The Community Foundation of the Virgin Islands concluded its two-day humanities conference at the University of the Virgin Islands, bringing together more than 100 in-person and virtual attendees.
The conference convened artists, scholars, cultural leaders and community advocates to explore the importance of the humanities and their role in preserving and advancing the culture and history of the Virgin Islands. As the designated Humanities Council for the U.S. Virgin Islands, appointed by the National Endowment for the Humanities, CFVI is uniquely positioned to lead these critical conversations. Keynote speakers included CFVI President Dee Baecher-Brown and University of the Virgin Islands President Dr. Safiya George, who emphasized the critical connection between education, culture, and community development in the region.
The conference was held as part of By the People: Conversations Beyond 250, a series of community-driven programs created by humanities councils across the United States, its territories, and the District of Columbia in collaboration with local partners. Together, these programs explore 250 years of the nation’s cultural life and imagine its shared future. The initiative was developed by the Federation of State Humanities Councils and the Smithsonian Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage as a complement to the 2026 Smithsonian Folklife Festival.
