John Tyler Community College and Preservation Virginia will host Virginia’s Rosenwald Conference from 9 a.m. to noon Friday, Feb. 19, at the college’s Chester campus at 13101 Jef- ferson Davis Highway.

The conference will bring people together who are interested in saving Virginia’s remaining Rosenwald Schools and their histories.

Between the Civil War and the Civil Rights Movement, the Rosenwald rural school program was a critical initiative in the effort to provide educational opportunities to African-Americans in the South.

More than 5,000 Rosenwald Schools, including 367 in Vir- ginia, were built during that time. However, today, it is estimated that only 10 percent to 12 percent of those buildings remain standing across the nation.

The conference will feature presentations about the history of Rosenwald Schools, restoration projects and how some Rosen- wald buildings are being repurposed. The conference also will cover preservation efforts, collecting oral histories and engaging the community.

Admission is free, but pre-registration is required.

For more information and registration, contact Dr. Alyce Miller, associate professor of history at John Tyler, at amiller@jtcc.edu or call (804) 897-4179, or Justin Sarafin, director of preservation initiatives and engagement, at Preservation Virginia at jsarafin@ preservationvirginia.org or call (804) 648-1889, ext. 317.

John Tyler also is hosting a series of other events to com- memorate Black History Month. For more information, go to www.jtcc.edu/about/news/7085.