The Gulf Coast Heritage Preparedness Initiative: Proposal to the Texas A&M University President's Excellence Fund

Abstract

This planning and pilot study will assess the feasibility of a community-based, interdisciplinary model for protecting endangered places and heritage in surviving historic Black settlements founded 1865-1930 known as freedom colonies. The team will develop the materials, approach, and lead model testing among freedom colony descendants in the Brazos Valley region. The team’s goal is to create a community heritage preparedness assessment protocol and process which includes public guidance, hotspot analysis, and workshop curriculum delivered through an engaged, participatory, public humanities approach. The deployment of this pilot study will determine if making existing guidance and assessments more participatory and including archival education within current engagement with freedom colonies will increase these communities’ capacity to prevent loss of culture and valuables before disaster strikes. Once tested and implementation is funded, the model will be propagated through the Gulf Coast Heritage Preparedness Initiative (GCHPI) which will leverage cross-disciplinary training and technology to enable field documentation, collection, and education throughout the State and region. A primary objective is to create sustainable, holistic approaches to community-based preparedness as the frequency and intensity of disasters increase and disproportionately impact communities of color.