News Summary
The Beaufort County Black Chamber of Commerce has distributed $875,000 in GRACE grants to promote Gullah/Geechee cultural heritage. Awarded to ten recipients, the grants signal a renewed commitment to the Gullah/Geechee community as the Chamber prioritizes cultural preservation under new Executive Director Marilyn Harris. This initiative, funded by the Mellon Foundation, also includes educational workshops and community support efforts aimed at safeguarding ancestral lands.
Beaufort County, South Carolina – The Beaufort County Black Chamber of Commerce (BCBCC) has awarded an impressive total of $875,000 in GRACE grants to support the preservation and promotion of Gullah/Geechee cultural heritage. This funding was part of the Mellon Foundation’s Humanities In Place program and was presented to ten recipients at a special reception on June 29, 2024.
This funding initiative, known as the GRACE program, is designed to redistribute funds that the Chamber has received, highlighting its commitment to furthering the interests and preservation of the Gullah/Geechee community in Beaufort County. These grants are the first issued since Marilyn Harris took over as Executive Director in the summer of 2023, marking a significant shift in the organization’s operations and priorities.
The Mellon Foundation initially approached the Chamber in October 2024, amid previous concerns regarding financial mismanagement within the organization. Under Harris’s leadership, the Chamber has made strides to regain trust and demonstrate financial integrity. The 2025 GRACE Initiative recipients include a diverse group of organizations, each focused on cultural impact within the community:
- Beaufort-Jasper E.O.C. – $7,000
- Black Moses Freedom Festival – $1,200
- Black Veterans Village – $2,500
- De Gullah SHIPP – $5,000
- Gullah Geechee Futures – $15,000
- Lowcountry Gullah Foundation – $7,000
- Mae Legacy, dba Earth People Farms – $5,000
- Marshview Community Organic Farms – $7,000
- Responsible ARTistry – $14,000
- Love House Learning Academy – $2,500
Of note, recipients were granted 80% of their funding on July 29, 2024, with the remaining 20% scheduled for distribution in December. Looking ahead to 2025, the Mellon Foundation has earmarked an additional $125,000 for future grant distributions in support of the Gullah/Geechee cultural preservation efforts.
The evaluation process for grant applicants involved a team of five community leaders who assessed each proposal based on its expected cultural and community impact, as well as its feasibility. The GRACE Initiative does not stop at financial support; it also encompasses educational workshops, annual gatherings, and preservation planning for significant Gullah/Geechee cultural sites. Efforts to secure additional financial resources are also underway, including a recent follow-up grant from the Coastal Community Foundation amounting to $1.65 million, which will support the operational expenses of the Chamber.
This initiative also emphasizes the vital importance of providing legal and financial assistance to help the Gullah/Geechee community retain and maintain ownership of their ancestral lands. The support from the Mellon Foundation is particularly significant, illustrating a renewed commitment to the integrity and operations of the Chamber after a tumultuous period.
The future of the GRACE program appears promising, with a strong emphasis on educational resources and ongoing advocacy to safeguard and promote Gullah heritage. The initiative’s focus on stability, community support, and collaborative efforts sets a solid foundation as it moves forward.
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Additional Resources
- Your Island News: BCBCC Awards Grants to Gullah Groups
- Wikipedia: Gullah
- Your Island News: Beaufort County Black Chamber Gets Prestigious Grant
- Google Search: Gullah Geechee Culture Preservation
- WJCL: New Public Charter School Coming to Beaufort County
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Beaufort, South Carolina
- Your Island News: Zoning Board Approves Sea Islands Heritage Academy Location
- Google News: Beaufort County
Author: STAFF HERE BEAUFORT
The HERE Beaufort Staff Writers are a collaborative team of journalists, editors, and local contributors passionate about delivering accurate, timely information to the Beaufort community. As part of the HEREcity.com Network, which powers over 100 U.S. city sites including HEREcolumbia.com, our staff draws on collective experience in South Carolina journalism to cover everything from business sales and real estate developments to dining deals and community initiatives. Our Expertise and Background: Local Roots in Beaufort : Our team includes lifelong Beaufort residents and SC natives with deep knowledge of the area’s history, economy, and culture. We’ve covered key events like the recent sale of the historic Crofts Block Building, Beaufort’s equestrian heritage, and growth in local tech and education sectors (e.g., BeaufortTechnical College programs). Collective Experience: With over 50 combined years in journalism, our staff has backgrounds in print, digital media, and community reporting. We prioritize fact-based stories, drawing from sources like the Beaufort Chamber of Commerce, city government records, and on-the-ground interviews. Commitment to Quality: Every article is a group effort, involving research, editing, and verification to ensure reliability. We adhere to journalistic standards, citing credible sources and updating content as new details emerge.
