RootsTech Connect 2021 Announces First of Keynote Speakers

RootsTech Connect 2021—the world’s largest family celebration event—announced its first wave of keynote speakers hailing from Australia, Italy, Mexico, and the United States. Speakers include New York Times bestselling author and international motivational speaker, Nick Vujicic; Lorena Ochoa of Mexico, a retired top female world golfer; Francesco Lotoro of Italy, musician, composer and collector of music composed in captivity during the Holocaust; and Sharon Leslie Morgan, author and genealogist dedicated to promoting healing by providing resources for African American genealogical research.
RootsTech Connect, February 25–27, 2021, is a free online conference to discover, share, and celebrate family and heritage connections.
ROOTSTECH CONNECT 2021 KEYNOTE SPEAKERS
Nick Vujicic was born in Melbourne, Australia. With no medical explanation or warning, Nick came into the world with neither arms nor legs. He has overcome his disabilities and has achieved remarkable goals despite them. By age 19 he started fulfilling his dream of encouraging others through their personal challenges. He has spoken live to 6.5 million people in more than 65 countries, met with 21 presidents, and addressed 9 governments. His New York Times best seller, Unstoppable, is now published in more than 30 languages. Vujicic now lives in California with his wife and 4 children. (Read more about Nick Vujicic).
Lorena Ochoa is best known as the top-ranked female golfer in the world for 157 consecutive weeks in the LPGA. As the first Mexican golfer of either gender with such a ranking, she is considered the best Mexican golfer and Best Latin American female golfer of all time."Knowing your past is very important to understand who you are," said Ochoa. "The work that FamilySearch and RootsTech Connect does is incredible. I know more about my story than I would have ever imagined."
Ochoa has received numerous prestigious awards. She now hosts her own tournament bringing the professional elite to golf in Mexico. Among many altruistic pursuits, she has started a foundation focused on educating low-income children. In November 2012, she published her book, Dream Big, sharing the goals from her childhood that set her on that course. Lorena is the mother of 3 young children, and lives with her husband, Andres Conesa, in Mexico City. (Read more about Lorena Ochoa).
Francesco Lotoro is an Italian pianist, composer, conductor, and professor at the Umberto Giordano Music Conservatory in Foggia, Italy. For the past 30 years, he has worked tirelessly to recover, study, archive, execute, record, and promote tens of thousands of remarkable musical scores composed by prisoners in concentration camps. He is currently working on a multi-volume encyclopedia dedicated to music written in concentration camps and to the related composers with the goal for it to “become a historic, artistic, cultural and spiritual treasure for all.” For his efforts, Lotoro has received widespread interest and recognition throughout Europe and North America. (Read more about Francesco Lotoro).
Sharon Leslie Morgan has devoted her career to support African American genealogical research. She founded Our Black Ancestry (OBA), an online community to provide resources for African American genealogical research, preserve historical materials and properties, and promote healing of wounds that are a legacy of slavery. OBA is a partner with FamilySearch on the ROAR (Reclaiming Our African Roots) Project.
A staunch advocate of racial justice, Morgan has co-authored several books including Gather at the Table: The Healing Journey of a Daughter of Slavery and a Son of the Slave Trade, and she works with organizations that promote this work. She has received prestigious awards for her efforts to help others with this research and make connections to provide healing.
“I believe genealogy is a tool for healing from America's egregious past and a shining light on a pathway toward a society that embraces equality and justice for all,” said Morgan. “RootsTech Connect 2021 is an unparalleled opportunity to celebrate humanity in all of its colors, cultures, and creeds." (Read more about Sharon Leslie Morgan).
Visit RootsTech.org to enjoy the free event and over 2,000 on-demand videos.
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RootsTech, hosted by FamilySearch, is a global conference celebrating families across generations, where people of all ages are inspired to discover and share their memories and connections. This annual event has become the largest of its kind in the world, attracting tens of thousands of participants worldwide. RootsTech Connect 2021 is free and will be entirely online.
In addition to what you may learn from the many great on-demand DNA basic classes that will be available at RootsTech Connect 2021, you will be able to ask one-one questions from expert volunteers at the free DNA Basics Learning Center. They should be able to help you with step-by-step instructions and potential approaches to find answers to your questions.
You will find the DNA Basics Learning Center in what will be the Virtual Expo Hall (from RootsTech Connect 2021's main menu once it launches) and then either search for DNA Basics Learning Center or scroll down to find it from the list of exhibitors.
Many visitors had found this new resource helpful at past RootsTech events. We are excited to offer this virtually during RootsTech Connect 2021.
I have various friends who have been fortunate enough to get to attend in person over the years and have heard great things about it. Never had the resources to be able to myself.
My question at this point is......If its live, how do we deal with the time difference whatever that may be, and so on. Ie how are we going to know the timeframe and local time etc.
Regards Lyn
That is a great question. RootsTech Connect 2021 will be offered in multiple languages and has a large audience worldwide. To deliver the RootsTech signature experience to the wide diversity of attendees in 2021, RootsTech will have a new platform. You'll be able to view the programming by language, subject matter etc. Content will be broadcast live and on-demand around the clock for 3 days straight to accommodate the time zones for active viewers.
See the original news release. https://media.familysearch.org/familysearch-announces-rootstech-connect-2021-a-free-global-virtual-event/
Paul
In the meantime, you should try one of the following free resources to help you with your research questions:
Online Consultation with a Family History Library research specialist. https://www.familysearch.org/blog/en/online-genealogy-consultations/
The FamilySearch Research Wiki. https://www.familysearch.org/wiki/en/Main_Page
The Family Global Community. https://www.familysearch.org/help/communities
Will they b speaking on genealogy research?
Thank you
There will be content for attendees across the range of research interests--from novice to advanced. If you are intermediate to advanced in your research skills, in the interim you should avail yourself to the FamilySearch Research Wiki and Family History Library webinar archives.
Thanks,
Paul
can fill in the blanks. I appreciate all the hard work and labor of love each geneology group offers. Thank you , stay safe. Looking forward to the event.