The work that the Lowcountry Gullah Foundation could not be possible without the critical partnerships that we have. Here’s what they have to say.
“At the Treasurer’s Office, we constantly work to mold our services and functions to the needs of our citizens. Sometimes this includes strategic partnerships that by working together, allow us to have a greater impact than we ever could alone. The Lowcountry Gullah Foundation is one of those partnerships. Through their work and our joint efforts, heirs property owners are empowered to maintain their land and protected from efforts to rob them of their family legacies.” – Maria Walls, Beaufort County Treasurer
“In the South Carolina Lowcountry, issues arising from heirs’ property result in tremendous property loss and depletion of historic rural Black communities. The Heritage Library is utilizing the knowledge and experience of our volunteer genealogists to provide assistance in building out the required family tree that can be the start to resolving these issues through our Heirs Property Family Research Project. And, we are privileged to work with partners who support and complement the research we do – we can’t do what we do without our partners including Lowcountry Gullah Foundation. Lowcountry Gullah Foundation brings us into community workshops and meetings and they provide us with training and research. Most importantly, they assist in expanding our reach and growing this project and its impact. Sometimes, it does take a village and Lowcountry Gullah Foundation is an important part of this village.” – Barbara Catenaci, Executive Director, Heritage Library
“The Lowcountry Gullah Foundation is making a profound impact by providing heirs property workshops, financial assistance, and a range of essential services to the Hilton Head Island Gullah community. As a valued partner with the Town of Hilton Head Island, the Foundation empowers families to preserve their ancestral lands, safeguarding the rich cultural heritage and unique traditions of the Gullah people. Their efforts are crucial in preventing the loss of these valuable properties to outside interests, ensuring that the Gullah community can continue to thrive on the land that holds their history and identity.” – Missy Luick, Town of Hilton Head Island – Planning Director
“Land ownership is essential to the survival of our Gullah Geechee Culture. Yet, land loss among this population continues at a disturbing pace.
The greatest culprit contributing to land loss among Gullah Geechee peoples is heirs property ownership status.
As chair of the Penn Center Land Use and Heirs Property Committee, I thank Ms. Luana Sellars for the outstanding work she and her Low Country Gullah Foundation has been doing to help our people free themselves from the constraints that come with heirs property.
Together, the Gullah Geechee Foundation and Penn Center partners to provide workshops focusing on strategies that lead to land ownership security. Our workshops offer insight on how to change heirs property into a more economically viable status, creation of free wills, family tree research, and how to make land productive through forestry.
Guest speakers have included Beaufort County Treasurer Ms. Maria Walls, Beaufort County Assessor Ms. Ebony Sanders and presenters from the Center for Heirs Property Preservation. I applaud the work that Ms. Sellars and the Low Country Gullah Foundation is doing, and I thank her for her partnership with Penn Center as we together work to enhance land ownership security for our people.
I applaud the work that Ms. Sellars and the Low Country Gullah Foundation is doing, and I thank her for her partnership with Penn Center as we together work to enhance land ownership security for our people. – Mitch Mitchell, Heirs Property Chairman, Penn Center
“As the Director of Lowcountry Legal Volunteers, our mission is to provide free legal service to low-income people living in our service area of Beaufort, Jasper and Hampton counties. Luana’s efforts and her Foundation exemplify our goal of providing equal access to justice to those who would not have representation any other way.” – Anne Caywood, Executive Director, Lowcountry Legal Volunteers
The Lowcountry Gullah Foundation is an umbrella organization that guides families through heirs’ property issues. We could not do the work that we do without the strategic partnerships with other nonprofits and organizations who specialize in all of the areas that make heirs’ property resolution possible.
Our Financial Sponsors
The Lowcountry Gullah Foundation would not be able to assist as many individuals with education, guidance and financial support without the generosity from the following organizations:
