As the Annual National Council on Public History Meeting (March 26–29) in Québec approaches, discussions within the working groups are already underway.

Jackie Peterson, a member of The Empathetic Museum, is contributing to the group “Public Historians, Empathetic People: Building Humane Leadership and Work Cultures.” She is examining what defines empathetic leadership, the need for better leadership in the field, and what the future could look like.

One of the ways empathetic leadership can serve as a preferable model for museums, history organizations, and academia is by disrupting the white supremacist structures that they are built on. White supremacy culture is by nature exclusive, fear-based, and anti-democratic. Writ large, we are witnessing in real-time the ways institutions rooted in white supremacy culture are self-destructing and harming scores of people on their way out. The more our history institutions continue to cling to white supremacy, the less sustainable they become on all levels.

Jackie Peterson

To explore these critical discussions further, Jackie’s full case statement on empathetic leadership is available on the NCPH website. The working group will also address the evolution of leadership skills and training in the public history field and how social movements, DEAI, and trauma-informed practices have shaped this revolution.

Registration is still open: Register here
Session Details:
Friday, March 28 | 8:00 AM – 10:00 AM
Case Statements & Additional Information