THE VOBG STORY & LEGACY CENTER™

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A National Storytelling, Healing, and Legacy Preservation Initiative

Founded by Tonya Jackson
Chief Story Curator, Voices of Black Grandmothers

 

MISSION

The VOBG Story & Legacy Center™ exists to collect, preserve, honor, and elevate the lived experiences, wisdom, journeys, and cultural impact of Black grandmothers across generations.

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Through storytelling, archiving, creative expression, and curated experiences, the Center ensures that the voices of Black grandmothers are remembered, celebrated, and passed down as part of our national legacy.

 

 WHAT THE STORY & LEGACY CENTER DOES

 

The Center organizes and curates stories through:

 

1. Story Collection & Oral History Interviews

 

Capturing powerful stories through:

• 1:1 interviews

• Story Circles

• Audio/Video recordings

• Written submissions

• Legacy conversations with families

 

2. Legacy Preservation

 

Transforming stories into:

• Archives

• Digital story libraries

• Legacy books

• Family story collections

• Testimonies & tributes

 

3. Cultural Exhibits & Installations

 

Designing museum-quality exhibits that showcase:

• Portraits

• Audio stories

• Artifacts

• Cultural themes

• “Behind My Crown” installations

• Traveling exhibits that visit cities nationwide

 

4. Publications

 

Producing story-based projects such as:

• Mocha Grands Magazine

• The VOBG Anthology Series

• “100 Black Grandmothers You Should Know”

• Special edition storybooks

• Cultural research reports & impact stories

 

5. Events & Live Experiences

 

Curating immersive experiences including:

• The Legacy Empowerment Tour

• Story Circles at every VOBG event

• Behind My Crown interviews

• Grandma Tributes

• Legacy Portrait sessions

• Annual Storytelling Gala

 

6. Education & Intergenerational Programs

 

Bridging generations through:

• Youth interviewing elders

• School-based storytelling projects

• Legacy literacy programs

• Family story workshops

• University & HBCU partnerships

 

WHY THE CENTER MATTERS

 

Black grandmothers have been:
✔ The backbone of families
✔ The keepers of culture
✔ The protectors of history
✔ The storytellers of tradition
✔ The leaders of resilience

 

But their stories are often:

• Unrecorded

• Unrecognized

• Unarchived

• Underrepresented in cultural history

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The VOBG Story & Legacy Center™ ensures these stories finally receive the visibility, honor, and preservation they deserve.

 

LEADERSHIP

Tonya Jackson — Chief Story Curator

Founder of Voices of Black Grandmothers
Creator of The Curation Method™
Story, Life & Business Curator™

 

Tonya leads the Center’s storytelling framework, interview process, story curation, publication review, and legacy project development.

 

PROGRAMS & OFFERINGS

✔ Story Submission Portal

✔ Oral History Interviews

✔ Legacy Portrait Sessions

✔ The Black Grandmother Archive Project

✔ Family Legacy Books

✔ Community Story Circles

✔ The Legacy Empowerment Tour

✔ Story Workshops for Women

✔ The VOBG Traveling Exhibit

✔ HBCU Story Partnerships

✔ Story Curation Services (DFY)

 

IMPACT GOALS (2026–2028)

• Collect and archive 10,000 grandmother stories

• Publish quarterly magazines featuring curated stories

• Launch traveling exhibits in at least 12 cities

• Release annual anthologies

• Build the first national digital archive for Black grandmotherhood

• Partner with HBCUs, museums, and cultural centers for research & preservation

• Host the VOBG Storytelling Gala annually

 

HOW THE PUBLIC CAN PARTICIPATE

• Submit a story or tribute

• Nominate a grandmother

• Attend a story circle or tour stop

• Join the VOBG community

• Sponsor a story or exhibit

• Volunteer with the story team

• Become a Legacy Partner