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History of Formerly Enslaved African Americans in Virginia, Task Force for the ID of the

Independent

Purpose

With such funds as are appropriated by the General Assembly and with the agreement of the Virginia Foundation for the Humanities (the Foundation), the Foundation shall identify the history of formerly enslaved African Americans in Virginia and determine ways to preserve that history for educational and cultural purposes.

Term

Legislative members shall serve terms coincident with their terms of office. Gubernatorial appointments shall be for a term of two years. Appointments to fill vacancies, other than by expiration of a term, shall be for the unexpired terms. Nonlegislative citizen members may be reappointed. Vacancies shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointments.

Composition

To assist the Foundation in its work, a task force is hereby created consisting of 17 members as follows: three members of the House of Delegates to be appointed by the Speaker of the House of Delegates in accordance with the principles of proportional representation contained in the Rules of the House of Delegates; two members of the Senate to be appointed by the Senate Committee on Rules; seven nonlegislative citizen members to be appointed by the Governor, at least one of whom shall be a recognized historian with scholarship in American history and slavery and at least one of whom shall be the president of a historically black college or university located in the Commonwealth. The Director of the Department of Historic Resources or his designee, the Director of the Black History Museum and Cultural Center of Virginia or his designee, the executive director of the Virginia Tourism Authority or his designee, the chairman of the board of trustees of the Virginia Outdoors Foundation or his designee, and the President of the Foundation shall serve ex officio.

Vacant Seats

The seat descriptions indicate if there is a specific requirement for that seat (a profession, consumer, someone who lives in a certain congressional district, etc.). If there is only a number listed (Seat 7), there is no specific criteria for that seat. A “citizen” seat requires someone who is not affiliated with that profession. If you're interested in any of these seats, please submit an application here.

President of a Historically Black College or University	1 seat
Total seats available: 1

Current Board Members

Dr Jonathan White

Historian (American History and Slavery) Membership expires on 6/30/2027

Pastor Roger Douglas Cheeks

Member of the General Public Membership expires on 6/30/2027

Michelle Evans Oliver

Member of the General Public Membership expires on 6/30/2027

Cainan Townsend

Member of the General Public Membership expires on 6/30/2027

Joseph Paul Boutte

Member of the General Public Membership expires on 6/30/2028

Karice Lashel Luck

Member of the General Public Membership expires on 6/30/2028