April is Volunteer Appreciation Month!

Meet two of our dedicated volunteers below

Lisa Krizman
School Program Educator

Tell us a bit about yourself! What is your professional background? What inspired your interest in American History?

I am a retired attorney. I was Associate General Counsel at MetLife, handling their copyright and trademark issues, and then went into my own practice for many years. My practice eventually included representing families seeking special education services for their children with disabilities, which I found very meaningful. Everyone deserves a good education.

I was always interested in American history as a young child and loved to read historical-based novels. The story of America, particularly its founding, never gets old in its ideals and drama. Especially as an attorney, you see the evolution of America through case law, and it’s inspiring. History intrigues me because I love to see how one individual can make a difference that we still feel today in everyday life.

What brought you to Fraunces Tavern Museum? How long have you been a volunteer?

I just started volunteering here at the beginning of 2020. I have been a general volunteer and Explainer at the New-York Historical Society for many years and am a tour guide for the free Bloomingdale Neighborhood History Group walks in the Upper West Side.

I was excited to volunteer at Fraunces Tavern because it played such a critical role in the American Revolution. I admire George Washington and wanted to teach school children how one person could play such an important role in forming American ideals. To me, when Washington said goodbye to his officers at Fraunces Tavern to return to Mount Vernon instead of taking over the country as a military dictator with his loyal officers was the second “shot heard round the world.” I hope to inspire school children to treasure the original American ideals of democracy and individual freedom, as did George Washington at Fraunces Tavern.  Also, Fraunces Tavern had so much drama in terms of cannonballs flying, rebels, spies and counterspies, and slaves being allowed to seek their freedom, that telling it naturally educates children about the American Revolution and why it mattered and still matters.    

Do you have any tips for new educators like yourself to get started?

Study and practice! Learn from the other excellent educators here. Read all the materials provided online and do your own research if something intrigues you. The passion to educate will get you going!

What helps you the most to learn new materials for programs?

I first wrote down everything the experienced educators I was observing said on a large paper pad. At home, I could sit back and review the whole presentation. Then I distilled down the materials into handwritten notes on small index cards. Writing the cards helped me learn and I could keep them on a clipboard when I was ready to co-lead. Observing several different educators, then co-leading and getting feedback from the educators, is for me the best way to learn. I learn best by doing, and the experienced educators  have all been very patient and helpful to me.

Kelsi Constant
Docent

Tell us a bit about yourself! What is your professional background?

Hello everyone, I'm Kelsi Constant and I'm a weekend docent with the Fraunces Tavern Museum. I'm a Florida native who moved to New York City in 2017 after graduating college. My Clark Kent disguise, aka my day job, is at an advertising agency as a project manager!

What inspired your interest in American History?

I love two things: storytelling and facts. And the only place you can find both is history. It's also a selfish love. Call it being an extrovert, a failed theater kid, maybe I'm just nosey, but I love focusing on how people lived their day to day lives in the past and telling those stories. People making decisions just like we do but in a whole different world. And the ability to watch those decisions form our country today is fascinating.

What brought you to Fraunces Tavern Museum? How long have you been a volunteer?

I actually took a tour myself! I'm a member of the New York City chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution and we had an event at the museum. I enjoyed it so much that I went right home and looked at their website to see if there was a volunteer program. I was so excited to see an opening for docents and sent in an application immediately. That was August 2018 and I've been involved ever since.

 What is your favorite memory of a tour or just your time at the museum?

Anytime I can make history memorable or even relatable. History is fun, exciting, and straight-up bonkers sometimes. It's not the boring high school class people associate it with. When I can get someone who was quiet at the beginning to ask a question, or get everyone to raise a glass to George Washington with me in the Long Room, I know something stuck with them.

What have you learned since you started?

That a lot more people watched the TV show Turn than I thought. No I'm kidding, but on that note, the materials available at the museum taught me so much about the Culper Spy Ring. I've also become a staunch supporter of bringing back Evacuation Day!

Fraunces Tavern Museum is always looking for enthusiastic docents and school program educators to join our team.
Learn more.