Culturally Curious Literacy Initiative and the Seabrook Village Foundation will host the 2024 Gullah Geechee Heritage Forum on Saturday, Feb. 17 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Liberty County Performing Arts Center. The free family-friendly event is open to anyone interested in learning about Gullah Geechee history, the environmental obstacles in Liberty County and the work being done to preserve the culture and protect the environment. 

The event includes vendors, workshops and a Gullah Geechee meal to engage students, community members and environmental justice leaders. 

“The purpose of this forum is to gather our community to explore the Gullah Geechee culture that influences everything around us in the Lowcountry,” said Aminata Traore, founder of Culturally Curious Literacy Initiative. “We will have speakers to share local options for protecting and preserving the culture and environment so that Gullah Geechee communities can be on the frontline of environmental justice.” 

The breakout sessions for the 2024 Gullah Geechee Heritage Forum were curated so attendees could learn how to do their part to preserve and promote Gullah Geechee heritage. There will be three free sessions open to the public.

“Krak Teet 4 Kids” is a workshop for students 10-18 years old. Trelani Michelle will lead the youth in discovering how to read and write in Geechee, interview elders, preserve the Gullah Geechee culture and have fun doing it. Michelle is an award-winning writer, oral historian and teaching artist based in Savannah and New Orleans. Crowned Savannah’s best local author in 2021, Michelle published a catalog of Black Savannah’s biographies called “Krak Teet.” She also co-authored the New York Times bestselling cookbook, “Gullah Geechee Home Cooking.” 

“Take Care of Home'' is a workshop to teach attendees how to buy a home with Jolonda T. Greene, Realtor of Century 21 Action Realty, and how to maintain a home with Nicole Lee of Smart Home Solutions. This session will discuss prequalifications to buy a home or investment property, tests and inspections available to identify areas where energy is being wasted in your home or business and recommendations for improving energy efficiency in your home or business. There also will be information on the Georgia Bright solar power program, which aims to bridge the solar access gap for low-income communities.

“Living Shorelines Along the Georgia Coast” is presented by The Georgia Conservancy to share the work being done in Liberty County to protect salt marshes and help the East End communities maintain access to waterways. They protect Georgia through ecological and economic solutions for stewardship, conservation and sustainable use of the land and its resources. This session will also update community members about living shorelines and plans for the Martha Randolph Stevens Park in partnership with the Seabrook Village Foundation.

The day will end with a Gullah Geechee meal and networking for all of the attendees. The 2024 Gullah Geechee Heritage Forum is sponsored by The Solutions Project and the Fund for Frontline Power Grant. 

“Liberty County is a coastal community full of natural resources, history and culture,” said Krystal Hart, president of The Seabrook Village Foundation. “We are happy to partner with organizations such as Culturally Curious Literacy Initiative and The Solutions Project to ensure everyone enjoys the coast and our culture for years to come.”

This event is free and open to the public. For more information, email traore.ami77@gmail.com or call (912) 376-9342.