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Faces of NextGen LIVE! Meet Michael D Lacopo

The NextGen Genealogy Network’s Faces of NextGen LIVE! is a popular feature hosted by Education Coordinator Eric Wells. In this recorded interview, get to know Michael D Lacopo!

Want to say hello to your fellow young genealogists during a fun and informal interview with Eric? Let us know at [email protected].

Don’t forget to bookmark our YouTube Channel to keep up with the latest on Faces of NextGen LIVE!

 

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Faces of NextGen: Meet Amber Oldenburg

Amber Oldenburg, 39, Indiana

What five words would you use to describe yourself? The five words I would use to describe myself are; patient, enterprising, blessed, methodical, and motivated. 

 Why genealogy? Genealogy was an accident for me. My original intention at BYU-Idaho was to study towards becoming a park ranger, choosing Family History as a minor. I was immediately hooked on the subject. Very quickly I shifted my focus towards a degree in Family History with the goal of becoming a professional genealogist. Since my initial introduction to the subject, I have spent an inordinate amount of time researching and learning the ins and outs of the field. I feel truly blessed to have discovered my passion, one in which I very much hope to make a career.

 What are you working on this week? As classes do not resume until September (thank goodness), I’ve chosen to use this time to study in preparation for ICAPGen accreditation, occasionally stepping away to conduct research on the Thompson branch of my family tree.

 What’s the number one secret to your success in genealogy? I would have to say the number one secret to my success has been persistence in the face of some quite daunting challenges. Whether it’s running into a metaphorical brick wall while conducting research, or attempting to make heads or tails of difficult scripts, I keep moving forward until I achieve what I set out to do.

 What superpower would you want to help you uncover your family history? Undoubtedly, I’d have to go with time travel. To be able to personally speak with my ancestors, and to hear their story from their lips would be the absolute greatest gift I could receive.

 What are we most likely to find you doing when you’re not researching family history? When I am not working on researching family history, I can be found devouring every genealogy book available, or attending genealogy seminars and conferences. Aside from genealogy, I adore spending time with my wonderful husband and two brilliant daughters, very often camping or road tripping throughout the U.S.


The NextGen Genealogy Network is made up of young genealogists with diverse backgrounds, interests, and experiences. Faces of NextGen showcases a different member of our community each month. If you would like to be considered for an upcoming feature, simply complete our questionnaire and submit a selfie.

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Faces of NextGen LIVE! Meet Sara Cochran

The NextGen Genealogy Network’s Faces of NextGen LIVE! is a popular feature hosted by Education Coordinator Eric Wells. In this recorded interview, get to know Sara Cochran, The Skeleton Whisperer!

Want to say hello to your fellow young genealogists during a fun and informal interview with Eric? Let us know at [email protected].

Don’t forget to bookmark our YouTube Channel to keep up with the latest on Faces of NextGen LIVE!

 

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Advocating for Diversity

Editor’s Note: This is one of a series of guest posts highlighting the ways in which intergenerational connections have inspired young genealogists. To learn more about how the NextGen Genealogy Network encourages young genealogists to build connections between all generations, see the NextGen Connection Challenge.


For some, joining a new community can be exhilarating – what could be more thrilling than an opportunity to interact and make new connections? For others, this question would only be uttered with heaps of sarcasm – could there be anything worse than interacting with strangers and making small talk? I happen to fall somewhere in between these two extremes – an introverted genealogist, who also enjoys learning from and teaching others. As a result, my first endeavor to join a genealogical society began with a mix of reluctance and anticipation.

My first meeting with the local genealogical society took place at the city library. The group was small and unassuming, and I was pleased (though not surprised) to discover that I was the youngest attendee. Because I have always held a deep reverence for my elders, and particularly enjoy listening to their recounts of the past, it was a reassuring setting. At the close of the meeting, I was asked to join the board. The invitation was a surprise, and a kind gesture that immediately made me feel welcome. In short, day one with my new community was a success.

Fast-forward 3 years. After many more meetings, a few frustrations, and a great deal of learning and growth: I have learned how better to collaborate with members of a different generation, have proposed technological solutions to problems (some met with excitement and others with bewilderment), and have learned research tips from experienced researchers.  It has been a fulfilling journey. However, I have also discovered what I feel is missing from my small genealogical community: diversity. Though I have learned to appreciate society members’ form of interacting and their passion for sharing family stories, I have also realized that our group is very homogeneous – a circumstance that inevitably moderates the depth and richness of our interactions.

At one point, I considered looking elsewhere for this diversity. I thought my time would be better spent working with a group already successful in diversifying its membership. And then I thought better of it – as a valued member of my society, I have an opportunity to propose a new direction for accomplishing our mission. I can leverage my newfound friendships to cultivate collaboration and innovation within and across generations. It’s an exciting prospect.

And with the lessons I have learned over the past 3 years, I believe I will be successful. I am looking forward to the challenge – and the inevitable outcome of increased diversity (of people and of thought) in our little society. Perhaps even this introvert can make a difference!


Lisa Medina is a devoted family historian with experience researching American and Mexican genealogy. She lovingly shares much of this research with her family – a husband of 8 years and a captivated 5-month old son. When not researching, Lisa is a busy University Registrar. She is also currently a Board member of the Escondido Genealogical Society.

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