Mr. Bradley is a St. Helena Island native and master craftsman whose work spans carpentry, landscaping, farming, blacksmithing, and bateau boat building. Learning from his father at an early age, he built a lifetime of experience preserving traditional Gullah Geechee trades and cultural practices. Throughout his career, he operated successful construction and cabinet-making businesses while mentoring younger generations. His work reflects a deep commitment to craftsmanship, entrepreneurship, and the preservation of Lowcountry heritage.

Class Offering: Students will learn foundational building skills while exploring traditional Gullah Geechee craftsmanship, entrepreneurship, and the history of bateau boat construction.

Rhonda serves as Programs and Projects Coordinator for the University of South Carolina Beaufort's Institute for the Study of the Reconstruction Era. She develops educational programs, public history initiatives, and community partnerships that connect students and residents with the history of the Lowcountry. Her work focuses on preserving memory, strengthening community connections, and helping young people understand the importance of family stories and local history.

Class Offering: Students will learn methods for preserving family history through oral storytelling, interviews, memory collection, and creative historical projects.

Fatou is a first-generation Senegambian educator, organizer, and urban grower whose work focuses on food justice, environmental education, and community wellness. Raised between The Gambia and the United States, she brings a global perspective to conversations about agriculture, culture, and sustainability. As a Howard University student and community advocate, she works to empower youth through hands-on learning and cultural exploration.

Class Offering: Students will explore the history of rice culture throughout the African diaspora through mapping, cooking, discussion, and cultural discovery activities.

Sarah is an educator, farmer, social worker, and lifelong advocate for preserving Gullah Geechee traditions. A graduate of Spelman College, she returned to St. Helena Island to dedicate her work to education, farming, and community development. Alongside her husband, Chef Bill Green, she has helped create opportunities for youth to connect with foodways, agriculture, and cultural heritage while strengthening pride in community traditions.

Class Offering: Students will explore farming traditions, food systems, and cultural heritage while learning the importance of stewardship and community leadership.

Bill is owner of the renowned Gullah Grub Restaurant and one of the nation's leading ambassadors of Gullah Geechee foodways. His work has been featured on major television programs including High on the Hog, No Reservations, Martha Stewart Living, and Taste the Nation. A lifelong farmer, fisherman, huntsman, and chef, he uses food and storytelling to preserve and celebrate the culture of the Sea Islands.

Class Offering: Students will learn culinary fundamentals, food safety, meal preparation, teamwork, and traditional Gullah cooking techniques.

Becca is a playwright, writer, filmmaker, and multidisciplinary artist whose work centers African ancestral knowledge and storytelling traditions. A graduate of Howard University and recipient of the Zora Neale Hurston and Richard Wright Foundation College Award for Fiction, she combines research, performance, and creative expression to explore identity, memory, and culture throughout the African diaspora.

Class Offering: Students will create and perform an original theatrical production inspired by Gullah lore, storytelling, and community history.

Amanda is a multidisciplinary artist, indigo practitioner, and cultural strategist whose work lives at the intersection of creativity, heritage, and community engagement. Rooted in traditional knowledge and artistic practice, she helps communities explore identity, storytelling, and cultural preservation through hands-on creative experiences that connect past, present, and future.

Class Offering: Students will explore traditional arts, creativity, and cultural expression through hands-on projects rooted in heritage and storytelling.

Dora is an entrepreneur, social worker, and community leader with more than twenty years of experience helping individuals and families build financial stability. Through DDJ Enterprise she provides financial education, life coaching, and consulting services that promote personal growth and economic empowerment. Her work focuses on helping people develop the knowledge and confidence needed to create lasting success.

Class Offering: Students will build financial literacy skills focused on budgeting, saving, entrepreneurship, and responsible decision-making.

Amanda is a writer, producer, researcher, educator, and founder of Lotus Life & Style. Her work explores archives, storytelling, health, and Black Southern culture. Currently pursuing doctoral studies at the University of South Carolina, she combines scholarship with community engagement to preserve stories and cultural knowledge while helping students connect with history and place.

Class Offering: Students will engage in storytelling, archival research, theatre exercises, and traditional herbal knowledge.

Natasha is a storyteller, poet, actor, educator, and Army veteran whose career spans more than four decades. A former member of the Beaufort Mass Choir and Gullah Kinfolk Traveling Theatre, she uses performance and oral tradition to preserve African American history and culture. Her engaging style helps students understand the power of storytelling as a tool for community preservation.

Class Offering: Students will learn oral history techniques, storytelling performance, and methods for preserving community memory.

Jennifaye is a fifth-generation sweetgrass basket artist, author, quilter, and motivational speaker dedicated to preserving one of the most important artistic traditions of the Gullah Geechee people. Through her work she teaches cultural pride, craftsmanship, and the historical significance of sweetgrass basket weaving while ensuring these traditions continue for future generations.

Class Offering: Students will learn sweetgrass weaving techniques while creating their own handmade keepsake rooted in Gullah Geechee tradition.

Karmen is founder of KAS Global Enterprise and an accomplished operations executive with more than twenty-five years of experience in finance, compliance, mortgage servicing, and business consulting. She is passionate about helping young people gain practical financial knowledge and confidence. Her teaching emphasizes real-world applications that help students build a strong foundation for future success.

Class Offering: Students will learn practical financial literacy skills including budgeting, saving, credit awareness, and money management.

Stanley is a Sapelo Island Geechee descendant, master net maker, herbalist, storyteller, artist, and founder of Geechee Hands. Trained by family elders including Cornelia Walker Bailey and Hicks Walker, he has dedicated his life to preserving traditional Geechee knowledge and practices. His work combines cultural education, environmental stewardship, and artistic expression rooted in the Sea Islands.

Class Offering: Students will learn traditional net making, storytelling, herbal foraging, and medicine-making practices.

James is a master carpenter, community elder, and educator whose life reflects the values of craftsmanship, discipline, and service. Following in the footsteps of his father, he developed extensive experience in carpentry and construction while building a respected career in the Beaufort community. He remains committed to passing practical skills and cultural knowledge to younger generations.

Class Offering: Students will learn foundational carpentry techniques, building skills, and the importance of patience, precision, and craftsmanship.

Lexi is a farmer-geographer and doctoral student whose work examines how Black communities use agriculture to build relationships, sustain cultural traditions, and strengthen community resilience. Their research and teaching connect environmental stewardship with ancestral knowledge, helping students understand the powerful relationship between land, identity, and community. Through SHINE, Lex introduces youth to farming as both a practical skill and a cultural practice.

Class Offering: Students will learn sustainable growing practices, environmental stewardship, and the importance of building strong relationships with the land.