Conference Program

Our conference programs are focused on content developed through board leadership, peer discussion and scholarly research.

Our sessions have been carefully curated to prepare our members, our guests and the general public for the task ahead: helping communities, historians, genealogists, and researchers in understanding the importance of our ancestors as valuable contributors and founders of the United States of America. 

Financial Status:

• Treasurer General Douglas Cornwall 
• Auditor General Dean Henry

Membership Status:

• Genealogy General Dr. Shelley Murphy
• Registrar General Hope Elliot
• Surgeon General Dr. Wendall Goins 

State of the Society:

• President General Ric Murphy

10:00 AM - 10: 45 AM

Roundtable Discussion A:     The Historical Importance of Our African Ancestors

Facilitator:      Ric Murphy, President General of the Society of the First African Families of English America.  As the United States approaches its 250th anniversary in 2026, communities across the nation have a unique opportunity to reflect, imagine, honor and strategize by developing comprehensive America 250 programs that are inclusive, forward-looking, and rooted in shared values. This session offers a deep dive into SOFAFEA’s strategic planning for commemorations, with an emphasis on historical reflection of America’s Forgotten Patriots-Americans of African and Indigenous ancestry who served patriotically in the Revolutionary War, civic renewal, and community engagement.

Please Note: The session originally slotted for this time will be deferred to a future conference. We apologize for any inconvenience that this may have caused but this was beyond our control.

Scholars:

• Antoine Watts (President Living History) often portrays Mr. James Forten 1766-1842, an American Revolution Naval Veteran, sail maker and owner of a Philadelphia sail loft, wealthy businessman, family man, abolitionist, writer, and speaker. He also portrays Joseph Bologne Le Chevalier de Saint-Georges 1745-1799 (Afro-Français) Violin virtuoso, first person of African descent to compose classical music in the European style. Swordsman, Officer in the King's Bodyguard, and Colonel of Le Légion Saint-Georges during the French Revolution.

• Daryian Kelton (Vice President Living History) is a historical interpreter for 11 years. He started young as a drummer of the 1st Rhode Island/6th USCT reenactors and became involved with museums as a volunteer at the Old Barracks Museum and has consulted on African American interpretations for institutions such as The Museum of the American Revolution and The National Association for Interpretation. 

• Leslie Bramlett (Treasurer Living History) is an educational consultant and curriculum writer, she is dedicated to telling American history and spotlighting the contributions of African American women, particularly “camp followers,” of the American Revolution.   

• Kevin Chapman (Secretary Living History) is a historical reenactor and often portrays a Revolutionary War soldier from the African American First Rhode Island Regiment. As a historical reenactor he wears historical uniforms and follow a plan to recreate aspects of the First Rhode Island’s historic journey during the American Revolution and Civil War.

• Steve Thomas (Founder Living History) is a trained musician who specializes in fife, drum and bugle calls of the 18th and 19th Centuries. He is a member of various 18th and 19th Century Fife and Drum Corps, The 1st Rhode Island Regiment Reenactors Inc., The 6th USCT Reenactors Inc. and is a board member and Music Director of the 1st USCT Reenactors.  

11:00 AM - 11:45 AM

Roundtable Discussion B:     The Power of Family History in these Challenging Times.

Facilitator:    Douglas Cornwall (Treasurer General, Society of the First African Families of English America), will lead a discussion on our ability to counteract the removal or distortion of historical narratives, the suppression of discussions, and minimization of the identities, experiences, and over 400 years of contributions of our ancestors. Two sisters - heirs and daughters of a very old and distinguished Black New England family discuss the value of family history, the power of the individual stories in one’s family history and how that power can be used and leveraged to impact on our communities today.  An eye-opening discussion based on one family’s history in the context of some of America’s major historical milestones such as the Revolutionary War, the abolitionist movement, the Women’s suffragette movement, and the Supreme court cases of Sarah Roberts v City of Boston, Plessy v. Ferguson and Brown v Board of Education.

Scholars:

• Claire Galloway Jones is an educator with the Brookline Massachusetts Public Schools, and a descendant of the historic Ames family of Massachusetts. The family includes Forgotten Patriot Private Prince Ames, Eunice Ames Davis an original Daughter of the Daughters of the American Revolution, several United States Colored Troops, and Sarah Roberts the plaintiff in Roberts v. City of Boston (1849) the precursor to Plessy v. Ferguson (1896) and Brown vs Board of Education (1954).

• Lena Galloway Reddick is an administrator at the University of Massachusetts, Dartmouth, and a descendant of the historic Ames family of Massachusetts. The family includes Forgotten Patriot Private Prince Ames, Eunice Ames Davis an original Daughter of the Daughters of the American Revolution, several United States Colored Troops, and Sarah Roberts the plaintiff in Roberts v. City of Boston (1849) the precursor to Plessy v. Ferguson (1896) and Brown vs Board of Education (1954).

11:45 - 12:00 Noon

Pictures at the Grand Staircase (in the order of)¹

• General Officers and National Vice Presidents
• Board of Directors with Society Members (with medals)
• Honored family Members
• Descendants of Forgotten Patriots
• Guests

11:45 AM - 1:00 PM

Lunch/ Networking/ Family Collaborations/ Tour of Museum

01:00 PM - 1:45 PM 

Roundtable Discussion C:     Community and Organizational Engagement

Facilitator:      Joi Edwards-Haynes (Organizing Secretary General, Society of the First African Families of English America) More than ever there is a need to develop foundations at the regional and community level to research, document and preserve information and artifacts ensuring that our ancestors are remembered as valuable contributors to American history. Ms. Edwards-Haynes will lead a discussion on how to take and expand a national organization regionally, and to expand the rich body of knowledge at the local level. 

Scholars:

• Bren Landon is Director of Public Relations for the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution.  She counsels the DAR President General and membership on the many special initiatives of the National Society including the E Pluribus Unum Educational Initiative. She will share how DAR disseminates information to their members and how they engage their members at the local level. 

• LaJoy Y. Mosby is the President, Afro-American Historical and Genealogical Society. Ms. Mosby is a member of the National Genealogical Society, Inc., a charter member of African American Genealogy Group of Kentucky as well as a member of the Woodford County Historical Society, the Kentucky Genealogy Society, and the Alabama Genealogy Society. 

Facilitator: Dr. Shelley V. Murphy (Founder of the Midwest African American Genealogy Institute, and is the society’s Genealogist General), who will lead a discussion with national thought leaders on how we should properly preserve the history and legacy of the past and connect with the descendants for the future.

 Scholars:

• Attorney Michael Coard is a Philadelphia criminal defense attorney with more than 15 years of trial experience leading cases for mostly underprivileged citizens. He is a fierce advocate for his alma mater, Cheyney University, and can be heard weekly on his show Radio Courtroom on WURD radio.

• Bernice Alexander Bennett is an award-winning author, genealogist,
  nationally recognized guest speaker, storyteller, and former
  producer-host of the podcast - Research at the National Archives and
  Beyond BlogTalkRadio program, and current host of Ancestor’s
  Footprints. 

03:00 PM - 3:45 PM

Roundtable Discussion E:     America 250: Commemorating Our Nation’s Forgotten Patriots . 

Facilitator: Ric Murphy, President General of the Society of the First African Families of English America.

Scholars:

• Adrienne G. Whaley is an educator and history-lover who currently serves as the Director of Education and Community Engagement at the Museum of the American Revolution.
• Eric Hardaway is a retired Noncommissioned Officer, served as the Congressional Director of Military and Veterans Affairs office.  
• LT. Colonel Myron M. Young (Retired U.S. Army) served with the elite 82nd Airborne Division. He was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal; the Army Commendation Medal; the Army Achievement Medal; the National Defense Service Medal; just to name a few.  
• Justin Hill is the Executive Director of the The Philadelphia Why Project. Mr. Hill is a native Philadelphian who is a current Juris Doctorate of Law candidate at Temple University.  His work centers on Community Education Solutions designed to engage our nation’s young people a voice through digital media. He  will participate in a discussion on how engage our young people through traditional and emerging media at the national and local levels.