Join public historian and CSI alum Debbie-Ann Paige on Friday, June 19 from 11:45am to 12:45pm for a virtual discussion of the history and significance of Juneteenth, the oldest nationally celebrated commemoration of the ending of slavery in the United States and the culmination of the many celebrations created along the road to freedom. The discussion will be moderated by CSI’s Vice-President for Student Affairs, Jennifer S. Borrero. 

Register to attend by going to https://tinyurl.com/CSIJuneteenth

This is a CC CLUE event.

Debbie-Ann Paige is a public historian specializing in local African American history, a co-president of the newly chartered Richard B. Dickenson Staten Island Chapter of the Afro-American Historical and Genealogical Society (AAHGS) and professional genealogist.​

She has worked on numerous local history projects including: In Pursuit of Freedom with the Brooklyn Historical Society; From Farm to City with the Staten Island Museum; the designation of the Louis Napoleon House as a site to freedom with the National Park Service Underground Railroad Network on behalf of the Sandy Ground Historical Society, and the City Council street renaming of the corner of Fairview Avenue and Knox Place as “Samuel A. Browne Way” in the Castleton Hill section of Staten Island.

Debbie-Ann has appeared as a historical interpreter on the Emmy-winning show “Secrets of New York,” and has worked closely with Frederick Douglass Memorial Park to transcribe their historical records. She facilitates public history forums throughout Staten Island focused on the historical perspectives of race relations, and lectures as an adjunct at the College of Staten Island.

Additionally, Debbie-Ann is a policy analyst with the Council of State Governments Eastern Regional Conference working with state policymakers on issues relevant to veterans’ affairs, and staffs the organization’s initiative Council on Communities of Color (CCC).

Debbie-Ann holds a BS in Business Studies from Southern New Hampshire University, and both a BA and MA in History from the College of Staten Island, CUNY. She and her husband more than 30 years resettled on Staten Island after Ernest retired from the USN in 2004. Their son Eric lives in Brazil and daughter English lives on Staten Island.

By Jeremiah Jurkiewicz