HSSC History Makers Series Presents
Digital Storytelling in L.A. and Beyond: How Big Data Can Map Community History
March 9th, 5:15PM-7:15PM via zoom
Please join the HSSC for an evening of digital storytelling and mapping community history with an innovative panel including a cartograoher, a geographer that focuses on geographic information system and a historic resources evaluator that has facilitated federal preservation projects.
To sign up for this seminar click HERE.
Speaker Biographies
Joseph Kerski is a geographer with a focus on the use of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) in education. He has served as the President of the National Council for Geographic Education and has given 2 TED Talks on “The Whys of Where”. He holds 3 degrees in geography and has served as geographer in 4 sectors of society, including government (NOAA, US Census Bureau, USGS), academia (Penn State, Sinte Gleska University, University of Denver, others), private industry (as Education Manager for Esri), and nonprofit organizations (with roles in geography and education associations). Joseph authored over 75 chapters and articles on GIS, education, and related topics, and visits 35 universities annually. He conducts professional development for educators. He has created over 5,000 videos, 750 lessons, 1,000 blog essays, and authored 8 books, including Interpreting Our World, Essentials of Environment, Spatial Mathematics, Tribal GIS, International Perspectives on Teaching and Learning, and the GIS Guide to Public Domain Data. But as a lifelong learner, he feels as though he’s just getting started and thus actively seeks mentors, partners, and collaborators.

Ross Donihue is a cartographer and product engineer on Esri’s StoryMaps team. He uses place-based storytelling to engage users through beautiful, informative, and inspiring cartography. When he’s not making maps, he’s likely carving a spoon, making photos, or dreaming of mountains and fermentation. Donihue works at the intersection of maps, design, and storytelling. In 2012 he founded Maps for Good, a visual storytelling team that make one-of-a kind maps and digital media for better-world initiatives. Ross uses place-based data and evolving technologies to meet the challenges of the changing environment. Ross is a National Geographic grant reviewer and explorer.

Dylan Williams is a versatile, dedicated, and self-motivated professional with formal training as an outreach specialist and a public historian. William’s has accumulated several years of experience working in museum, archival, and historic preservation settings, including facilitating historic resource evaluation projects in accordance with CEQA, NHPA, NEPA, and other ordinances. Williams has also developed adequate experience providing corporate-level administrative and project management support by engaging in internal and public outreach, compiling cumulative reports and project databases, and coordinating collaborative efforts between various stakeholders and departments. William’s intellectual and research interests as a graduate student in history include 19th century African American history, Reconstruction-era history, 20th century urban history, and historical memory embodied by the built environment.