Conference

( We’ve posted some photos from the 2025 conference at the bottom of this page. Jump to Gallery )

General Information

Our 30th annual conference will be held 6.26 – 6.27.26, in Tazewell, Virginia

The MHA Union/Conference is a 2-day event held each year in June in a different Appalachian town, often in places relevant to Melungeon history. Registration will begin in late April. The cost is $20 for MHA members and $30 for non-members.

Guest Speakers

DR. MELISSA CARVER will be discussing Melungeon Religion and Spirituality over the Years.

Dr. Melissa Carver is an author, and has her PhD in Philosophy. Dr. Carver is certified as an Ayurvedic Chopra Instructor, Nirvana Flow Specialist, and has continued post graduate education in Counseling Psychology. One of her area’s of research is in historic or generational trauma, which is personally connected to her Melungeon ancestry.

Dr. Carver is also the founder of the nonprofit organization, Mindset Junkies. This organization focuses on funding programs and scholarships for low income families to learn the power of mindfulness, primarily the families of those in drug or alcohol rehabilitation or US Veterans.

Dr. Carver’s book, “Who the Hell Told you That?,” can be purchased on Amazon, as well as Dr. Carver will have copies of her book at the author event.

DEWEY CHAFFIN‘s presentation will be on Native Plants and Herbal Medicines from Appalachian Folklore.

Dewey currently lives in Lancaster, Ohio. He is a husband, father, and grandfather, family folklorist and storyteller, plant ally, hunter, retired elementary teacher and poor wayfaring stranger. His family has a long history living and dying in the Southern Hills. Dewey’s Ancestors are venerated and he is guided on his life’s path by the stories left to him by them.

JUDGE BEVERLY SCARLETT and DR. CARTER CLINTON will be doing a presentation on the Hillsborough Legacy DNA project that they have been working on for over a year. To learn more about the project go to this link: Research | The ASHES Laboratory

Judge Beverly Scarlett is an author and was a district court judge for the 15B Judicial District, serving Orange and Chatham counties of North Carolina. She was appointed to the court by former Governor Mike Easley, on January 19, 2007, and was sworn in on February 9, 2007. Scarlett was re-elected in 2012 and 2016. She retired in April of 2021.Scarlett received her undergraduate degree from Saint Augustine’s College in 1983 and her J.D. degree from the North Carolina Central University School of Law in 1993.

She is also the Founder and President of the non-profit organization, Indigenous Memories, which is dedicated to preserving the historic Ray Family Cemetery in Hillsborough, NC.
Her book, “The Harris Family of Orange County North Carolina,” tells the story of her Saponi great grandmother Sally, and her Afro-Indigenous ancestry. Her other book, “The Eno River’s Ribbon’s of Color,” tells the history of Afro-Indigenous peoples who lived along the Eno River. Beverly will have both of her books for purchase at the authors event.

Dr. Carter Clinton earned his Ph.D. in Biology from Howard University and completed a postdoctoral fellowship in Anthropology at Pennsylvania State University. For over a decade, he has conducted genomic research on the New York African Burial Ground population, examining their identities, ancestry, and health. His research spans ancient DNA analysis, African American genomics, soil microbiology, genotype-phenotype interactions, human microbiome studies, and the exploration of ancestry-linked disease susceptibilities and health disparities.

DANIELLE ROMERO will be discussing Melungeon, Redbone, and Creole connections through her family ancestry. Note: (Danielle’s presentation will be virtual). Some of you may know Danielle from her YouTube channel, NYTN, where she explored American identity and hidden history. She also delves into her multicultural heritage through her documentary series “Finding Lola,” uncovering the complex stories of her ancestors in Louisiana. You can watch @NYTN.

GERALD BRAZELL will be discussing “The Lusophone in Atlantic Creole Communities,” specifically the Portuguese, African, and Sephardic Jewish connections to the Melungeon people.

Gerald Brazell is a bachelor’s student of Lusophone Relations and Portuguese Language at the Polytechnic Institute of Bragança, Portugal. Of mixed heritage, his research examines Lusophone identity, Atlantic Creole communities, and the survival of South Carolina’s “Settlement Indian” populations, with particular attention to language, memory, and cultural resilience.

TERESA JEWELL will be discussing her life growing up in McDowell County in West Virginia. She tells the story of how her family, like many Appalachian families, migrated and settled in Appalachia, and how multicultural and diverse Appalachia really is.

Born Appalachian and raised running the hills of McDowell County, West Virginia, Author Teresa Jewell went to school in War, West Virginia and became a hairdresser. She owned her own salon for approximately thirty years. While doing hair, Jewell was known to tell stories and recite poetry to her customers. She is a mother and a grandmother, and is married to a mountain man. Jewell went on to graduate with a M.S. from Radford University. She now teaches Appalachian Literature and English at Southwest Virginia Community College. Her hobbies include drawing, painting, reading, writing, poetry, and bluegrass music.

We will be viewing “A SILENT FIRE” documentary. The trailer can be viewed here:

Synopsis:
MACIE ALFORD uncovers newspaper reports from 1880 about a mysterious fire that killed four Black children in Burke’s Garden, Virginia. Macie is surprised the deaths are not mentioned in local stories or history books. As Macie investigates the fire, she discovers a much deeper story about how some chapters of Black history in southwest Virginia have been lost or forgotten.

Macie is a prominent student leader and History major at Virginia Tech from Tazewell, Virginia. As a first-generation college student, she is recognized for her academic research and commitment to supporting rural and marginalized communities. Across her recent work — from community panels to academic publication — Macie focuses on Black rural education, student advocacy, and community-connected history research.

Filmmakers:
JORGE REY is a former soldier and war veteran. He spent a career uncovering and documenting hidden stories from around the world. Now he is repurposing those skills for a second career as a documentary filmmaker. His latest works include award-winning documentaries, films broadcast by PBS, video stories for nonprofit organizations, and films that showcase Appalachia.