Timeline & Events

April 3, 2026: Public Announcement of the Descendants Forum’s Formation

The Clotilda Descendants Association and Kinfolkology formally announce the creation of the Descendants Forum, a growing congress of organizations led by Descendants of free and enslaved African and African American ancestors.

The launch includes:

  • Public announcement of the Forum

  • Launch of the Forum website

  • Outreach to Descendant-led organizations across the United States and diaspora

  • Opening of membership participation

May 18, 2026 @ 8 pm Eastern: Collective Launch of the Descendants Forum (virtual event)

A landmark virtual gathering inaugurating the Descendants Forum—the first international congress of Descendant organizations—featuring presentations by Founding Stewards and Q&A from attendees. Watch the whole event here.

June 3, 2026: Formation of the Descendants Forum’s Inaugural Committees

The Descendants Forum’s Inaugural Standing Committees will guide the development and implementation of the Forum’s programs, operations, and organizational infrastructure between their formation (June 19, 2026) and the Forum’s Inaugural Convening (Spring 2027). Composed of volunteers from member organizations and individual Descendants, these committees will carry out the day-to-day work of building the Forum, supporting its members, and advancing its mission. Through this work, committee members will help shape the Forum’s future while creating opportunities for collaboration, collective action, and community-building among Descendants across the country.

Summer – Fall 2027: Building the Descendants Forum

During its first year, the Forum will focus on assembling its Congress of member organizations.

Key activities include:

  • Inviting Descendant-led organizations to join the Forum

  • Establishing communication infrastructure (listserv, website, member directory)

  • Hosting virtual meetings and listening sessions among member organizations

  • Identifying shared priorities across descendant communities

  • Drafting the Forum’s interim and permanent governance frameworks

  • Building relationships and collaboration among member organizations

This year is designed to ensure that the Forum’s structure and priorities emerge collectively from the organizations that make up its Congress.

Fall 2027: The Inaugural Convening of the Descendants Forum

The Descendants Forum will hold its first in-person convening, bringing together representatives from member organizations.

During the convening, the Congress will:

  • Ratify the Forum’s permanent governance structure

  • Elect the inaugural Board of Directors

  • Adopt bylaws and guiding principles

  • Establish strategic priorities for the organization

The convening will also feature programming focused on descendant history, memory, and community-building.

2027–2028: Establishing the Institution

Following the inaugural convening, the Descendants Forum will begin operating as a member-led organization.

Key developments may include:

  • Establishment of the Forum as an independent nonprofit organization

  • Development of administrative infrastructure

  • Regular convenings of the Congress

  • Collaborative initiatives among member organizations

  • Public programs, research collaborations, and advocacy efforts