“Unlocking Silent Histories' (USH) vital aspiration: to open spaces for indigenous youth to capture, represent, and revitalize their cultures and languages through film” by Dr Donna DeGennaro, Founder and Director of Unlocking Silent Histories (USH), Keynote Speaker, Mahi Auaha - Creative Indigenous Innovation

Dr Donna DeGennaro teaches at the University of North Carolina, Wilmington. Her passion for creating socially focused just learning designs that are technology-mediated and youth-driven, has fueled her work with youth in informal learning environments in the US and abroad for the past 10 years.

Over this period Donna has developed an innovative pedagogical model that simultaneously addresses the digital divide, culturally responsive learning, and social justice education. She has also recently founded Unlocking Silent Histories (USH), a non-profit organization that aims to amplify the voices and identities of indigenous youth.

USH utilized this pedagogy model that emerges from the local context. She was motivated to start USH after being perpetually inspired by the ways that the pedagogical model not only unleashes youth voice & agency, but also opens spaces for young people to envision and create their own futures. Her commitment to indigenous populations began in Guatemala, where she witnessed USH participants capturing their languages and cultures.