| Saturday, February 18
11 AM Kaitlin O'Connor: Presentation on Black and Indigenous Stories at Fort Fisher Kaitlin is the education and outreach coordinator at Fort Fisher State Historic Site. She’s passionate about creating inclusive and ethical historical narratives through academically sound yet engaging programs. Kaitlin earned her bachelor’s degree in history from NC State University and will (knock on wood) earn her second degree from State this May – a master’s in public history. This January and February, Kaitlin coordinated a new educational series called Dwell with Gratitude & Pride: New Perspectives on the Wilmington Campaign, which focuses on the experiences and central role of people of color in the Union’s campaign to capture Wilmington in 1865. Today, Kaitlin will highlight those stories and explore the campaign leading up to the Battle of Forks Road on February 20, 1865.
12 PM Boundless Tour with Daniel Jones Take a tour of Boundless, the public sculpture built to honor the United States Colored Troops and their fight for freedom, with CAM's Cultural Curator Daniel Jones
1 PM Rice Festival Films Gullah Geechee Foodways in Southeastern NC(22 min) and Gullah Geechee History and Rice Growing in Brunswick County (19 min) followed by Q&A
2 PM Tyanna West: Just Beneath the Surface: Gullah Culture in Southeastern North Carolina This presentation takes a quick look at Gullah Geechee culture and it’s connection to the enslaved Africans who lived and labored in Southeastern NC (Onslow, Pender, New Hanover, and Brunswick counties)
Tyanna West is a public historian, performing artist, and owner of Art of Sankofa, LLC. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Music from North Carolina Central University and will receive her Master of Arts in History from NCCU Fall of 2023. During her time at NCCU she has had to opportunity to participate in several historic preservation projects including the ACLS ‘Expanding the Digital Library of American Slavery’ initiative. On top of her research experience, Tyanna has had the privilege of performing on several stages across the triangle and surrounding areas, and is passionate about merging art and history to tell the stories of her people. For updates visit www.artofsankofa.com
Sunday, February 19
1 PM Glory at Wilmington: The Battle of Forks Roadwith Dr. Chris Fonvielle, Jr.
Dr. Chris E. Fonvielle Jr., Professor Emeritus in the Dept. of History at UNC Wilmington will make his last public presentation at the Cameron Art Museum on the Battle of Forks Road, fought February 20-21, 1865. Confederate forces tried stubbornly to hold Wilmington against the rapidly advancing Union army with U.S. Colored Troops in the lead. Dr. Fonvielle will discuss his discovery and research and efforts to interpret and preserve the history of the last battle fought before Union forces captured Wilmington, the Confederacy's last major seaport and most important city by that point in the Civil War. He has published books and articles including The Wilmington Campaign: Last Rays of Departing Hope; Wilmington and the Lower Cape Fear: An Illustrated History; Fort Fisher 1865: The Photographs of T.H. O’Sullivan; Glory at Wilmington: The Battle of Forks Road. | 
