By: Christiana Best-Giacomini, Ph.D.
January 9, 2026
December is often framed as the season of giving, but generosity is not confined to a single month. Across our life course, there are seasons when we feel most compelled, most capable, and most grounded in the desire to give back to our communities, our countries, and the wider world. As is customary, my husband and I support our personal charitable causes, and for some time, we also volunteered at a local food pantry, an experience that reminded us how meaningful it is to serve others directly.
Recently, a colleague and friend who publishes children’s books asked if I knew of any schools or libraries that might welcome a donation of culturally affirming titles. She, a Jamaican-born psychologist, along with her daughter, writes and publishes books for Black and Brown children through their company, Lauren Simone Publishing.
Immediately, I thought of the children of Grenada. I reached out to a friend who shared a link she had received from a young woman involved with the River Road Legacy Foundation. Within hours, I connected these two women: the one with books to give and the one working to strengthen literacy and opportunity for young people in Grenada. In that moment, I was reminded that giving is not only about resources; it is about relationships, connection, and serving as a bridge between those who have something to offer and those who can benefit from it.
For some time, I had been wondering what more I could do, how else I might contribute my skills, my heart, and my voice. During that period of reflection, I began assembling a family tree, only to encounter painful roadblocks when the people who held the knowledge, my father, who died, and my mother, whose memories faded with dementia, were no longer able to share them. In trying to reclaim pieces of my own history, I discovered the field of oral history. Oral history is the systematic collection and interpretation of people’s firsthand memories and experiences through recorded interviews, treating personal narratives as meaningful historical evidence (Shopes, 2011). If I could not recover my own family stories, I realized I could help preserve the stories of others.
Naturally, my thoughts turned to the people of Grenada. After Hurricane Beryl in 2024, I felt called to center my work on the residents of Grenada, Carriacou, and Petite Martinique whose lives were profoundly altered by this devastating storm.
Although still in its early planning stages, I am preparing to conduct an oral history project in Grenada as part of my upcoming sabbatical, beginning this summer and continuing over the next year. The project, titled Rising from the Waves: Carriacou’s Stories of Survival and Strength, will allow me to help preserve the voices and experiences of those impacted by Hurricane Beryl.
The Purpose of the Oral History Project:
To document, preserve, and amplify the lived experiences of Carriacou and Petite Martinique residents before, during, and after Hurricane Beryl, transforming community narratives of loss and resilience into a sustainable cultural and educational resource.
The Goals of the Oral History Project:
- Create a publicly accessible archive of video and audio interviews
- Amplify underrepresented voices through community storytelling
- Train local youth and/or college students in oral history methods
- Digitally preserve community memory for local and global audiences
- Partner with local historians and community members to form an advisory board
- Support the rebuilding and revitalization of the Carriacou Museum
Why Oral History?
Oral history preserves firsthand accounts from people whose voices are often excluded from traditional historical records. In the Caribbean, where storytelling, memory, and lived experience are central to cultural identity, and where a natural disasters can erase both infrastructure and life, this method affirms the dignity, wisdom, and resilience of everyday people. It ensures their stories endure, creating a legacy for generations to come.
Who can Participate
• 18 years or older
• Lived through the impact of Hurricane Beryl
Why Participate?
• Help preserve island history
• Contribute to an intergenerational legacy
• Strengthen community memory and cultural pride
• Ensure the voices of Grenada, Carriacou, and Petite Martinique are heard and honored
• Support cultural resilience, healing, and education
Your Legacy
Your Story Your Choice – your story may:
• Remain private
• Be partially accessible
• Become part of local museum collections
• Help future generations understand the strength and endurance of our islands
To Participate or Learn More
Contact: Dr. Christiana Best – Principal Investigator
Email: CBest@usj.edu
(Dr Christiana Best is an Associate Professor at the University of Saint Joseph, Connecticut)
Email your opinions, letters and commentaries to: letters@caribmagplus.com