Publications and Research
Document Type
Poster
Publication Date
12-4-2020
Abstract
Queens Memory is a local community archiving and oral history project, co-administered by Queens Public Library and Queens College, CUNY. During COVID-19, members from both institutions collaborated to create a series of virtual roundtables hosted on Facebook Live, centered on social justice, current events, and creating positive social change. Specific examples include xenophobia and Asian Americans during COVID-19; the Black Lives Matter movement; student activism and political engagement; and equity/inclusion in archives. In selecting these topics and speakers, we made sure that the diversity and lived experiences of our communities were represented, and that speakers included both scholars and students. Organized as roundtable discussions, these events consisted of dynamic dialogues amongst the panelists, with time for audience questions. By streaming on Facebook Live, the content was easy to view, share, and re-watch. This allowed us to inform a larger demographic than a closed platform would. Overall, this public/academic partnership led to a virtual program series that brought much needed discussions to a wider audience, informed our communities about urgent social and civic issues, and provided historical context for this unprecedented moment in time.