Fairfax County Public Schools: FCPS Launches Historical Marker Project To Highlight Untold Stories Of County's African American Communities

Burke VA

01 February, 2022

2:09 PM

Description

Press release from Fairfax County Public Schools: February 01, 2022 Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) and Fairfax County Board of Supervisors (BOS) announced the launch of their joint Historical Marker Project today. The purpose of the project is to bring attention to untold or lesser known histories from Fairfax County communities. The rich history, culture, and accomplishments of these communities is often underrepresented in history books and school curriculum. The first focus of the project is Fairfax County's Black and African American communities. FCPS will provide resources to support students in grades four through 12 with researching untold local stories of Black/African Americans and groups who have impacted our community. The Historical Marker Project will be available to all teachers, and all K-12 students residing in Fairfax County (public, private, or homeschooled) can suggest topics for new historical markers throughout the county. Students will be able to access resources to assist with their research on FCPS' website. "We are incredibly proud to launch this joint initiative with our county partners, particularly as we begin to celebrate Black History Month," said Fairfax County School Board Member Karl Frisch (Providence District). "All students residing in Fairfax County are able to engage in this unique learning opportunity, and I am eager to hear the compelling stories they uncover." As part of the Historical Marker Project, students will focus on Portrait of a Graduate skills, such as communication and collaboration, by engaging in inquiry to recognize the voices, experiences, and achievements of Black/African Americans from Fairfax County. Students can submit suggested topics featuring a person, place, or event from February 1-March 31. The Historical Marker Project is an optional activity; students will not be required to participate. It will expand to include other underrepresented stories in the coming years. The Historical Marker Project is part of Fairfax County's broader Black/African American Experience Project(link is external)--a collaboration involving the BOS, History Commission, and Neighborhood and Community Services. "This year's Historical Marker Project will provide our county an opportunity to recognize the remarkable contributions of the Black/African Americans here in Fairfax County," said Board of Supervisors Dalia A. Palchik (Providence District). The Fairfax County/FCPS joint initiative will allow our students to engage in Fairfax County's history and tell our communities stories and preserve them for generations to come." Fairfax County Chairman Jeffrey C. McKay; Board of Supervisors Palchik, Rodney L. Lusk, and Kathy L. Smith; and Frisch spearheaded the Historical Marker Project. The project aligns with the One Fairfax policy, which commits both Boards to consider equity in decision-making and in the development and delivery of future policies, programs, and services. Learn more about the project and submission guidelines on the Fairfax County website(link is external). For more information, please contact the Office of Communication and Community Relations at [email protected](link sends email).      This press release was produced by Fairfax County Public Schools. The views expressed here are the author's own.