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

Historic Savannah Foundation will host a special panel discussion titled "Yamacraw Village: History, Community and Continuity" in the sanctuary of First Bryan Baptist Church, located at 575 W. Bryan St. in Savannah, Ga. Doors will open at 5:30 p.m., and the panel discussion will start at 6 p.m. This panel discussion is free and open to the public, but advance sign-ups at myhsf.org are strongly encouraged.

Part of Historic Savannah Foundation's ongoing lecture series, "People, Places and Stories that Define Savannah," the Yamacraw Village panel discussion will include David S. Hamburger of Georgia Legal Services; Shana Williams from the Yamacraw Residents Council; Ellie Isaacs of Landmark Preservation Consulting, LLC.; and Georgia Benton, historian for First Bryan Baptist Church. Moderated by Historic Savannah Foundation President and CEO Collier Neeley, this 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.