Historic City News has learned that two Florida residents will be appointed later this month as alternates to the Gullah Geechee Cultural Heritage Corridor Commission.
Vacancies currently exist in the following states and positions: North Carolina – (1) Alternate; Georgia (1) Expert, (2) Alternates; and Florida (2) Alternates. South Carolina has no vacancies.
The Secretary of Interior is charged with establishing and maintaining the Commission to oversee development and implementation of a soon-to-be-released management plan for this new Cultural Heritage Corridor.
Since 2007 this Commission has included experts in the fields of historic preservation, anthropology, folklore or a related field, and grass roots community organizers.
The National Park Service is accepting nominations for the Gullah Geechee Cultural Heritage Corridor Commission until December 31, 2010. The Secretary of Interior will consider these nominations for appointment to the Commission.
Nominees should be Gullah Geechee experts; representatives of agencies or organizations interested in the preservation of this culture; or interested citizens.
Individuals interested in pursuing nomination to one of these positions should provide a short biography or resume together with examples of work in the Gullah Geechee community by mail, email or fax to NPS Community Partnership Specialist Michael Allen by 5:00 p.m. on December 31, 2010, to receive consideration. Each biography must contain your full name, social security number, address, home telephone number and place of employment.
The Gullah Geechee Cultural Heritage Corridor was designated by Congress in September, 2006, to recognize the important contributions made to American culture and history by Africans and African-Americans who settled in coastal areas of Florida, Georgia, South Carolina and North Carolina.
The Gullah Geechee people represent the descendents of enslaved Africans from west and central Africa who were brought to these coastal areas to work plantations. The Heritage Corridor will preserve celebrate, and interpret their unique language, historic sites, land, arts, crafts, religious beliefs, folklore, rituals and foods.