An African American family history
Earl and Rebecca Scott draw from their book Forging a Path to Wellbeing: The Journey of an African American Family. The book starts with establishing their family ancestry. The challenges are quite different for families whose history involves de facto and later de jure segregation and where official records are often unavailable due to slavery and loss, e.g., fire. They go on to discuss their commitment to education and family wellbeing.
An African American family history
Wed, Nov 6, 2024, 10am
You are invited to the meeting of UMRA’s Family History Interest Group on Wednesday, November 6, for a presentation by UMRA members Earl and Rebecca Scott. The Scotts will draw from their family ancestry and travels in America and Africa. Their book, Forging a Path to Wellbeing: The Journey of an African American Family, was published in 2023, the year the couple marked their 66th wedding anniversary.
The book starts with establishing the Scotts’ family ancestry. The challenges are quite different for families whose history involves de facto and de jure segregation, and when official records are often unavailable due to slavery and loss through fire.
The family photo on the cover of their book was taken in Katsina, northern Nigeria, in 1969. It represents a major steppingstone on the Scotts’ path to wellbeing. After visiting Nigeria, they returned to Africa many times for personal and scholarly growth as career educators. The Scotts joined UMRA in 2007 when Earl retired from the U of M geography faculty.
An email with the link to join the Zoom meeting will be emailed to all UMRA members one week before the meeting. We hope you can join us.
—Lynn C. Anderson and Craig Swan, FHIG co-chairs
Lynn Anderson and Craig Swan invite you to the scheduled Zoom meeting.
Upcoming Events
UMRA’s Living Well Workshop on May 12 will feature Megan Walsh from the University of Minnesota Law School for a presentation on efforts to prevent gun violence through lawsuits designed to address unlawful practices in selling, manufacturing, or advertising firearms.
Craig Moody’s Swedish ancestors were among the 60,000 Swedes who chose to emigrate to the U.S. between 1868 and 1871, because of the poor economic conditions in their homeland. He has spent the last nine years investigating their history.
Back problems as we age and how we can treat them will be the discussion topic for the UMRA Breakfast meeting on Thursday, May 14. Paul Schanfield, MD, will be our expert resource person. He is a retired neurologist, a member of UMRA, and has personal experience with back surgery.
UMRA’s Book Club I will discuss The Alchemy of Us: How Humans and Matter Transformed One Another by Ainissa Ramirez when it meets via Zoom at 2 p.m. on Friday, May 15.
Peter Moe, retired University of Minnesota Landscape Arboretum Director and UMRA member, will lead this hike.
Executive Vice President and Provost Gretchen Ritter will discuss her role and offer reflections on her first year at the University of Minnesota as the featured speaker for the UMRA Luncheon Forum on May 19 at Midland Hills Country Club in Roseville. The forum will be preceded by UMRA’s 2026 Annual Meeting.
"Third Wednesdays in the West Wing" is a pilot program for spring 2026.
A 1987 classic, cited as the gold standard of modern legal thrillers.
Bev leads at Hyland Lake Park Reserve.
Connect, explore new ideas for what it means to live and age well, and celebrate a community of continuous learning at the fifth annual Age-Friendly University Day to be held on the U of M Twin Cities campus in Minneapolis on Monday, June 8.
Abandoned and discarded is the theme for the UMRA Photo Club meeting in June. Newcomers are welcome.
Michael leads this hike at Afton State Park.
We will gather in the Waterfall Room for an in-person, summer social and luncheon for UMRA members and guests on June 24th. Our event will include social time; a plated, seated lunch; and the always popular Summer Social Trivia Game with quizmasters Dave Dorman and Mark Jenson.
Kayaking at Lake Bde Maka Ska.
Bev leads the Nokomis walk to Minnehaha Falls.