The New Monuments Project was created by UNC Asheville alum and Asheville educator, Betts Conti. As an undergraduate student, she was involved in the transcription of Buncombe County Slave Deeds in collaboration with UNC Asheville and the Center for Diversity Education. This experience prompted her to consider how we interact with names and landmarks in our local community that include or exclude narratives, specifically around enslaved and their owners. As educators, our role is to help students critically consider the world around them and understand their local history in relation to greater historical events.
With the support of the UNC Asheville Education Department, this unit is widely available for any K-12, higher education, or community organization to utilize as a teaching tool.
