Young people explore Austin history through the people, newspapers, photographs, and neighborhoods that shaped it. Along the way, they learn to ask better questions, tell stories with care, and see their own lives as part of the city's history.
History feels different when young people can find themselves in it. These workshops invite students to look closely at archival materials, talk about whose stories are remembered, and practice telling stories from their own communities.
Who was Jacob Fontaine, and why did he start one of Austin's earliest Black newspapers? Students use archival images and the 5 Ws to explore how Black Austinites used education, journalism, and community leadership to preserve their stories and push for change.
Whose stories make it into the newspaper—and whose are left out? In this spring pilot, students explore the people, places, and everyday experiences that have shaped Latinx Austin. They connect their own families and neighborhoods to the city's history through images, discussion, and creative activities.