Before the Table Is Set: A Small Ritual for You

In this post you’ll find prompts for our Holiday Challenge, details about our final convening of 2025, and photos from our Black Storytelling Week community celebration in September.

Hey Y’all,

I wanted to send you love and care as we head into the holiday season. This time of year can bring a range of feelings - reunion and celebration; grief and loneliness; reflection and solemnity, and more. Sometimes they come in waves, sometimes everything all at once. However this season finds you, I hope you take good care, and find moments to honor and connect with those in your life who have and do show up as family.

In my last bulletin I shared that we’re issuing a challenge this holiday. It’s meant to inspire meaningful connection and reflection with loved ones, and give you a starting point for documenting and passing down your family history in the weeks ahead. As always, this is your journey. Do what feels right, and go at whatever pace you need to.

Here are the challenge prompts for Thanksgiving. Answer, one, two, or all three:

• Document one family recipe and a memory you have tied to it.

• Who do you miss during this holiday? What would you say to them if they could be here with you? Write them a letter.

• Take a photo with whoever you’re celebrating with. Selfies count!

If you’re comfortable, share your stories by tagging @blackstorytellingweek on IG or Threads. I’d love to see them.

RSVP: Our Final Gathering of 2025

We are down to our final convening of the year! Join us Wednesday, December 10 from 7-8:30pm ET for a conversation about navigating your family research journey with Joanne Griffith, a journalist, author, and entrepreneur who first began filling out her family tree in 2007. From archival research to family interviews, Joanne will share her findings, stories, and learnings. If you have questions about how to get started or how to regain momentum with your family history research, this session is for you.

RSVP

What I’m Holding Close This Season

As I reflect on what I’m grateful for, this community is at the top of the list. Getting to share space with you, and learn more about your families and journeys has truly filled my cup. I love the care and consideration you’ve all shown each other - THANK YOU. I’m brand new to family history keeping and I’ve learned so much from your stories and practices. This group continues to inspire and motivate me and I look forward to what 2026 will hold.

2025 was extra special: it marked the third annual Black Storytelling Week and our first ever community celebration in Brooklyn, NY! Over 200 people stopped by Weeksville Heritage Center for a free day of art and storytelling hosted in collab with NATAL. Guests posed for portraits with photographer , created zines about the people, places and beings that raised them in workshops led by artist , and sat down to interview one another in oral storytelling sessions guided by an award-winning producer. It was an honor to collaborate with other artists, creatives and cultural workers to offer families a space to document themselves and create special keepsakes.

Here are some of the photos captured during the day:

I hope you have a beautiful week, and I’ll see you soon,
Martina