Pursuant to Virginia Code § 23.1-615.1, this report provides an update on the implementation of the Enslaved Ancestors College Access Scholarship and Memorial Program in five of the Commonwealth’s public institutions. William & Mary, Longwood University, Virginia Commonwealth University, Virginia Military Institute and the University of Virginia are required to implement the program without the use of state funds.

The program mandates these five institutions to:

• Identify and memorialize enslaved individuals who labored on institutionally controlled grounds.

• Provide a college scholarship or community-based economic development program for individuals or communities with specific ties to slavery.

All five institutions are members of the Universities Studying Slavery (USS) consortium, which includes more than 100 public and private institutions worldwide. The consortium supports collaborative research, the development of best practices in working with descendant communities, and the hosting of conferences to foster networking and shared learning.

Each individual institution has implemented the Enslaved Ancestors program with different approaches while remaining consistent with the requirements of the program. At the University of Virginia and William & Mary, physical memorials have been erected to honor enslaved individuals whose labor contributed to the foundation of these institutions. These memorials list the names of the enslaved and serve as permanent reminders of their humanity and contributions. In addition to these commemorative efforts, all five institutions have either established annual scholarships for students directly impacted by the legacy of slavery or provided grant support for economic development in communities directly impacted by slavery.

Institutional Highlights (list of all activities provided in Table 1.1)

• University of Virginia (UVA)
UVA established the Gibbons Project, named for William and Isabella Gibbons, two formerly enslaved individuals. The project researches the lives and labor of enslaved people and traces their ancestral roots to the present.

• William & Mary
The Lemon Project, named for a man once enslaved at the university, symbolizes the many enslaved individuals who helped build and sustain the institution. The project fosters connections between William & Mary and African American communities through research, programming, and support for faculty, staff and students. The annual Lemon Symposium provides a forum for dialogue on resilience and reconciliation.

• Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU)
VCU launched Project Gabriel, named after Gabriel Prosser, an enslaved man who led a rebellion to end slavery in Virginia. The initiative promotes community engagement and education through historical recognition. Upcoming initiatives include a virtual museum and a public art installation in collaboration with the East Marshall Street Well Project.

• Longwood University
Due to the destruction of records during the Civil War, Longwood has only identified two enslaved laborers—Mimi and Ben. The university focuses on scholarships and community engagement, particularly around civil rights initiatives. Recently, Longwood sponsored the C.G. Gordon Moss Lecture Event, honoring the legacy of black workers at the university.

• Virginia Military Institute (VMI)
VMI initially documented its history of slavery through the publication “Slavery at VMI," using photographs and primary sources to reconstruct the lives of enslaved individuals who supported its early operations. Ongoing faculty and student research focuses on African Americans at VMI from 1850 to 1865, with findings shared through community presentations. Additional efforts include participation in the Jessie Ball DuPont Historical Initiative Certificate Program and funding for the Irma Thompson Program, a Rockbridge NAACP initiative to recruit and support educators of color.

These initiatives represent the Commonwealth’s continued commitment to memorializing the contributions of enslaved individuals and providing tangible benefits to their descendants and communities. Individual institutional submissions are included in this report.