Jacksonville&rsquo\;s Gullah Geechee Herit age is a community-centered exploration of the people\, places\, and tradi tions that have shaped Jacksonville&rsquo\;s Black coastal communities. Th rough historical research\, oral histories\, and cultural landscape storyt elling\, this History Chat centered around the book by the same title\, do cuments a legacy that has too often been overlooked\, minimized\, or left out of the record. Whether you were raised here\, have family roots in the region\, or are learning this history for the first time\, Jacksonvil le's Gullah Geechee Heritage by Ennis Davis and Adrienne Burke \; invites you to witness\, remember\, and carry these stories forward.
\nEnnis Davis is an urban planner with a passion for cul tural heritage preservation and urban planning that dates to a childhood o f listening to his ancestors pass down family history and stories of Afric an American life in the racially segregated south. A sixth generation Flor idian from Winter Haven\, his desire for equitable community development a nd opportunity led him to pursue a Bachelor of Architecture degree at Flor ida A&\;M University. \;
\nA Gullah Geechee descendant with 2 5 years experience in the fields of planning\, architecture and real estat e development\, Ennis is a public historian dedicated to inclusively uplif ting people\, communities and protecting their culture\, heritage and sens e of place. In addition\, he is the President of the Florida Trust for His toric Preservation&rsquo\;s Board of Directors\, Groundwork Jacksonville B oard member\, author of the award-winning books Reclaiming Jacksonville\, Cohen Brothers: The Big Store and Images of Modern America: Jacksonville\, and co-founder of online media publications TheJaxsonmag.com and Modernci ties.com.
\nAdrienne Burke is an urban planner and attorney whose love of history began as a child in Montgomery\, Alabama an d was solidified as a teenager in Virginia. Ultimately\, this led her to p ursue degrees in history and law\, with an emphasis on African American hi story\, land use\, and historic preservation. Adrienne is passionate about the intersection of history\, social justice and community healing\, and the opportunity to work with communities to realize their planning goals t hrough heritage and cultural storytelling and preservation.
\nAdrien ne has over 17 years experience in local government land use and preservat ion planning and nonprofit management. She received her B.A. in history fr om the University of Virginia\, and a Master&rsquo\;s Degree in Architectu ral Studies: Historic Preservation and a Juris Doctor\, both from the Univ ersity of Florida. She is Co-Chair of the Advocacy Committee for the Natio nal Council on Public History\, Secretary for Florida Avenue Main Street\, and a CAMP Trainer with the National Alliance of Preservation Commissions .
\nA book sale and signing will follow the program.
\nThis program is made possible by a grant from the Mellon Foundation.
\nRegister to save your seat. Registration must be completed tw o hours prior to the start time. A library card and PIN are required for r egistration. If you do not already have one\, you can apply for a library card onli ne.
\nAll registered seats will be forfeited at 1:55 p.m. and ma de available to waitlisted and walk-in attendees. Registered attendees arr iving after this time will be seated if seats are available.
\nPursu ant to the Americans with Disabilities Act\, accommodations for persons wi th disabilities are available upon request. Please allow 1&ndash\;2 busine ss days to process. Last-minute requests will be accepted\, but may not be possible to fulfill. Please ask for Learning Services at 255-2665 or emai l JPLPrograms@coj.net.
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