Black History Month is a time to honor the past, but it isn’t just something we reflect on—it’s something we live and build every day, in communities across the country. In neighborhoods where residents are working to expand opportunity and create lasting change, history is unfolding today through the leadership, resilience, and vision of the people who call these places home.
We believe that neighborhoods shape futures. Across our Network, local Community Quarterback Organizations are leading the charge in partnership with residents, turning bold visions into reality. They are creating pathways to economic mobility, advancing equity, and strengthening communities—all essential elements of the ongoing story of Black history.
Throughout this feature, we highlight four Purpose Built Network Member organizations – LIFT JAX, South City Foundation, Reach Riverside, and Southeast Raleigh Promise. They are transforming their neighborhoods through resident-driven solutions. Their work is a testament to the power of community-led change, demonstrating that Black history isn’t just a moment in time—it’s happening everywhere, every day.
LIFT JAX:
Building on the Rich History of OutEast
Pearl Graham, affectionately known as Mother Pearl, is the longest-tenured property and business owner in the main corridor of Jacksonville’s historic Eastside. Known as OutEast and dating back to the Civil War, the neighborhood was recently listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The largest intact historically African American neighborhood on the National Register in the state of Florida, Eastside has been shaped since its early days by African culture and history.
A wealth of Black history, Eastside is home to the first black independent church in Florida established after the Civil War, one of the first schools in the area for African American girls, where Zora Neal Hurston was once a student and the leader of the first successful African American Labor Union. This historic designation is a significant milestone in recognizing OutEast as a neighborhood worth preserving. Today, many community leaders, like Mother Pearl, are dedicated to guiding the Eastside back to the vibrant and thriving community it was for nearly a century. Loved and respected by all, she has served the neighborhood for over sixty years, a living testament to the resilience and beauty of this historic neighborhood.
South City Foundation:
The Power of Legacy Residents to Inspire Hope
Legacy residents have deep roots in neighborhoods nationwide and play a vital role in fostering community and fresh vision. Rod Arnold is one such resident in South City, a historic community in Tallahassee. Rod’s paternal family has been in South City since the early 1900s and his maternal side moved to the area in 1956. He was born in the neighborhood in 1972 and attended public schools in the area. Building on these deep roots, he purchased property behind his childhood home where he built his own home, married, and started a family.
Once a vibrant hub for residents, the area has struggled over the years due to insufficient public infrastructure and limited economic development. Rod has been instrumental in establishing and leading the South City Neighborhood Association over the past three years. He says he was inspired to get involved because he believed South City was becoming a dumping ground. “It was also very inspirational to connect with other like-minded residents looking to improve upon the neighborhood,” Rod says. “This experience has been rewarding in that it has allowed me to connect with residents and let them know the association is working to improve conditions and restore pride in the community.”
“There is a concentrated effort from the City of Tallahassee to revitalize this community,” Rod says with pride. In the past ten years, Rod has seen major projects increase within South City such as installing sidewalks and underground utilities, and the building of new apartments and multiple single-family home rehabilitations. When asked what he hopes to contribute to the neighborhood, Rod answers, “I hope to restore pride, reduce crime, and work with organizations to bring affordable housing to the area.”
It’s legacy residents like Rod who are honoring the history of neighborhoods like South City as they look forward to the limitless possibilities ahead.
Reach Riverside:
A Legacy of Resilience and Renewal
Since its founding in 1946, Kingswood Community Center (KCC) has been more than a building—it has been a beacon of hope, resilience, and sanctuary for Wilmington’s Riverside neighborhood. Its story is deeply intertwined with the struggles and triumphs of a community shaped by history.
In 1958, Kingswood Church acquired land at 23rd and Bowers Streets, which had been underutilized and neglected, to build a new facility for the community. This marked a significant investment in Riverside’s future, transforming the space into the Kingswood Community Center we know today. For a time, the new and old facilities operated simultaneously, creating expanded opportunities for residents.
Initially serving an all-white congregation, KCC reflected the segregated realities of the era. Over time, as Riverside’s demographics shifted, Kingswood became a fully inclusive space that embraced the diversity and resilience of its neighbors. By the late 1950s and 1960s, Riverside experienced dramatic changes due to “white flight.” Once a vibrant working-class community, the neighborhood faced economic decline, high unemployment, and underinvestment in social and educational resources. Amid these challenges, Kingswood Community Center remained a vital resource, offering recreational programs, educational support, and a sense of belonging.
In 1968, Wilmington faced a historic crisis following the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Riots erupted, and the National Guard occupied the city for nine months—the longest military occupation of a U.S. city since the Civil War. During this turbulent time, Kingswood became a safe haven for the Riverside community. It provided shelter, stability, and a sense of hope in a period of uncertainty.
Despite challenges over the decades, including the economic downturn of 2008 that deepened poverty in Riverside, Kingswood endured as a pillar of strength. In 2016, under the leadership of Logan Herring and a dedicated board of directors, Kingswood entered a new era of revitalization. The team worked tirelessly to restore trust, rebuild programs, and reestablish the center as a vital community hub.
Today, Kingswood Community Center serves as a thriving educational sanctuary for children and a gathering place for elders at the Jimmy Jenkins Senior Center. Its legacy is a testament to the resilience and unity of Riverside—a neighborhood that has faced and overcome countless challenges.
This Black History Month, we honor Kingswood Community Center’s extraordinary journey from its segregated beginnings to becoming an inclusive space that uplifts and empowers all. We celebrate the legacy residents and leaders who have championed Riverside’s growth and resilience, proving that history is not just something we remember but something we create together every day.
Southeast Raleigh Promise:
The Rich History, Legacy, and Culture of Community
Southeast Raleigh is a community rich in history, culture, and resilience. Its story is one of legacy and transformation—where deep-rooted traditions meet new opportunities for economic empowerment and neighborhood stability. Through the collective efforts of residents, community leaders, and Southeast Raleigh Promise, the neighborhood continues to thrive while preserving its past and shaping a future of shared prosperity.
At the heart of Southeast Raleigh’s history is John Chavis Memorial Park, a 37-acre space named after John Chavis, a free Black preacher and educator of the early 19th century. Established in 1938 as a recreational area for African American residents during segregation, the park became a vital gathering place for the community. Today, it remains a cherished landmark, home to the historic Chavis Park Carousel and listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Similarly, the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Gardens stands as a symbol of the neighborhood’s deep ties to the Civil Rights Movement. As the first public park in the country dedicated to Dr. King, it features a life-size bronze statue of the leader, surrounded by a memorial wall recognizing those who championed racial equity and social justice in Raleigh.
While honoring its past, Southeast Raleigh Promise is actively working to strengthen connections between neighbors, ensuring that longtime residents remain at the heart of the community’s future. The organization focuses its efforts on four historically Black neighborhoods, partnering with 20 Legacy Resident Ambassadors who guide outreach and engagement strategies. Through monthly meetings, resident-led initiatives, and community events, these ambassadors help shape programs that create opportunities for all who call Southeast Raleigh home.
Cynthia Lyons of Battery Heights reflects on the neighborhood’s transformation and how Southeast Raleigh Promise is helping restore a sense of community by sharing the story told by her mother, 102-year-old Mattie Jones, one of the Legacy Resident Ambassadors. “When she was growing up, it was mixed and then it became all black and now it’s mixed races again,” Lyons said, echoing her mother. “They were true neighbors; they supported one another. Now, you don’t even know who your neighbors are. The Bible says, “It takes a village.’ We were more like a village here. We’re getting back to some of that with Southeast Raleigh Promise.”
Southeast Raleigh Promise is committed to fostering economic stability and preventing the displacement of legacy residents. By leveraging resources and partnerships, the organization has preserved wealth and mitigated displacement in historically Black neighborhoods, provided critical home repairs and improvements for owner-occupied homes, partnered to host Wills and Estate Planning Clinics and Property Tax Relief Workshops, and organized a Community Resource Fair to connect residents with essential services.
Brad Thompson, a former Raleigh City Councilman, advocates for the historical and cultural significance of the area. “Southeast Raleigh is generally thought of as a place where Black people live, but it really is an area of community history,” he explains. “People who live in Southeast Raleigh, no matter where, we’re neighbors. Everybody contributes something.”
Southeast Raleigh Promise is reclaiming its legacy and shaping a future where every resident has the opportunity to grow and thrive.
