Inaugural Working Committees
Composed of volunteers from member organizations and individual Descendants, the Descendants Forum’s Inaugural Committees carry out the day-to-day work of building the Forum, supporting its members, and advancing its mission. Through this work, committee members are helping to shape the Forum’s future while creating opportunities for collaboration, collective action, and community-building among Descendants across the country.
If you are a Descendant and would like to serve on one of the Forum’s Inaugural Committees, please reach out to the appropriate committee chair (emails provided below) in order to inquire about the processes or procedures that are in place for joining that committee.
Governance
The Governance Committee is responsible for researching and evaluating potential governance models for the Descendants Forum and recommending structures that reflect the Forum’s values, mission, and commitment to democratic participation. During the Forum’s founding year, the committee will develop and oversee a pilot governance model to guide the Forum’s operations and decision-making. It will also prepare a proposed permanent governance structure—including bylaws, membership provisions, and leadership frameworks—for consideration, amendment, and ratification by the wider Forum.
Contact the Chair: Governance@DescendantsForum.org.
Outreach
The Outreach Committee supports the growth of the Forum's Congress by recruiting new member organizations and welcoming new participants. It also helps maintain membership records, serves as a point of contact for membership inquiries, and develops strategies to strengthen participation in the Forum's programs, committees, and collective initiatives.
Contact the Chair: Outreach@DescendantsForum.org.
Internal Communications
The Internal Communications Committee oversees the Forum’s internal communications infrastructure and member information-sharing. The committee is responsible for establishing and maintaining communication tools—including the Forum’s listserv—and ensuring that members receive timely updates about meetings, programs, opportunities, and organizational developments. It helps coordinate announcements, newsletters, and other internal communications that keep members informed, connected, and engaged in the work of the Forum.
Contact the Chair: InternalCommunications@DescendantsForum.org.
Inaugural Convening Planning
The Inaugural Convening Planning Committee coordinates the planning and preparation for the Descendants Forum’s Inaugural Convening (Fall 2027). Working in close coordination with the Forum’s executive leadership, the committee will help develop the convening’s program, schedule, logistics, and participant experience and coordinate with the host institution and other partners involved in making the gathering possible.
The committee will also help ensure that the Inaugural Convening reflects the Forum’s mission and values while creating meaningful opportunities for member organizations to build relationships, conduct the business of the Forum, celebrate the collective established during its founding year, and help shape its future.
Contact the Chair: InauguralConvening@DescendantsForum.org.
Development
The Development Committee supports the Forum’s efforts to build the resources, partnersh ips, and organizational capacity necessary for long-term sustainability. During the Forum’s founding year, the committee will identify potential funding opportunities, cultivate relationships with supporters and partner institutions, and explore strategies for resource development. The committee will also research and help prepare for the Forum’s eventual transition into an independent 501(c)(3) organization, developing recommendations for fundraising, donor engagement, and financial sustainability that can support the Forum’s growth beyond its inaugural convening.
Contact the Chair: Development@DescendantsForum.org.
Member Engagement
The Member Engagement Committee plans and hosts the Descendants Forum’s regular virtual programming, creating opportunities for members to learn from one another, share expertise, and engage in meaningful dialogue. The committee is responsible for organizing monthly virtual gatherings on topics relevant to Descendant communities and organizations, including genealogy, archival research, historic preservation, reparations, heirs’ property, public history, community organizing, fundraising, and other issues identified by Forum members. The committee works to develop engaging programs, identify speakers and facilitators, and create spaces where members can exchange knowledge, build relationships, and strengthen the collective capacity of the Forum.
Contact the Chair: MemberEngagement@DescendantsForum.org.
Member Resources
The Member Resources Committee develops, compiles, and maintains resources that support the work of the Forum’s members and member organizations. The committee identifies tools, guides, templates, best practices, funding opportunities, and educational materials that may be useful to Descendant communities and organizations. It also works to create a shared repository of resources that can be freely accessed by all members, helping to strengthen organizational capacity, facilitate knowledge-sharing, and reduce the duplication of effort across the Forum’s network. Through this work, the committee helps ensure that members benefit not only from collective advocacy and collaboration, but also from practical resources that support their day-to-day work.
Contact the Chair: MemberResources@DescendantsForum.org.