In this virtual workshop, Jes. C. Neal, founder and Lead Archivist at Vanguard Archives Consulting will guide us through the ins and outs of building community archives.

About your facilitator:

Jes (she/they), is a Black, queer millennial archivist, oral historian, and curator, from Mobile, Alabama.

Through their consultancy, Vanguard Archives Consulting, Jes has worked on a diverse range of projects, from grassroots community archives to large-scale institutional collections. Through oral histories, digital humanities, and archival methods, they actively document Black cultural production in the arts, literature, social movements, the US South, and queer life, contributing to public, private, and educational archives, as well as arts-based initiatives.

Currently, Jes is consulting on a variety of projects for several organizations, including Cave Canem, the Mellon-funded Diaspora Solidarities Lab, and the federally-funded Company 1433 Project. Jes also remains connected to the Sexual Minorities Archive as a board member emeritus.

About this workshop:

• Prioritizes LGBTQ+ Jamaicans

• Welcomes LGBTQ+ folks across the Caribbean and its diasporas.

• Discusses best practices for creating community archives.

• What to bring:

  • Questions

  • Writing tools

  • A blanket, stim toys, or other comfort items.

  • Water bottle or have water accessible.

• Ideal for LGBTQ+ people who:

  • have varying levels of experience with archival work. No experience required.

  • are curious about how to create community archives.

  • want communal space to discuss building queer histories.

  • want to strengthen their archive and research skills.

  • benefit from group processing.