We were lucky to catch up with Gigi Nelson recently and have shared our conversation below.
Gigi, we’re thrilled to have you on our platform and we think there is so much folks can learn from you and your story. Something that matters deeply to us is living a life and leading a career filled with purpose and so let’s start by chatting about how you found your purpose.
It was definitely not a linear journey. In my family, college was the expectation, so I went. But I didn’t really know what I wanted to major in. At the last minute (because I’d already been in college for four years) I majored in History–mostly because it seemed easier that English (so many rules and exceptions to the rules!) I probably didn’t really get interested in history until I took an African-American history class. Because then the people I was studying looked like me. I went on to get a Master’s degree in history because at the time, I didn’t think I could get a good job with just a bachelors. And I still didn’t know what I wanted to do. In grad school was when history really started to click for me. So I applied to a Ph.D. program and got in. I completed all the coursework and took all of the oral and written exams and passed them and started working on a dissertation. But life got in the way. I started teaching at a junior college and went on to teach for about ten years at various online and standard schools.
Somewhere in there was when I got really interested in genealogy. But it was still more of a hobby than anything else. I realized at some point that teaching wasn’t for me and so decided to change careers. To make a long story short, I was accepted into an intern program for Air Force military historians which I did for another ten years. I deployed twice, so was able to add “combat historian” to my resume. I loved that job, but I knew at some point I’d want to settle down somewhere and put down roots. My father had been in the Army so I’d already moved around a lot as a kid, and then even more with that Air Force job.
I really think subconsciously, that is what drew me to genealogy. For a lot of reasons, I wasn’t close to either side of my extended family. Mostly though because we didn’t live near them after I turned 12. So genealogy was a way for me to connect to ancestors and understand my family on another level.
Anyway, once I moved to Washington DC, I was able to put down roots. The pandemic gave me time to focus on what really brought me joy and that was genealogy. So I decided to start a nonprofit that could introduce Black youth and also adults to genealogy. Next to the transformative power of Jesus Christ, I think genealogy is a close second in terms of providing a grounding in identity, resilience and strength. For so long, as a Black community, we’ve been more focused on the brutality of slavery and our collective suffering. Stories of joy and strength, laughter and resilience, aren’t usually a part of that story. So our goal is to change the narrative around family history and have families initiate conversations about surviving and even thriving.
Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?
I am the founder of a 501(c)(3)nonprofit, the Majani Project (www.majani.org), which introduces Black youth and adults to genealogy. What I love about it is the opportunity to help our kids learn their own family history and then place that in the larger context of what was going on in America at that time. That’s how history comes alive for kids–when they can see themselves or their ancestors in it.
When I launched the Majani Project, there were no books on the market specifically geared towards introducing Black youth to genealogy. There were a lot of books for African American adults, and plenty of books for kids, but none for Black youth (ages 12+). So I saw that as an opportunity to write one.
For The Culture: A Genealogy Handbook For The Cool Kids by Aungelic Nelson (Panafrigen Press: Washington DC, 2022) is available on Amazon and wherever books are sold. It’s filled with tons of pictures, about 20 family history activities you and your family can do at home when it’s raining or snowing and you’re cooped up inside. Plus there are many blank pages and family tree charts in the back that you can fill in with family recipes, family stories; things that have meaning to your family. Genealogy is about more that names and dates. It’s about lived experiences–where that person lived, worked, went to school, the hobbies they had, or vices as the case may be. If genealogy is the “bones” of a life, I like to think of family history as the meat on those bones. These are the stories about that person that give us an idea of who they were. Knowing those stories helps us understand who we are. I remember once, in college I had to take a physical education class. I chose tennis because it seemed cool. After the first class, the coach asked if I’d played before. But that was the first time I’d ever even picked up a racket. When I mentioned it to my mom, she told me that my grandmother had played tennis really well. I’d never known that before. It’s stories like that that help me feel close to the people I didn’t get the chance to know that well. And knowing where I get certain traits and tendencies is super cool.
We all have heroes in our own families. People we can look up to and aspire to be like. And even if your family is full of crooks and villains, well, now you have a blueprint of how NOT to be, right? Either way, there’s a lot we can learn from the people who came before us. Wouldn’t it be fun to learn just how you came to be so good at math, or why you have such a green thumb?
For The Culture: A Genealogy Handbook For The Cool Kids may not be on the shelf, but you can have your favorite bookstore order it for you. These activity books also make great Christmas gifts!
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
1. Right relationship with God. You have to know that God is for you, not against you. It doesn’t mean that everything will always be easy or go your way (it rains on the just and the unjust) but it does mean that you have a Friend who is always there and loves you for exactly who you are. Read your Bible daily. It will help you to be strong.
2. Authenticity. Your superpower is you, so strive everyday to be the very best version of yourself. And remember, comparison is the thief of joy.
3. Be fearless. It doesn’t mean you won’t ever be afraid, but don’t ever let fear stop you from trying something, You don’t want to wake up 30 years from now talking about, “I wish I would’ve…”
Alright, so before we go we want to ask you to take a moment to reflect and share what you think you would do if you somehow knew you only had a decade of life left?
The challenge I’m facing now is how to restructure my nonprofit and position us moving forward. We have an innovative idea for how to use genealogy to tackle several societal issues: youth academic skills of reading, writing, critical thinking, youth out-of-school activities (after school and during the summer), and the loneliness epidemic among senior citizens.
I recognize that genealogy on its own may be a hard sell to youth, so we’re developing a pilot program where we train youth on genealogy basics, and then pair each youth with a senior citizen, to do their family history. I live in Washington DC, and a wide swath of our population faces challenges with literacy and poverty. So if we can find a way to get kids reading and making money, while also giving an elderly person someone to visit with online once a week for a few months, we see it as a win-win for everyone involved. And we hope that those interactions between our youth and seniors develops into a genuine relationships and/or mentorships. Especially for those seniors who may not get any other visitors. So if you’re interested in helping in any way, or know anyone (or corporation) who would be interested in sponsoring our pilot, we’d love to hear from you. We can be reached at [email protected].
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.majani.org
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aungelic-gigi-nelson-a74786263/?tr
Image Credits
NA
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
