Jamboree - Meet the Speakers: Nicka Jackie Smith

Nicka Smith is a professional photographer, speaker, and documentarian with more than 14 years of experience as a genealogist. She has extensive experience in African ancestored genealogy, reverse genealogy, and family reunion planning and execution. She is also an expert in genealogical research in the Northeastern Louisiana area, sharing genealogy with youth, documenting the ancestral journey, and employing the use of new technology in genealogy and family history research.

She has diverse and varied experience in communications, with a background in publications, editing, graphic design, radio, and video production. She has edited and designed several volumes of family history that include narratives, photos, and genealogical information and has also transferred these things to an online environment.

Nicka is a board member of the California Genealogical Society (CGS), a member of the Association of Professional Genealogists (APG), former chair of the Outreach and Education Committee for the African American Genealogical Society of Northern California (AAGSNC), and former project manager for the Alameda County, CA Youth Ancestral Project where more than 325 youth have been taught the value of family history. Nicka is also the family historian and lead researcher for the Atlas family of Lake Providence, East Carroll, Louisiana.

FR024 Friday June 6, 4:00-5:00 p.m.
The Future of African American Genealogy
Hear from leaders in the African American genealogy community as they address collaboration, DNA connections, slave/slaveholder/ancestor projects, and technology.

SA029 Saturday June 7, 3:30-4:30 p.m.
Finding Isaac Rogers
Discover how a book, scant clues, crowd sourced research, and limited online records came together to make ancestral ties to the Trail of Tears, US Civil War, a hanging judge, an outlaw, and of slavery in the Cherokee Nation.

SA026 Saturday June 7, 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
Blogger Summit
Our panel of genealogists who are also bloggers will participate in a discussion of why blogging is important to their research. Participants will be able to ask questions about blogging and get a better understanding of why blogging works to improve genealogical research and to document the stories of our ancestors. Panelists: Blaine Bettinger JD, Randy Seaver, Heather Rojo, Nicka Smith. Moderator: Thomas MacEntee.