Community Foundation of the Virgin Islands joins By the People: Conversations Beyond 250 initiative

The Community Foundation of the Virgin Islands, serving as the Humanities Council of the Virgin Islands, will host a two-day conference called "Voices of the USVI: Dialogue and Discovery" on March 19–20, 2026 at the University of the Virgin Islands as part of the nationwide By the People: Conversations Beyond 250 initiative.

The Community Foundation of the Virgin Islands (CFVI), acting as the Humanities Council of the Virgin Islands, will take part in By the People: Conversations Beyond 250, a nationwide series of community-driven humanities programs. The initiative was developed by the Federation of State Humanities Councils in partnership with the Smithsonian Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage. As its contribution, CFVI will host a two-day conference called "Voices of the USVI: Dialogue and Discovery" to bring together culture bearers, artists, humanities organizations, and community leaders. The event is scheduled for March 19–20, 2026 at the University of the Virgin Islands on St. Thomas and will include both public and invited sessions. Known details: - CFVI is participating as the Humanities Council of the Virgin Islands in the By the People: Conversations Beyond 250 initiative. - CFVI will host "Voices of the USVI: Dialogue and Discovery" on March 19–20, 2026 at the University of the Virgin Islands on St. Thomas. - Public programming will include a keynote open to the community, networking opportunities, and a youth-elder dialogue circle to encourage intergenerational exchange. - Invited sessions will feature a dance/movement lab with traditional dancers, an agriculture roundtable, and an interactive workshop for collaborative festival design. - The initiative was developed by the Federation of State Humanities Councils and the Smithsonian Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage, and involves fifty-one state and territorial councils. - CFVI supports humanities work through grantmaking, community engagement, advocacy, and capacity-building across the territory. Summary: The conference aims to elevate Virgin Islands voices and foster intergenerational dialogue while connecting local cultural practices to a nationwide reflection on 250 years of cultural life. It will convene public events and invited sessions on March 19–20, 2026; further program details and participant lists will be provided by CFVI as they are finalized.