Cultural Infrastructure

Gullah-Geechee Cultural Infrastructure & Preservation

Cultural preservation, community memory, descendant-centered interpretation, public history, and institutional engagement — connecting institutions and communities to one of America's most significant and enduring cultural traditions.

Research Foundation

Rooted in Scholarship

LILMOD's Gullah-Geechee programming is grounded in the foundational research of founder James D. Height Jr. During his time at Morehouse College, Height conducted a record number of undergraduate field research hours studying the historical and cultural traditions of the Gullah-Geechee people of the southeastern United States.

Academic Research

Height's work explored questions of identity, cultural memory, diaspora history, and the role of historical knowledge in shaping modern civic life. He participated in the Johns Island Preservation Field School through the College of Charleston and contributed to broader scholarly conversations surrounding the African diaspora and cultural preservation.

National Park Service / HBCUI

HBCUI / National Park Service

Through the National Park Service and the HBCUI Internship Program, LILMOD has built direct experience in public history, cultural heritage interpretation, and educational engagement tied to community-based storytelling and historical preservation. This institutional grounding informs how LILMOD designs programs and engages partners today.

Gullah-Geechee Historian

Tendaji Bailey

Tendaji Bailey — Gullah-Geechee Historian

Tendaji Bailey is a respected Gullah-Geechee historian, cultural strategist, and community advocate whose work focuses on justice, memory, and historical consciousness. His deep knowledge of Gullah-Geechee heritage, oral traditions, and community history makes him an essential voice in LILMOD's cultural preservation work.

Bailey's perspective ensures that LILMOD's Gullah-Geechee programs remain rooted in community knowledge, cultural integrity, and the lived experiences of the people whose traditions they seek to honor and preserve.

Senior Advisor — Cultural Memory & Community Strategy
Community Engagement

Connecting with Gullah-Geechee Communities

LILMOD's engagement with Gullah-Geechee communities goes beyond academic research. We are committed to cultural preservation, public history, intergenerational dialogue, and community-centered leadership that honors the living traditions of Gullah-Geechee people.

Community Town Hall — Historic Penn Center

Penn Center

James Height Jr. speaking to Gullah-Geechee elders at a public town hall hosted by The Guardian newspaper at the Historic Penn Center in St. Helena, South Carolina.

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Field Research

Gullah-Geechee Research — James Height Jr. & Jahrik Browner

James Height Jr. and Jahrik Browner conducted extensive field research across Gullah-Geechee communities in the Sea Islands and Low Country regions of the southeastern United States, engaging in oral history documentation, cemetery research, community gatherings, and intergenerational dialogue.

Gullah-Geechee field research documentation

Field Research Documentation

Documentation from Gullah-Geechee field research connected to public memory and cultural infrastructure.

Field research documentation at a cultural site

Cultural Site Documentation

Field documentation at a historic cultural site in the Sea Islands region.

Community gathering during Gullah-Geechee research

Community Gathering

James Height Jr. and Jahrik Browner with community members during Gullah-Geechee field research in the coastal Sea Islands.

Research team visiting Gullah-Geechee community

Community Visit

Research team during a Gullah-Geechee community visit, building relationships and understanding local heritage.

James Height Jr. with Dr. Johnetta Cole during Gullah-Geechee community engagement

Meeting with Dr. Johnetta Cole

James Height Jr. with Dr. Johnetta Cole during Gullah-Geechee community engagement.

Group photo with Dr. Johnetta Cole and Gullah-Geechee community members

Community & Dr. Johnetta Cole

James Height Jr., Jahrik Browner, Dr. Johnetta Cole, and Gullah-Geechee community members during cultural engagement.

Dr. Emory Shaw Campbell, James Height Jr., and Jahrik Browner at a heritage garden

Heritage Garden Visit

Dr. Emory Shaw Campbell, James Height Jr., and Jahrik Browner visiting a heritage garden connected to Gullah-Geechee agricultural traditions and community food culture.

James Height Jr. and Peri Francis at a historic Gullah-Geechee site

Historic Site Research

James Height Jr. and Peri Francis, a community advocate for the Gullah Geechee people, at a historic Gullah-Geechee structure during cultural preservation research.

James Height Jr. educating community members about youth engagement

Youth Engagement Education

James Height Jr. educating community members about youth engagement at a local community center.

James Height Jr. and Tendaji Bailey with Morehouse MMJ during community research

Community Research Gathering

James Height Jr. and Tendaji Bailey with Morehouse MMJ and community members after a day of field research and cultural engagement.

Institutional Programming

How We Work With Institutions and Communities

LILMOD offers a defined set of Gullah-Geechee programming services that institutions, funders, and community partners can support and help scale. Each area below represents a fundable initiative that can be tailored to the needs of specific institutions, regions, or populations.

Youth Heritage Education

Structured programming that connects young people to Gullah-Geechee cultural traditions, building historical awareness and cultural identity through hands-on learning, storytelling, and community interaction.

Intergenerational Dialogue Programs

Facilitated programs that bring together elders, community leaders, and young people to share knowledge, preserve oral traditions, and strengthen cultural continuity across generations.

Public History Interpretation

Programming that translates Gullah-Geechee cultural heritage into accessible public history experiences — connecting historical sites, cultural narratives, and community knowledge to broader audiences.

Speaker Series

Curated speaking engagements and panel discussions on Gullah-Geechee history, cultural preservation, diaspora scholarship, and the intersection of heritage and modern civic life.

Curriculum Support

Consultation and curriculum design support for schools, colleges, and educational organizations seeking to integrate Gullah-Geechee history and cultural content into their programming.

Community Engagement Design

Strategic planning and engagement design for organizations that want to build authentic, community-centered relationships with Gullah-Geechee communities and cultural institutions.

For Funders and Partners

Each of these program areas can be tailored to the needs of specific institutions, regions, or populations. LILMOD welcomes conversations with foundations, educational institutions, cultural organizations, and government agencies interested in supporting Gullah-Geechee cultural preservation, public history, and community engagement at scale.

Our Work

Areas of Focus

Cultural Preservation

Documenting, studying, and supporting the living traditions, language, and heritage practices of Gullah-Geechee communities across the southeastern United States.

Public History & Education

Connecting cultural heritage interpretation to educational engagement, community-based storytelling, and historical preservation through partnerships and programming.

Intergenerational Dialogue

Creating spaces where elders, community leaders, and young people can share knowledge, preserve oral traditions, and build understanding across generations.

Youth & Leadership

Connecting youth to their cultural roots while building pathways into leadership, public service, and advocacy informed by heritage and historical consciousness.

Diaspora Scholarship

Contributing to scholarly conversations examining the social, historical, and cultural foundations of African American identity through the lens of Gullah-Geechee heritage.

Community-Centered Leadership

Ensuring that programming and engagement remain rooted in community knowledge, cultural integrity, and the lived experiences of Gullah-Geechee people.

Research & Resources

NPS Research & Public Scholarship

LILMOD's Gullah-Geechee programming is informed by direct engagement with National Park Service research sites, the Johns Island Preservation Field School, Movement, Memory and Justice, and multiple public history projects. The following resources reflect the scholarly and institutional foundations of this work.

NPS Event Listing — Reconstruction Era NHP Presentation HBCUI / National Park Service Profile — James Height Jr. Explore Beaufort — Reconstruction Era Presentation Johns Island Preservation Field School — Published Work Johns Island Field School — Program Details Movement, Memory and Justice — Morehouse College MMJ Student Portfolios Johns Island Preservation Field School — Prezi Presentation IGGAD Conference Schedule — Gullah-Geechee Research NHK World Japan Feature Morehouse College News — James Height Jr. Camp Saxton — NPS Landfall: Come By The Combee — Research Presentation
Understanding where we come from is the first step toward understanding where we are called to go. The Gullah-Geechee tradition is not just history — it is a living foundation for leadership, service, and cultural identity.

LILMOD Strategies builds institutional partnerships around Gullah-Geechee cultural infrastructure, preservation methods, public history, digital humanities, and descendant-centered interpretation. Our work connects institutions, funders, and community organizations to measurable cultural preservation outcomes.

Partner with LILMOD Digital Humanities