Celebrate the launch of Finding Cornerstone Stories: Uncovering Inspiration in Your Family’s History with author André Kearns.

Finding Cornerstone Stories reveals tales of Black entrepreneurship and resilience from slavery to leadership through the family tree of author André Kearns. Presented as illustrated essays, the book provides inspiration on every page as the author offers his personal stories and practical guidance for readers to conduct genealogical research and discover their own family histories. 

Join us online or in person. A reception and book signing to follow the in-person conversation.

"Through rigorous research and deeply personal storytelling, André Kearns shows how Black family history can illuminate the broader American experience. Finding Cornerstone Stories inspires readers to uncover the resilience, humanity, and achievements of earlier generations, reminding us that genealogy is not merely about names and dates but about preserving stories that deserve to be remembered and shared."

—Paul Heinegg, author of Free African Americans of North Carolina, Virginia, and South Carolina

André Kearns is the Founder and CEO of Black Ancestries, a genealogy research services firm dedicated to helping people of African descent uncover their roots, celebrate their heritage, and preserve their family legacy. A respected genealogist, author, and speaker, André brings over two decades of experience tracing African American lineages, including his own ancestry back to the first Africans in colonial Virginia. André is a national thought leader in the genealogy field, known for blending analytical rigor with compelling narrative. Through his work, he helps people and institutions uncover historical truths, reclaim ancestral stories, and ground themselves in legacy as a foundation for leadership. His work has been featured in The Washington Post, National Geographic, Harvard Business School Alumni Magazine, and USA Today. Formerly a senior marketing executive at Amazon Web Services, André now applies his go-to-market expertise to scale Black Ancestries into a global leader in African diasporic genealogy. He is also the co-author of Understanding the Game of Executive Leadership: Strategies to Win.