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American Stories, American Lives Gala with Henry Louis Gates, Jr.

April 24, 2025

Fairmont Copley Plaza Hotel

138 St. James Avenue, Boston, MA 02116

6:00 - 6:45 pm: Cocktails

6:45 - 9:00 pm Dinner: and Program

Business or Cocktail Attire.

Join Dr. Henry Louis Gates, Jr. as he discusses The Power and Promise of Family History!

Henry Louis Gates, Jr. is the Alphonse Fletcher University Professor and Director of the Hutchins Center for African & African American Research at Harvard University. He is an Emmy and Peabody Award winning filmmaker, literary scholar, journalist, cultural critic, and institution builder. He is the host of the popular PBS show, Finding Your Roots, now in its eleventh season.

Henry Louis Gates, Jr.

In Conversation With

Ryan Woods

An educator and historian, Ryan Woods is President & CEO of American Ancestors. For nearly two decades, he has led the development of award-winning experiences for exploring family history, heritage, & culture.

Kendra Taira Field

Kendra Taira Field is Associate Professor of History and Director of the Center for the Study of Race and Democracy at Tufts University. Field is the author of Growing Up with the Country: Family, Race, and Nation after the Civil War. As a public historian, Field co-founded the African American Trail Project and the Du Bois Forum, a retreat for writers, scholars, and artists of color.

Bill Griffeth

Bill Griffeth covered Wall Street for almost 40 years. In 2019 he retired from day-to-day anchoring duties at CNBC and became an Anchor-At-Large. Among many awards, he was nominated for six Cable ACE awards as Best News Anchor. Bill is the author of numerous books including The Stranger in My Genes and Strangers No More, both published by American Ancestors.