Visionary Heritage Fellows Program
Getting Started
As part of the application process, each student must identify an elder from his or her community whose life the student wants to document as a Visionary.
Visionaries must be at least 70 years old, and have made a significant contribution in their field, and in the African American community. Click HERE for information on how to select a Visionary.
To receive academic credit, all Fellows must enroll in a credited independent study course. At partnering institutions (see a list HERE), faculty advisors are pre-selected and have expanded roles and responsibilities beyond teaching. Students at partnering institutions will work with the designated faculty advisor, to ensure their independent study project is an approved course.
Faculty advisors will provide academic resources, supervision and training necessary for Fellows to do an extensive research project, including a videotaped oral history interview with their chosen elder.
Because of an expanded relationship with partnering institutions, NVLP provides basic video equipment to these schools for their student projects.
Students from non-partnering institutions (look at a list of our partnering institutions HERE) are encouraged to apply for the VHFP program. However, in order to be accepted, these students must identify a faculty member on their campus, often their academic advisor, who will facilitate the necessary paperwork to ensure that the independent study is accredited. Students at non-partnering institutions must make their own arrangements for the use of video equipment. Students from non-partnering institutions who have questions about identifying a faculty advisor or acquiring equipment may call NVLP Project Director Skip Coblyn at (202) 331-2700, ext. 302.
