In an age where technology evolves faster than ever, one question becomes increasingly important: What happens to our stories, memories, and human experiences if we don’t preserve them?

Join us for a powerful WITI Saturday Connect & Collaborate conversation exploring the intersection of technology, legacy, family history, and human connection. Inspired by real-life experiences preserving decades-old family recordings and historical testimony, this session will examine how rapidly aging media - from VHS tapes to early digital archives - is putting irreplaceable memories at risk.

Drawing from work connected to historical storytelling initiatives, personal family archives, and emerging AI technologies, this discussion will explore both the opportunities and challenges of preserving visual history in a digital world.

Together, we’ll discuss:

Why family stories and oral histories matter more than ever

The urgency of digitizing aging photos, tapes, and recordings

How AI may help restore and preserve historical memories

The emotional impact of rediscovering forgotten stories

Ethical questions surrounding memory, privacy, and personalized AI

Practical ways families can begin preserving their own history today

This session is not just about technology - it’s about identity, connection, and ensuring that the stories that shaped us are not lost to time.

As always, WITI Saturday begins with community connection and collaborative breakout discussions before transitioning into our featured conversation.
Agenda

10:00-11:00 AM PT - Breakout Rooms & Community Networking
11:00-12:00 PM PT - Featured Discussion

Join us for an engaging and deeply human conversation about preserving the people, stories, and moments that matter most.