My object is a family website called The James Weldon Kennedy Family. It was created around 1985 by a cousin of mine, Doug Kennedy. Kennedy wanted to preserve our family history, given that his dad, Weldon Kennedy, is one of the oldest living uncles. At our annual family reunions, we share stories and give brief updates within the families to catch up and update the website. It has records that date back to the 1600s, all the way to the present. Our website contains information and documents, such as a private link used to stay connected, a digital family tree, and excerpts of music written by several family composers. My family history and our family website are one and the same. One significant fact that I learned about my great-great-grandfather, James Kennedy, was that he was the founder and first president of Western Christian College in Saskatchewan, Canada. Kennedy believed that education was vital to a successful life; therefore, he worked diligently to ensure all eight of his children graduated from college. Janelle Sullivan, my great-grandmother, served as a member of the Seminole school board until the age of 89, when she became the oldest serving school board member in the state of Texas. After reading about my great-great-grandfather and other relatives, I’ve been impacted and influenced by my family’s traditions and beliefs. Looking towards my future, I am determined to follow in the footsteps of those who have gone before me and to expand the impact of our family. 

– Isabel De La Pena

Relationship:  Great-grandchild of im/migrant or more Great-grandchild of im/migrant or more