Center takes bold step forward with genealogy and DNA
March 16, 2007 (Press Release) --
FREDERICKSBURG, VA - Friday, March 16, 2007 - The Center for African American Genealogical Research, Inc. (CAAGRI) has announced that it has begun a pilot program to offer DNA services in the hopes of connecting African Americans with their African relatives. The program was launched today on their website: www.caagri.org.
"We struggled with the DNA question for more than a year," said Paula D. Royster, the organization's founder and CEO. Royster continued, " Because it was important to us that this process is much more than science. Greater than the result was the need to have an actual impact on Africans in Diaspora around the world so we developed an initiative to do just that."
Plans to open an office in Ghana have already begun with a site visit scheduled for October 2007. Dr. Carolyn Council, Director of History Education, noted "it is important to remember that Africans in Africa live in Diaspora too. We have a mechanism to track migrations so that when DNA samples match, we'll be able to locate all participants." Collectively, African Americans make up the largest, wealthiest group of Africans in Diaspora. The design of this program is to encourage African Americans to take interest in the plight of the continent by giving back to their extended relatives in Africa.
"Funding for this project to subsidize indigenous communities in Africa has just begun and we're hopeful that philanthropists, genealogists and humanitarians will see the important value in our objectives and help us meet those goals sooner rather than later, " said Frederick N. Goodwill, the vice-president of CAAGRI. "After all", he continued " where you live should not determine whether you live or die."
About The Center for African American Genealogical Research, Inc. (CAAGRI)
CAAGRI is a non-profit organization located in Fredericksburg, Virginia that provides free access to genealogical data to the community. CAAGRI Technical Learning Centers include: Bragg Hill Family Life Center, William Byrd Community House and A Servant’s Heart. For more information, visit www.caagri.org .
"We struggled with the DNA question for more than a year," said Paula D. Royster, the organization's founder and CEO. Royster continued, " Because it was important to us that this process is much more than science. Greater than the result was the need to have an actual impact on Africans in Diaspora around the world so we developed an initiative to do just that."
Plans to open an office in Ghana have already begun with a site visit scheduled for October 2007. Dr. Carolyn Council, Director of History Education, noted "it is important to remember that Africans in Africa live in Diaspora too. We have a mechanism to track migrations so that when DNA samples match, we'll be able to locate all participants." Collectively, African Americans make up the largest, wealthiest group of Africans in Diaspora. The design of this program is to encourage African Americans to take interest in the plight of the continent by giving back to their extended relatives in Africa.
"Funding for this project to subsidize indigenous communities in Africa has just begun and we're hopeful that philanthropists, genealogists and humanitarians will see the important value in our objectives and help us meet those goals sooner rather than later, " said Frederick N. Goodwill, the vice-president of CAAGRI. "After all", he continued " where you live should not determine whether you live or die."
About The Center for African American Genealogical Research, Inc. (CAAGRI)
CAAGRI is a non-profit organization located in Fredericksburg, Virginia that provides free access to genealogical data to the community. CAAGRI Technical Learning Centers include: Bragg Hill Family Life Center, William Byrd Community House and A Servant’s Heart. For more information, visit www.caagri.org .
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