Overview
Learn how to use use the arts to help students develop historical thinking skills, deepen digital literacy, and engage with diverse perspectives in the Cultural Products as Historical Narrative webinar. Participants will leave with practical tools, curated resource lists, and examples of interdisciplinary lessons that connect students to the past through cultural expression — empowering them to create, reflect, and share their own narratives rooted in primary source research.
Registration is currently open. All webinars are free.
Event Date: January 27, 2026, 7-9 pm ET / 4–6 pm PT
Location: Online
Cost: Free
Cultural Products as Historical Narrative is the second of three sessions in the Stories That Connect: Using Film and Primary Sources to Build Belonging professional development webinar series. View all sessions.
If you have any questions or would like assistance with registration, please email Hershawna Frison: he*******@************lm.org.
Webinar Agenda
Participants will be introduced to Library of Congress (LOC) collections , film and multimedia resources and visual arts. These examples illustrate how cultural products offer valuable insight into lived experiences, resistance movements, and collective memory.
- Check-Ins and Icebreakers: Introduction to cultural products and Silkroad.
- Silkroad Presentation: Silkroad guest speakers will share their process with My Music with Rhiannon Giddens and the American Railroad project, exploring the role of music as a cultural product and part of the historical record. Includes a live Q&A.
- Cultural Products Primary Source Workshop: Learn about cultural products as primary sources and as powerful classroom tools/resources. Highlights Summer of Soul, Rebel Hearts, the National AIDS quilt resources in Library of Congress (LOC) and other relevant LOC resources.
- Hands-On Research / Group Work: Groups will discuss how cultural products can inspire learner research and final products. This will include exploration of LOC resources and primary sources.
Project-Based Learning Toolkit
Participants will co-create a Project-Based Learning Toolkit throughout the full three-part webinar series. Dedicated interactive activities at the end of each session will guide the toolkit development. Informed by the strategies and themes explored in each webinar, the toolkit will include practical insights, customizable templates, sample student project ideas, curated Library of Congress (LOC) resources, and ready-to-use classroom strategies. It will be designed to strengthen learners’ research skills, particularly their ability to navigate archival collections, critically evaluate primary sources, and engage thoughtfully with multimedia cultural products.
To take full advantage of this learning and tool-building opportunity, we recommend participating in all three webinar sessions.
Speakers
Alicia Reese
Alicia Reese began her career as an educator in 2009 after graduating from the University of Bridgeport with an M.S. in Education, concentration in Music. She became the Director of Performing & Visual Arts after attaining amy sixth year degree in Educational Leadership and 092 certification at Sacred Heart University. Currently, she oversees strategic partnerships, education, and social impact initiatives for Silkroad.
Silkroad
Silkroad creates music that engages difference, sparking radical cultural collaboration and passion-driven learning for a more hopeful and inclusive world.
Glossary of Film Terms
The Glossary of Film Terms may be useful for the discussions around film and filmmaking in this webinar.
Sustainable Development Goals
Journeys in Film supports the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Learn more about teaching with UN SDGs. This curriculum guide connects to the following SDGs.Join Our Community
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