Through the DRONe Project (Descendants Recovering Our Names), we equip young people with the tools and training to reclaim history and restore ancestral legacies that have long been hidden or erased. For many descendants of the enslaved, tracing family lineage is nearly impossible due to missing records and fragmented narratives. The DRONe Project addresses this challenge by combining drone technology, mapping, and research to help participants document the movements and contributions of their ancestors.

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Our international research efforts have revealed that enslaved Africans not only built major economies on nearly every continent, but also established enduring communities that influenced language, culture, architecture, and local traditions. By mapping these global connections, participants learn how their personal histories are part of a much larger, interconnected story that stretches beyond borders.

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The data and imagery collected through this work inform the exhibits in our We The People Museum, a virtual space dedicated to bringing these legacies to life. At the same time, participants gain hands-on experience in flight planning, geospatial mapping, and digital preservation—developing marketable skills while restoring the names, stories, and dignity of those who came before them.