About the Network

Our History

Letter from the Interim Steering Committee, dated November 21, 2022 [edited]

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To network members, current and future:

Thank you to those who have said ‘yes’ to the invitation to talk about what a network could look like that elevates Black history, amplifies Black voices, and supports preservation of Black history and culture. Thank you to those who weren’t able to say yes, or chose not to, but continue to show up in other ways, time and again, to tell your story, represent your community, speak truth to power.

We have been here before, and we are here again. Because it is still important that we transform how Black history is understood, remembered, felt, seen and experienced in our community and beyond. And this task is too big for any one of us to undertake alone.

Many have asked about the origin of this recent invitation. Why now? Who was invited and why? Why from the City of Charleston?

Why now?  

In 2020-2021, while the History & Culture sub-committee of the City of Charleston’s Special Commission on Equity, Inclusion and Racial Conciliation (EIRC) was drafting recommendations for their report, the Planning Department was engaging with community leaders about how the City can better support historic African American settlement communities and neighborhoods to document and preserve their histories and cultural legacies. Amber Johnson, former EIRC Manager, and Chloe Stuber, Senior Planner, identified the synergy in these conversations and started discussing how the City can be a better partner, but not the driver, in this important work.

Who was invited and why?

Chloe and Amber started having conversations with various groups they knew were already involved in this work and convened an initial call on April 29, 2022 to explore the question: “Is there interest in convening a network to leverage available resources and expertise, and to support increased collaboration?” The answer was a resounding yes. After the call, they sent a follow-up survey to gain a better understanding of what next steps should be and who else should be invited. Survey responses and notes from this initial call shaped the purpose, format and invitations for the network strategy meeting held on July 14, 2022.

Why from the City of Charleston?

Though City of Charleston staff have been sending the invitations, this network is not owned by the City of Charleston. It is not owned by any single organization or individual. The intention (which has been supported by discussions thus far) is for this network to be shared and directed by a collaborative leadership structure.  

Up to this point, an interim network steering team – with representation from multiple organizations – has been supporting this initial co-creation phase. The Steering Team has been committed to shepherding the vision and priorities of the network as a whole, and not our own individual agendas. Our role has been to support and move us forward in alignment, not decide where we go. We have agreed to lead with intention and transparency. We have continued to ask: “Who else should be part of this discussion?” and believe this should always be asked. This is not a closed space.

What now?

On July 14, we – together – established what we now call the Lowcountry Black Cultural Network (LBCN). (Name was selected by majority vote). The ownership and governance will continue to be shared and collaborative. We are building this as we go, and it will continue to evolve and be shaped by those who are part of it.

The Steering Team has looked to the notes from our July strategy meeting to inform how we move forward. From this, we know that our next steps as a network are to establish a formal leadership and decision-making structure. A newly established Executive Committee, to replace the interim steering team, will kick off this process. The role of the LBCN Executive Committee will be to champion the goals and values we have been crafting together thus far.

In closing, we have been honored to support the launch phase of this network and we look forward to continuing in partnership and honest relationship with you all.

Yours in service,

Daron Lee Calhoun II

Cashion Drolet

Amber Johnson

Keisha Kirkland

Jon Marcoux

Marcus McDonald

Dr. Charissa Owens

Chloe Stuber

Adrian Swinton

(Interim) Network Steering Team