Seventeenth Global Studies Conference

Abstract

Central to the Historic Germantown’s mission is increasing equity in the particular ways that Germantown historic sites are activated—by whom, for whom—the type of presence they project, the stories they tell, and the services they provide. This poster sessions is an exploration of the complex conjunctions between historic site space, the interpretation we steward and the public trust we hold in the communities we serve. Historic Germantown will share new learnings acquired during the pandemic years gained through long standing community engagement projects in our greenspaces and programs, to spur long-term engagement with our community and constituents. We will highlight methods of partnership through media, outreach and community education that fuel the future of our emergent work. Community Engagement at Historic Germantown focuses on Physical Presence, Grassroots Outreach and Digital Feedback to build trust and goodwill as our museums leverage relationships to become good neighbor spaces, reflecting multiple approaches to public history that characterize the richness of community care, sensitive to the lived experience of diverse audiences.