A LETTER FROM OUR COMMUNITY
Why preserving Rosenwald schools is a promise we intend to keep
In Hickory Grove, stories have always traveled the same way: across front porches, in church basements, and from one generation to the next. For many families, those stories lead back to a Rosenwald schoolhouse—built through determination, fundraising, and the belief that education could open doors that had long been closed. Hickory Grove Community Preservation began with neighbors standing in the same rooms where grandparents once learned to read and write, asking a simple question: if we don’t protect this place, who will?
Rosenwald schools were more than buildings. They were community projects—supported by Julius Rosenwald’s matching-fund program and powered by Black families who gave money, labor, lumber, meals, and time. In rural areas across the South, these schools became centers of learning and civic life. They shaped teachers, tradespeople, leaders, and everyday citizens, and they carry the evidence of a hard-won commitment to dignity and opportunity.
Our work is to preserve that legacy in a way that serves people today. We document histories, care for artifacts and records, support maintenance and restoration efforts, and share educational resources so students and visitors can understand what happened here—and why it matters now. We partner with residents, descendants, educators, and preservation allies because this story isn’t owned by any one person; it belongs to the community that built it.
We are guided by respect: for those who studied and taught in these classrooms, for the neighbors who sacrificed to build them, and for the future generations who deserve to see the past clearly. Preservation is not nostalgia—it is stewardship, and it is an invitation to learn, remember, and act.
Thank you for taking time to learn our story—and for helping us keep it visible.
— Hickory Grove Community Preservation
— In the Community —
Preserving the Story of Rosenwald Education
A few moments from our work and the places we steward—built by neighbors, shaped by students, and cared for today through shared commitment and memory.
A schoolhouse saved for the next generation
Hands-on care, one project day at a time
Details that carry a century of stories
Documenting names, faces, and local history
Community stewardship in motion
OUR FOUNDER
Angela M. Harris
Founder & Community Steward · Est. 2014
Angela M. Harris helped launch Hickory Grove Community Preservation after listening to elders describe the Rosenwald school as a place where education, dignity, and community leadership took root. She began organizing neighborhood cleanups, collecting photographs and oral histories, and building partnerships to protect the site for future generations. Today, Angela focuses on keeping the work practical and people-centered—honoring the past while creating new ways for students, educators, and visitors to learn from it.
“Preservation isn’t just saving a building—it’s protecting the stories that taught our community to believe in itself.”
Derrick J. Coleman
BOARD CHAIR
Connects preservation goals with steady governance, fundraising, and strong community partnerships.
Kendra L. Whitfield
PROGRAMS & EDUCATION
Designs tours and learning materials that help students and visitors understand Rosenwald history.
Samuel T. Brooks
PRESERVATION LEAD
Coordinates volunteers and repairs with care—focused on durability, authenticity, and safety.
— Keep the legacy living —
Help preserve Rosenwald schools for future generations
Whether you have a story to share, time to volunteer, or resources to contribute, your support helps protect these historic classrooms and the community history they represent.
Every message is welcomed—no commitment required.