge." This year's challenge encouraged students to truly become "young researchers" and "genealogists."

Students were tasked with using resources like the American Ancestors platform (available free on school networks), local libraries, and even their own families to research the life of a Virgin Islander from the past. Then, they had to create a compelling multimedia presentation (using tools like PowerPoint, Google Slides, or Canva) to share their discoveries.

Imagine the stories that were uncovered! Students included:

Visual evidence: Images of records like census forms or birth certificates found on American Ancestors, maps showing where people lived, and historical photographs.
Audio narration: Students guided their audience through their presentations, sharing details like the person's full name, birthdate, birthplace, occupation, and key life events. They also reflected on the person's impact on the Virgin Islands and explained their research process, even sharing any challenges they faced.

Our Proud Winners and One Communications' Generous Support!

We were incredibly impressed by the dedication and talent shown by all the students who participated in the VI Ancestry Challenge! Their presentations were not only informative but truly brought our history to life.

We're especially grateful for the generous sponsorship of One Communications, the largest telecommunication service in the Virgin Islands. One Communications understands the importance of investing in our youth and our community's future. They stepped up to provide fantastic prizes for our winners, recognizing their hard work and commitment to exploring our heritage.

The recent awards ceremony, held at the One Communications office on St. Croix, was a fantastic celebration of these young cultural ambassadors. Students from schools across the territory, including St. Croix Educational Complex, Alfredo Elementary School, and Pearl B. Larsen Elementary School, were recognized.

The prizes from One Communications included valuable electronic devices and free internet service, helping our students stay connected and continue their educational journeys. This partnership highlights how local businesses can play a vital role in supporting education and cultural preservation in the Virgin Islands.

This collaboration with American Ancestors, the Community Foundation, and One Communications is truly empowering our students to connect with their past, understand their present, and shape a future rooted in pride, understanding, and unity. Keep an eye out for more exciting initiatives from the Division of Virgin Islands Cultural Education!

Here is a list of this year’s winners:

Antonio Blanco
Alfredo Andrews School
Horace Clarke

Click here to view the project.

E’leeya Richard
St. Croix Educational Complex
Edith Bornn

Click here to view the project.

Kavarnee Harris
Alfredo Andrews School
David Cornelius Canegata

Click here to view the project.

Zion Bennerson
Alfredo Andrews School
Eric Carroll

Click here to view the project.

Jayden Charlery
Anna Heegaard
St. Croix Educational Complex

Click here to view the project.

Lucianick Alexander
St. Croix Educational Complex High School
David Hamilton Jackson

Click here to view the project.

Sustainability Challenge
Educational Complex

Click here to see the project.

Teacher Door Challenge
SharraMae Estigo
Special Education Teacher
Joseph Gomez Elementary School
St. Thomas – St. John District

DVICE Blog

Black History Month 2025: African Americans and Labor

Overview

As educators across the Virgin Islands prepare to honor Black History Month 2025, this resource provides an invaluable tool to bridge the local contributions of the Virgin Islands people with African heritage with the broader national theme, "African Americans and Labor." At its heart is the story of Ashley Totten, a pioneering labor leader born in St. Croix, whose work with the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters (BSCP) significantly influenced the American labor landscape.

Totten’s legacy is contextualized alongside contemporaries like David Hamilton Jackson, founder of The Herald, and Casper Holstein, a Harlem philanthropist, to showcase the Virgin Islands’ profound role in global narratives of fairness, strength, and impartiality. Through this lens, educators can encourage students to connect with historical figures, not as spectators but as inheritors of a proud legacy of advocacy and progress.

View the teacher resource at the VIDE DIVCE Hub: https://goopenusvi.vide.vi/courseware/lesson/696/overview

Ashley Totten, a son of the Virgin Islands and a towering figure in the labor movement's life and work has inspired dramatizations that highlight the struggles and triumphs of workers of African descent. His story is a reminder that the fight for fairness resonates far beyond his time, carrying lessons that remain vital today.

One notable depiction of Totten comes from the 2002 television film, 10,000 Black Men Named George, which chronicles the formation of the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters. Portrayed by actor Mario Van Peebles, Totten’s character stands as a steadfast figure in the fight for labor rights, alongside the iconic A. Philip Randolph. The film captures Totten’s dedication to securing fair wages and better working conditions for Pullman porters of African descent, many of whom, like Totten himself, had Caribbean roots.

You can watch the full movie for free on YouTube at this link: https://youtu.be/_iiHhxHk64A?si=msYocATa-mrBClXw

#GoOpenUSVI Open Education Resource Site

“Not just history — heritage in math, science, and every subject.”

The Division of Virgin Islands Cultural Education champions the 'Kallaloo Framework,' which comprises the Virgin Islands Cultural Standards. This framework is rooted in integrated learning, aiming to seamlessly weave the island's legacy and history into every subject, thereby ensuring students receive a comprehensive education grounded in the territory's traditions and past. This framework prioritizes interdisciplinary learning, where mathematics, science, literature, and the arts are contextualized within the layered narratives of Virgin Islands history and ancestral knowledge. This approach moves beyond compartmentalized lessons on local aspects, embedding our traditions as a foundational element of the curriculum.

DPNR - Libraries, Archives and Museums - Fort Frederik Museum

In this engaging session at the Fort Frederik Museum in Frederiksted, Monica Marin, Government Chief Curator at the Department of Planning and Natural Resources (DPNR), shares invaluable insights with students. Curator Marin delves into the rich and complex history of the Virgin Islands, specifically exploring the early roots and sophisticated cultures that existed prior to chattel slavery for many who have heritage from the region.

She draws direct connections to the powerful legacy of the Bight of Benin, illuminating the advanced societies and artistic traditions, such as bronze craft, from which many people of the Virgin Islands trace their descent. This vital exploration of pre-emancipation history provides a deeper understanding for the Emancipation exhibit, highlighting the strength, ingenuity, and vibrant heritage that endured despite the trials of enslavement. It underscores the profound journey of a people whose story is rooted in an African past.

ABC Cultural Book Reveal Celebration

DVICE and Fireburn Inc. Community Cultural Literacy Project

In the U.S. Virgin Islands, the very framework of our cultural standards directly supports and builds literacy, fundamentally shaping how children engage with learning and language. These standards emphasize the critical role of identity and heritage in cognitive development, creating a pathway where literature becomes a powerful mirror for students' lives.

This approach aligns deeply with foundational cognitive theory, as articulated by Jean Piaget, who showed that learning is an active process where children construct understanding by integrating new information with their existing knowledge and experiences. When texts reflect a child's world, their 'schemas,' those mental frameworks, are readily engaged, making learning more effective and meaningful.

Black cognitive educators and researchers have further enriched this understanding, underscoring that this prior knowledge is profoundly cultural. Dr. Gloria Ladson-Billings' Culturally Relevant Pedagogy, for instance, champions using students' "cultural knowledge, prior experiences, and performance styles" to make education more appropriate and effective. Similarly, Lisa Delpit reminds us that a child's culture is not a deficit, but "a wellspring of resources." When Virgin Islands children encounter stories that mirror their own characters, accents, and vibrant local experiences, it powerfully validates their identity. This validation, coupled with leveraging their funds of knowledge from home and community, empowers them to not only comprehend what they read but also to confidently find and voice their own unique narratives, thereby transforming literacy into a potent tool for self-discovery and cultural preservation.

Discover the ABCs of Virgin Islands Culture and Heritage

Angela Golden Bryan's "ABC Virgin Islands" project is truly a collaborative endeavor, spearheaded by her own non-profit, Fireburn Heritage Inc. The initiative found a crucial institutional home and invaluable support through the Caribbean Museum Center for the Arts (CMCARTS), which hosted Bryan as an artist-in-residence. Significant financial backing for the project came from the Community Foundation of the Virgin Islands (CFVI), leveraging grants from both the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) and the Resist Foundation.

The educational heart of the project beat within local schools, specifically engaging third graders from Claude O. Markoe, Alfredo Andrews, and Ricardo Richards Elementary Schools. Beyond these institutions, key individuals played pivotal roles: Professor Olasee Davis guided cultural discovery, while Jessica Parker White, CMCARTS Educational Coordinator, and Danica David, the Art Director, provided hands-on instruction for the student artworks. Erin Shae Bryan also served as a co-author and provided essential on-the-ground support.

Reframing Heritage Learning: Honoring Indigenous and Afro-Caribbean Knowledge in the Virgin Islands

The Division of Virgin Islands Cultural Education supports a complete educational strategy that emphasizes the historical, cultural, and intellectual impacts of Caribbean, African, and the First Peoples of this hemisphere. Recognizing the Virgin Islands as part of an extensive island chain influenced by ancient wisdom, African heritage, and the interaction of cultures, we endeavor to ensure students build a meaningful comprehension of the territory's shared past.

raphic highlighting the Indigenous and Amerindian peoples of the Caribbean with names of islands and their indigenous origins. It includes Saint Croix (Ay Ay, Taino, 'The River'), Puerto Rico (Borikén, Taino, 'Land of the Valiant and Noble Lord'), Hispaniola (Ayiti, Taino, 'Rough earth; Mother of all lands'), Anguilla (Malliouhana, Arawak, 'Arrow-Shaped Sea Serpent'), Nevis (Oualie, Kalinago, 'Land of Beautiful Water'), and Cuba (Cobao, Taino, 'Large island or place').

Our instructional design centers on cultural understanding that moves past usual narratives, integrating local geographical names, oral accounts, environmental understanding, and artistic practices into learning spaces. This method underscores the importance of heritage based identity and heritage in shaping students’ views of the world, ensuring they can connect with history in ways that are pertinent to their individual lives.

By placing Afro-Caribbean and the knowledge of the First Peoples of these islands. We build a learning environment that encourages intellectual curiosity, critical thought, and a deep appreciation of cultural awareness. Ultimately, our objective is to foster knowledgeable, engaged learners who value the intricacies of their heritage and understand their contribution to preserving and advancing cultural stories.

Are the Taino extinct? This woman knows otherwise | PBS

David Hamilton Jackson and All Ahwe -Student Art for Activism Project

Observances and Events

Virtual Tree Search Party on Friday, September 19th from 2–4 PM AST

Flyer for the Virtual Tree Search Party hosted by the Black Heritage Tree Project. The background is orange with a large green leaf on the right. Logos of supporting organizations appear at the top, including TCAALH, Nia Cultural Center, and Oklahoma Public Archeology Network. The event title is bold and black. Graphics of purple binoculars and a purple tree display the date “19 September 2023” and time “1 PM – 3 PM CST.” A QR code in the bottom corner notes “On Zoom – Registration Required.” Th — Join the **Virtual Tree Search Party** on **Friday, September 19th from 2–4 PM AST**! This interactive Zoom event is part of the **Black Heritage Tree Project**, a global research initiative exploring the cultural and ecological significance of trees in Black communities, including right here in **the Virgin Islands**.

Students, educators, families, and elders are invited to:

Participate in a **live research project**

Learn about **mapping and digital storytelling**

Share stories and help identify **heritage trees** connected to Black history

Celebrate with music, storytelling, and even a **virtual dance party**

**Fun activities, and a chance to connect with a global network!**
**Registration is required** – scan the QR code on the flyer or visit blackheritagetrees.com to sign up.

Let’s help map 100 Black Heritage Trees and celebrate our connections to land, memory, and culture!

**About the Black Heritage Trees Project:**
The Black Heritage Trees Project is a global research initiative that explores the cultural, historical, and ecological significance of trees in Black communities. By documenting stories and mapping heritage trees, the project connects land, memory, and identity across the African diaspora. With participation from communities in places like the islands of St. Croix, it highlights how trees serve as living archives of Black history, resistance, and resilience.

The 2025 David Hamilton Jackson & All Ah We Student Exhibit is now accepting submissions!

Poster for the 2025 David Hamilton Jackson and All Ah We Student Exhibit, organized by the Virgin Islands Department of Education’s Division of Virgin Islands Cultural Education. The exhibit welcomes student submissions in visual arts, literary arts, performing arts, and academic projects. Submissions should connect Virgin Islands history, identity, and student voice through creative or academic expression. The exhibit honors Rothschild Francis. Submission deadline is October 24, and the exhibit — **CALLING ALL STUDENT CREATORS!**
The **2025 David Hamilton Jackson & All Ah We Student Exhibit** is now accepting submissions!

Students are invited to share their talents through:

**Visual Arts**: drawings, paintings, mixed media

**Literary Arts**: essays, poems, monologues

**Performing Arts**: music, spoken word, drama

**Academic Projects**: research, history timelines, reflections, and more

This year’s theme encourages you to explore **Virgin Islands history, identity, and your own voice,** whether through creative storytelling or academic inquiry. Submissions should connect to core subjects like **Math, Language Arts, and Social Studies** in culturally meaningful ways.

**Honoring Rothschild Francis**
**Deadline: October 24**
**Exhibit Dates: November 1–15 at Cane Roots Art Gallery, Company Street, Christiansted**

Let your voice be heard and your creativity shine! Ask your teacher how to submit your work.

Empowering Students with Lessons on Justice and Health Inequality

Dr. Donna Christensen delivers a virtual lesson on health inequities in the Virgin Islands, featured in a news article titled %22New Lesson Plans Examine Health Inequality Through Local Leaders%22 by Finn Sharpless. The article highlights new educational resources launched by the Division of Virgin Islands Cultural Education and the Legislature of the U.S. Virgin Islands. — The Division of Virgin Islands Cultural Education and the Legislature of the U.S. Virgin Islands have launched a new set of lesson plans and resources to spark conversations on leadership, justice and health inequality. As part of the rollout, former Delegate to Congress Donna Christensen delivered a lesson on health equity.

Christensen, the first female physician to serve in Congress, the first woman to represent an offshore territory and the first woman delegate from the U.S. Virgin Islands, opened her talk by highlighting the legacy of former Gov. Melvin Evans.

The program, titled “Creating a Progressive Virgin Islands: Learning of Blyden and Pan-Africanism, Health Equity and Melvin Evans, and Imagining a Just Future,” is part of the VIDE GoOpenUSVI platform and offers lesson plans and video vignettes for students and educators. Materials are available online.

2025 Virgin Islands Freedom Week

Infographic flyer titled 'Freedom Week,' June 26th - July 3rd, from the Virgin Islands Department of Education. It details global upheavals and a historical timeline from 1848 to 1850, focusing on the 1848 Emancipation in the Danish West Indies, with a prominent quote about all unfree being declared free. — Join the Virgin Islands Department of Education's Division of Cultural Education for Freedom Week, June 26th-July 3rd! This powerful flyer uncovers the intricate global events and detailed local timeline that culminated in the 1848 Emancipation, celebrating the bravery and resilience that declared "all unfree... are from today free." Dive into the history that defines us.

2025 Juneteenth Observance and Resources

A poster from the Virgin Islands Department of Education celebrating Juneteenth. The poster's title %22JUNETEENTH%22 is prominently displayed. Below the title, the text explains Juneteenth's significance on June 19, 1865, for enslaved people in Galveston, Texas, and connects it to the Virgin Islands' Emancipation Day on July 3, 1848, when freedom was granted in the Danish West Indies. Three historical images accompany the text: an African American couple labeled %22American South,%22 a scene of people in the %22Danish West Indies,%22 and a group of men working, also labeled %22American South.%22 The poster highlights the shared history of liberation across the Atlantic and the resilience of the African American diaspora. — This Juneteenth, we engage in a vital comparative study of liberation, recognizing not only the pivotal emancipation in Galveston, Texas, on June 19, 1865, but also our own Virgin Islands Emancipation Day on July 3, 1848. This earlier freedom in the Danish West Indies highlights the dynamic **waves of liberation** that swept across the Atlantic, shaping the histories of Afro-descendant people.

Our poster underscores a critical historical parallel: even after formal emancipation, new systems of oppression emerged. While the continental U.S. saw the rise of **Jim Crow laws** severely restricting the rights of newly freed African Americans, the Danish West Indies implemented coercive measures like the Labor Law of 1849.

Alfredo Andrews Instructor and Students - VI Ancestry Challenge

Future historians in the making! Alfredo Andrews School participants in the VI History Ancestry Challenge.

Celebrating VI History Month with the "VI Ancestry Challenge"

Imagine the stories that were uncovered! Students included:

Visual evidence: Images of records like census forms or birth certificates found on American Ancestors, maps showing where people lived, and historical photographs.
Audio narration: Students guided their audience through their presentations, sharing details like the person's full name, birthdate, birthplace, occupation, and key life events. They also reflected on the person's impact on the Virgin Islands and explained their research process, even sharing any challenges they faced.

Our Proud Winners and One Communications' Generous Support!

Here is a list of this year’s winners:

Antonio Blanco
Alfredo Andrews School
Horace Clarke

Click here to view the project.

E’leeya Richard
St. Croix Educational Complex
Edith Bornn

Click here to view the project.

Kavarnee Harris
Alfredo Andrews School
David Cornelius Canegata

Click here to view the project.

Zion Bennerson
Alfredo Andrews School
Eric Carroll

Click here to view the project.

Jayden Charlery
Anna Heegaard
St. Croix Educational Complex

Click here to view the project.

Lucianick Alexander
St. Croix Educational Complex High School
David Hamilton Jackson

Click here to view the project.

Sustainability Challenge
Educational Complex

Click here to see the project.

Teacher Door Challenge
SharraMae Estigo
Special Education Teacher
Joseph Gomez Elementary School
St. Thomas – St. John District

St. Croix Educational Complex's E'leeya Richard Wins Prestigious VI History Ancestry Challenge for VI History Month 2025

%22A young Black female student, E'leeya Richard of St. Croix Educational Complex, in a plaid skirt and white polo shirt, beams as she holds up a %22Certificate of Achievement%22 for winning the VI History Ancestry Challenge during VI History Month 2025. She is flanked by her educator, Ms. Sally Camacho of Curriculum and Instruction (with short grey hair and glasses, wearing a patterned top), and other officials including Stephanie Chalana Brown, Director of the Department of Education's Division of V — St. Croix Educational Complex proudly celebrates student E'leeya Richard, who has emerged as the winner of the highly competitive VI History Ancestry Challenge for VI History Month 2025. Under the guidance of her dedicated educator, Ms. Cleon Lynch, E'leeya demonstrated exceptional research skills and a profound understanding of Virgin Islands history.

The VI History Ancestry Challenge is stewarded by the Department of Education's Division of Virgin Islands Cultural Education (DVICE), led by Director Stephanie Chalana Brown. This initiative has been a cornerstone of VI History Month for several years, benefiting from a vital collaboration between DVICE and One Communications (formerly VIYA), which works to uplift student projects related to Virgin Islands history.

For her winning project, Ms. Richard leveraged the newly available American Ancestors platform, utilizing its resources to expertly navigate and uncover records pertinent to her historical research. Her success not only highlights her individual achievement but also underscores the ingenuity of Afro-Caribbean people and the value of exploring ancestral connections to deepen historical understanding.

Virgin Islands African Heritage and International African Liberation Week

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In This Section

Division of Virgin Islands Cultural Education

About

About the Division of Virgin Islands Cultural Education

Crucian Heritage and Nature Tourism

(VIAC) VI Architectural Center for Built Heritage and Arts and Society of Virgin Islands Historians

Kallaloo Framework: Cultural Standards

The Virgin Islands Cultural Standards

Resources

Teacher and Student Free Genealogy Access

Projects

Uncovering Our Roots: VI Students Become Young Researchers and Genealogists!

Becoming "Young Researchers" Through Genealogy

Celebrating VI History Month with the "VI Ancestry Challenge"

Our Proud Winners and One Communications' Generous Support!

DVICE Blog

Black History Month 2025: African Americans and Labor

Overview

#GoOpenUSVI Open Education Resource Site

DPNR - Libraries, Archives and Museums - Fort Frederik Museum

ABC Cultural Book Reveal Celebration

Are the Taino extinct? This woman knows otherwise | PBS

David Hamilton Jackson and All Ahwe -Student Art for Activism Project

Observances and Events

Virtual Tree Search Party on Friday, September 19th from 2–4 PM AST

The 2025 David Hamilton Jackson & All Ah We Student Exhibit is now accepting submissions!

Empowering Students with Lessons on Justice and Health Inequality

2025 Virgin Islands Freedom Week

2025 Juneteenth Observance and Resources

Alfredo Andrews Instructor and Students - VI Ancestry Challenge

Celebrating VI History Month with the "VI Ancestry Challenge"

Our Proud Winners and One Communications' Generous Support!

St. Croix Educational Complex's E'leeya Richard Wins Prestigious VI History Ancestry Challenge for VI History Month 2025

Virgin Islands African Heritage and International African Liberation Week

2025 Virgin Islands of the United States Flag Day Observance - May 17th

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Links & Resources