Immediately following the annual meeting of the Friends of the State Historic Sites of the Hudson Highlands on March 7, Dr. Kevin M. Burke, historian, author and Newburgh native will discuss his work and roots in Newburgh.

Dr. Burke, a 1994 graduate of the Newburgh Free Academy, is the Director of Research at the Hutchins Center for African & African American Research at Harvard University and co-author of the book “And Still I Rise: Black America since MLK” with Henry Louis Gates, Jr. and the Senior Historical Adviser on the PBS film of the same title. Dr. Burke also is the Director of Research on Professor Gates’s popular genealogy series on PBS, “Finding Your Roots.” In addition, Dr. Burke serves as President of the Downing Film Center and is on the boards of the Hudson River Valley Greenway and Roosevelt-Vanderbilt Conservancy.

In his research, Dr. Burke continues to explore how a community’s memory of the past may not exactly line up with recorded history. How do our own perspectives lineup with those of our neighbors? How can historical facts become the starting point for a conversation?

What do you remember about Newburgh after World War II?

Join members for the 2 p.m. discussion at Washington’s Headquarters State Historic Site, located on the corner of Washington and Liberty Streets in the City of Newburgh.

The public is also welcome to learn more about the Friends, their activities and mission during their annual meeting beginning at 1:30 p.m.

Admission is free and refreshments will be provided. For more information please call (845) 562-1195.