What is the VIAC Storytelling Project?
To preserve a building, a structure in a community, you must first know its stories. The stories give you the why – the why is it important, the why should I care, the what – what does this have to do with me, the how – how does it give meaning to and for a community and connect the past, the present and the future of the community in a way that is meaningful and authentic.
Storytelling has been part of the Virgin Islands Architecture Center for Built Heritage and Crafts (VIAC) since its inception. Since 2023, through funds provided by the Community Foundation of the Virgin Islands, the VIAC Storytelling Team—consisting of researcher/writers Monique Clendinen Watson, Monica Marin, Chalana Brown, and Anurie Oliver, with videographers Kevin Moolenaar and George Canon Jr.—has researched the 250-year history of the Old Barracks Property and conducted oral history interviews with community members who attended Christiansted High School at the Old Barracks or worked there within the Departments of Education, Labor, or Police. The team has also interviewed St. Croix historians who have researched aspects of the island’s history connected to the Old Barracks. They are currently producing a documentary on the Old Barracks and conducting workshops, and developing educational materials to share this history with the wider community here on this website.
The very compelling story of how the Hospital Street complex evolved from colonial times to 20th and 21st century uses is a tale of community self-determination and empowerment. The Old Barracks Property was first constructed around 1759 to serve as a military hospital and barracks for soldiers and gendarmes during the Danish colonial period. When the Virgin Islands became part of the United States of America, the property was used as a Barracks for U.S. Marines and then in the 1930s when educational and community leaders were looking for a place for the public high school, the property became the center of learning for 20 years, from 1935 to 1955. When Christiansted High School moved to Estate Richmond, the Government of the Virgin Islands repurposed the buildings to serve as the home for the Departments of Labor, Education and Public Safety.
The Virgin Islands Architecture Center for Built Heritage and Crafts, Inc., known as VIAC is a non-profit, 501(c)3 organization, with a focus on community economic development. VIAC is restoring the historic Old Barracks property in Christiansted, St. Croix into an educational center for the historic preservation, architectural and building arts center that will research, teach, and present the traditions unique to the Virgin Islands and the Caribbean. VIAC is administered by a board of directors and an advisory board that consists of experts in architecture, culture, education, and community development. VIAC is partnered with PLACE, a 501(c)3 non-profit to serve as its fiscal agent, provide support in financial grant management and reporting and lend expertise in community development and historic preservation.
A 264-Year Journey: The Iconic Structure of Christiansted National Historic District
Storytelling Team
Our Team
The VIAC Storytelling Project is researched and produced by an intergenerational team of Virgin Islands cultural producers and activists. Monique Clendinen Watson, Monica Marin, Chalana Brown, Anurie Oliver, Kemora Harris and Kevin Moolenaar have combined their knowledge and expertise in Virgin Islands history and culture, the humanities, museum curation, research, storytelling, and communications to tell the rich history of the Christiansted Old Barracks, its neighborhoods, and the diverse people intrinsically connected to them. The compelling narratives meticulously crafted by this team engages audiences and resonates deeply throughout the Virgin Islands community and diaspora.
Kevin Moolenaar
Kevin K. Moolenaar, professionally known as Kevin FaKtor, is a St. Croix-based filmmaker and content creator. Starting his professional videography journey in 2018, Kevin has worked with clients including the VI Lottery, Sports Illustrated, and USVI Tourism. A multi-award-winning filmmaker at the Paradise48 Film Festival, he is currently producing his award winning series ‘SAND,’ which highlights life in the Virgin Islands. He prides himself on his ability to tell stories and support the local creative community.
Kemora Harris
Kemora Harris serves as the Administrative and Programs Coordinator for The Virgin Islands Architecture Center for Built Heritage and Crafts (VIAC). Initially joining the organization as an administrative assistant, she quickly developed an interest in placekeeping and began the development of a formal archive to securely preserve vital historical and cultural records. In addition to her archival leadership, Kemora provides dedicated mentorship to organizational interns and supporting the annual VAST Summer Enrichment Program. Her strong technological expertise and creativity enable her to deliver high-level administrative support to VIAC’s board and staff.
Monique Clendinen Watson
Monique Clendinen Watson is a writer, educator, and public relations professional with a Bachelor of Arts in Communications from the University of Detroit and a Master of Humanities from California State University Dominguez Hills. She is the CEO of BlueGaulin Media Strategies. She is certified in college‑level instruction and in teaching middle and high school Social Studies and Language Arts. She has published widely, led history workshops for teachers and students, and produced the Roots of Our Culture documentary series. Her storytelling also appears at http://www.companystreetchronicles.com. She recently joined the 30th and 31st Anniversary Diversity Scholars Cohorts at the National Trust for Historic Preservation.
Monica Marin
Monica Marin is a writer, researcher, producer, and educator with a background in curriculum development. She earned a B.A. in Art History, Theory and Criticism, and Painting and Drawing from The School of the Art Institute of Chicago. As Chief Curator for the Virgin Islands Department of Natural Resources Division of Libraries, Archives and Museums, she works across art, culture, and community storytelling. She led the launch of “Invisible Heritage: Identity, Memory and Our Town,” a continuing placemaking project created with CHANT and supported by major arts grants. She also founded the Artist Advisory and the education and outreach programs at the Caribbean Museum Center for the Arts.
Anurie D. Oliver
Anurie D Oliver is a writer and researcher for the Virgin Islands Architecture Center for Built Heritage and Crafts (VIAC) Old Barracks Neighborhood Storytelling Project. Her work focuses on researching, documenting, and sharing the history of the Old Barracks property and the surrounding Hospital Street neighborhood in Christiansted, St. Croix, through archival research, historical analysis, and community-based storytelling.
Anurie holds a Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice from the University of the Virgin Islands, a Certificate in Paralegal Studies from Boston University, and certificates in Grant Writing. She brings more than eight years of legal experience to her work and currently works as a Paralegal/Investigative Analyst, where she conducts legal and investigative research, reviews and analyzes records, and prepares legal documents. Her professional experience has strengthened her skills in research, records analysis, fact-finding, and written documentation. She is also the co-owner of Alluxe Décor, LLC and founder of Reliable Legal Assistant.
A lifelong lover of history, research, and writing, Anurie has participated in historical field research alongside local historians and is passionate about preserving and sharing the cultural heritage of the U.S. Virgin Islands. She is the author of Island Deep, published in Caribbean Writers in 2016, and a recipient of the 2015 Virgin Islands Literature Fest Writing Competition award.
Through her work with the Old Barracks Neighborhood Storytelling Project, Anurie is committed to preserving and sharing the stories of the people, places, and traditions that have shaped St. Croix and the Virgin Islands, ensuring that these stories remain accessible to students, residents, and future generations.
Stephanie Chalana Brown
Photographer, videographer, producer, and educator Stephanie Chalana Brown serves as Director of Virgin Islands Cultural Education. She develops curriculum grounded in local culture and creates visual stories that highlight the richness of Virgin Islands life. Her productions include Griot, Foodie Insider, and the Virtual Crucian Cultural Cuisine dialogues, all featured on local broadcast platforms.
Amanda Sackey
Born and raised in the guinea grass of La Grange, St. Croix, Amanda Sackey is a place-based education specialist with more than twenty years of experience connecting science, the performing arts, and sustainability. Her career includes serving as an Environmental Specialist at the Department of Planning and Natural Resources (DPNR) in the U.S. Virgin Islands, a middle and high school science teacher at Good Hope School on St. Croix, and a science and performing arts educator at Rye Country Day School in Rye, New York.
As VIAC’s Manager of Operations and Finance and Director of Education Programming, she brings a creative, interdisciplinary approach to Virgin Islands built heritage and historical trades. Her curriculum connects storytelling, hands-on craftsmanship, and historical inquiry, inviting learners to discover the people, knowledge, and ingenuity behind the islands’ architecture.
Amanda holds a B.A. in Geology and Dance from Hamilton College and an Advanced Certification in Education for Sustainability, and she is currently a Master’s Candidate in Biological Science Education at Manhattanville University. Drawing on her background in environmental protection, agroecology, and STEAM education, she collaborates with cultural bearers, artists, historians, and tradespeople to develop learning experiences rooted in community, critical consciousness, and placekeeping.
VIAC BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND ADVISORY MEMBERS
Visionary Architect / VIAC Concept
Gerville Renee’ Larsen
Mary Dema, President
Donna Christian-Christensen, Vice-President
Torhera Durand, Secretary
Christiana Williams, Treasurer
Robert Schuster, Director
Dr. Chenzira Davis-Kahina, Director
Bo Manderup-Jensen, Director
Lee Rohn, Director
Jed JohnHope, Director
Garth Rockcastle, Director
VIAC Advisory Council
Frandelle Gerard – Virgin Islands
Roland Roebuck – U. S./ Virgin Islands
John Paul Huguley – U. S.
Monica Marin – Virgin Islands
Chalana Brown – Virgin Islands
Kurt Marsh, Jr. – Virgin Islands
Ulla Lunn – Denmark
Arne Hoi – Denmark
Mogens Morgen – Denmark
Bente Ahlefeldt – Denmark
Michael Keldsen – Denmark
Birthe Leul – Denmark
Amal Ashur – Denmark
Funded by the Community Foundation of the Virgin Islands through the National Endowment for the Humanities
