Gullah Geechee Cultural Heritage Corridor Commission
Press Release submitted by Zelda Grant
The four-state Gullah Geechee Cultural Heritage Corridor will hold its first quarterly business meeting of 2014 on February 21 in Fernandina Beach, Florida, from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., at the American Beach Community Center, 1600 Julia Street. The public is invited.
The commission meeting will be the first opportunity of the year to acknowledge supporters and hold open discussions with communities to explore how the management plan can be implemented throughout the Gullah Geechee Corridor. Beginning in 2000, many community voices throughout the region were heard that led to the development of the Special Resource Study. Legislation was then sponsored by Congressman James E. Clyburn to establish the Gullah Geechee Cultural Heritage Corridor. In May 2013 Department of the Interior Secretary Sally Jewell officially signed the management plan, the blue print for the commission to form partnerships and projects for the purpose of education, supporting economic development, and creating the means to preserve and document the Gullah Geechee people, history and culture.
Additional meeting highlights will include providing updates on the search for an executive director, encouraging interest in applying for commission vacancies and holding elections for executive committee positions on the commission.
“This is an opportunity for communities to become more involved with implementation of the management plan. The commission still need community support to build the organization that will sustain the culture now and into the future,” said acting commission chair Althea Sumpter.
February 13, 2014 7:24 a.m.