AFRICATOWN C.H.E.S.S. Community Meeting Recap for 6/26/2023

The AFRICATOWN-C.H.E.S.S. (Clean, Healthy, Educated, Safe & Sustainable) Community Environmental Organization conducted its community meeting for the second quarter of 2023 on June 26, 2023. Besides doing whatever it takes to keep Africatown and its residents safe from pollution, industrial intrusion into community and residential space, Highways/interstate & railroad disruptions and the planned obsolescence of our Historic Community, C.H.E.S.S. mission includes education the community on items that affect residents both positively and negatively. Over my lifetime I have noticed how rumors have been allowed to run rampant that have had a negative effect on the community, its residents and its image. To this end, C.H.E.S.S. is committed to bringing the truth to the surface as a means of continuing its ongoing efforts to bring the community together and bring back the good old days when everyone in the community loved, trusted and respected each other simply because they had ties to Africatown or respected the community.

As C.H.E.S.S. continues its mission to educate the community, we asked Mobile County Commissioner from District 1 Merceria Ludgood to attend CHESS’s meeting to talk about the Grand Opening of The Africatown Heritage House Museum, the most anticipated opening of any museum in America in 2023 according to The National Geographic Magazine. Ms. Ludgood is often referred to as our “Guardian Angle” by Africatown residents as she is beloved by the community. The Heritage House was her idea as she is leading the way to the establishment of Africatown as a Cultural Heritage Tourism Destination. The Heritage House is only one of the many things she has planned for Africatown. Ms. Ludgood seems to understand that Africatown is “The Hook” for new and sustainable tourism for the city of Mobile, the state of Alabama and the entire Gulf Coast Region.

Commissioner Ludgood brought along with her Ms. Mary Elizabeth Harper, Director of the Mobile History Museum and Ms. Jessica Fairley, The new manager of The Africatown Heritage House. They were there to answer any and all questions residents might have about the Grand Opening of The Africatown Heritage House and the various activities taking place surrounding its grand opening which is set from Thursday July 6th thru Saturday July 8th. A brief summary of activities surrounding the Grand Opening of Africatown’s Heritage House includes:

-Thursday, July 6th

10 am – 4 pm Descendants (only) preview of the museum

6 pm – 8 pm Reception at The Mobile History Museum (RSVP)

-Friday July 7th

9 am – 10 am Dedication of The Heritage House – Outside – The public is invited

10 am – 2 pm The media (only) is invited to tour the Heritage House

3 pm – 6 pm Africatown residents (only) are invited to tour The Heritage House – free of charge

-Saturday, July 8th

7am – 10 am Africatown Fun Walk

8 am – 3 pm The Descendants Association boat rides beginning under the bridge to the Clotilda wreckage – Reservations only

10 am – 5 pm Africatown Heritage House opens to the public. Reservations required

11 am – 3 pm Africatown Heritage House Community Day Festivities – free and open to the public – free food, music and fun

Come out and be a part of this historic occasion. Bring your family and your cameras. LET’S MAKE HISTORY TOGETHER!

Dr. Major Joe Womack USMCR (ret.)

Executive Director of

africatown-chess.org

Co-Founder of

africatownhpf.org

251-404-9558

Leader, Doer, Storyteller

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