Robert S. Burch, Jr. Email & Phone Number

Robert Burch is Executive Director of Sema Hadithi African American Heritage and Culture Foundation, a non-profit researching African American history in Utah and the Mountain West. He is the Principal of Sema Hadithi, LLC.Robert began his career in the United States Navy. He served in the Caribbean, South America, the North Atlantic, and the Mediterranean Ocean. He received the Navy Expeditionary Cross for his service as part of the U.S. Peacekeeping force in the Mediterranean. His professional life was primarily in sales and customer service, including four years in food safety and corporate compliance.His volunteerism is as a Member of the Utah Board of State History, Vice President and Charter Member of the Sons and Daughters of the United States Middle Passage, Committee Member of the Brigham Young Racial Reconciliation Ministry, and former Utah Chapter President, and Board Member of the Afro-American Historical & Genealogical Society. He is versed in genealogical and historical research focused on the stories of African descent in the Americas and Caribbean. He has done presentations on genealogy basics, the importance of transforming family history into United States history, connectivity through lineage societies, and historical topics like Buffalo Soldiers of the West. He has spoken on Utah college campuses about using history for inclusion and healing, transmitting heritage and culture, and understanding race and religion.He has formed project working groups to research, preserve, and share the history of Black people in Utah. By creating relationships through a network of universities, museums, community centers, and non-profits, he has helped to share the stories of historically ignored communities in our cumulative memories. Those critical connections are with influential organizations like the Utah Division of State History, the University of Utah, Weber State University, Salt Lake Community College, Brigham Young University, Utah Museum Association, Brigham City Museum, Hyrum City Museums, Preservation Strategies, and others. He believes the unity we desire is achieved by sharing our shared history's truth.Robert served in numerous church callings, including stake missionary, nursery leader, primary teacher, membership clerk, Elders Quorum president, Sunday school president, and branch counselor.Robert was born in Atlanta, Georgia. He attended Talladega College, where he became a member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. He married Alice Mae Faulkner in the Salt Lake City Temple. He and Alice reside in West Valley City, Utah.

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  Executive Director

  Sema Hadithi African American Heritage And Culture Foundation

  Aug 2020 - Present - West Valley City, Utah, United States