The Voqal Partners Fellowship runs from April 1 – September 30. As part of the program, we reflect on and celebrate the experience at a closing convening. This year, we gathered on land stewarded by the Gullah Geechee people as part of the Gullah Geechee Cultural Heritage Corridor, comprising coastal lands and islands from what we now recognize as Florida to North Carolina. Gullah Geechee people descend from enslaved Africans on rice, indigo, and cotton plantations who created a culture unique to their heritage and traditions. We met with culture bearers on Saint Helena Island who breathed life into the region’s history and continuing story.
Local facilitator and cultural steward Teniqua Pope connected and guided us through the community relationships. Mahoganee and Andre (aka Mr. BounceBack) Amiger of Responsible ARTistry welcomed us through their Sense of Place Sound Clinic. They grounded us in the land’s spirit through their loving practices of art, music, and facilitation, showcasing the community’s essence that survived despite attempts to prevent their prospering. We were honored to enjoy their presence and warmth throughout the week. You can find their music on Spotify, Apple Music, and other streaming platforms. They’ll have a new album in December, so follow them for all the updates!
We continued our deep connection to the culture with Queen Quet, Chieftess of the Gullah Geechee Nation. She is featured in the photo above and took us on a journey from the past to the present to highlight the land and people’s resiliency and beauty. Through archiving and uplifting local artistry alongside fighting for environmental protections, Queen Quet represented the heart and will of your people to continue their livelihoods without outside inference or evaluation.
Morning Glory Homestead Farm hosted us for a tour and lunch centered on Gullah Geechee cooking and storytelling traditions. Their farm offers a place that does more than preserve tradition; it is an oasis of self-determination and community well-being. We cannot thank Belinda, Tony, and the entire team enough for their delicious food, warm hospitality, and lasting memories. Does anyone else remember the Gullah Gullah Island theme song?
Takeya of Heritage Haven ensured local produce and cooking traditions fueled us during our first days on the island. With each delicious bite, she brought us her culture and love. Penn Center gets a special shout-out for offering a comfortable and joyful gathering space. The power of the land and the ideas generated there coursed through us in every moment and will continue beyond our physical time on campus.
We closed the convening with an epic dance party. What’s a celebration without one? Everyone joined in and busted moves. DJ Kelly Kel, a local spinning genius, matched our energy song after song, helping us honor the 2024 Fellows and those who came before.
Thank you to everyone on Saint Helena Island for their openness and generosity. We will remember our time fondly and carry the inspiration to center strength, move forward, and celebrate wins.
We couldn’t mention our time in South Carolina without acknowledging the impact of Hurricane Helene. We all made it home safely, but some were delayed as the system moved through at the end of our week in the state. Our friends on Saint Helena Island fared well, considering the devastation in other parts of the region.
We experienced inclement weather, navigated alerts, and managed travel disruptions, but we could have done better. We didn’t have a full emergency plan beforehand, relying on it being a relatively small group to deal with issues as they came. As we were gently called in, though, emergencies can go a million ways, and having as solid a plan as possible will only keep everyone safer should the worse happen.
We’ll share more about our actions to incorporate emergency and climate planning into our processes, not only around our actions but also how to support the impacted communities. We expect climate disruptions to increase; we want to balance in-person opportunities with safe and accessible travel while considering weather, pandemics, and climate mitigation.
In the meantime, we donated to the North Carolina Community Foundation Disaster Relief Fund to support those on the ground rebuilding efforts. As a show of solidarity for community devastation worldwide, we matched the donation to the Grassroots International Palestine Emergency Fund.
