RESCHEDULED - "Yamacraw Village: History, Community and Continuity" Panel Discussion

Historic Savannah Foundation has rescheduled the June 18th "Yamacraw Village: History, Community and Continuity" Panel Discussion due to an unexpected conflict. The new date for the Yamacraw Village HSF Panel Discussion, which is free and open to the public, will be Thursday, July 23rd, at 6 p.m. Doors will open at 5:30 p.m.

The Yamacraw Village panel discussion is part of Historic Savannah Foundation's ongoing lecture series, "People, Places and Stories that Define Savannah." Moderated by Historic Savannah Foundation President and CEO Collier Neeley, this informative panel will examine the rich history of the Yamacraw community, from its 18th-century roots to the demolition of the multicultural neighborhood in 1939 and its subsequent development as a 22-acre public housing complex in 1941.

Yamacraw Village holds deep historical importance for Savannah, reflecting national trends in urban planning and public housing while highlighting the impact on underrepresented communities. As the oldest federally funded housing project remaining in Savannah, and one of the earliest remaining in the U.S., Yamacraw Village's current planned demolition and redevelopment raises questions about how neighborhoods and public housing communities are preserved.

The panel discussion will also highlight First Bryan Baptist Church, which was established in 1788 by Andrew Bryan while he was enslaved at Brampton Plantation. Recognized as one of the oldest Black Baptist churches in the U.S., First Bryan Baptist Church serves as a spiritual and community anchor for the neighborhood. The church's enduring connection to the community is essential to understanding the history of Yamacraw Village. The HSF Panel Discussion will examine the importance of preserving history in Savannah, as well as a sense of place, faith, and community.