Meet the Founder and Executive Director

My name is Sandra Boyd, and my family's roots on this island run deep. For generations, we have been dedicated to education, community, and preservation. My ancestors played pivotal roles as educators and developers on St. Helena. My uncle, Benjamin F. Boyd, instructed the students on the fundamentals of construction and contracting. Under his tutelage, Penn Center's Gantt Cottage and Frisel Hall were built during the early years of the 20th Century. Additionally, he built Ebenezer Baptist Church. St Joseph Baptist Church, as well as other church buildings and community homes.  My aunt, Catherine Boyd, taught at Penn and was an administrator and educator for Beaufort County Public Schools. 

 

Following in their footsteps has been both a privilege and a challenge, and it is their legacy that continues to guide my journey. After years of working as a nationwide early childhood and educational trainer and master teacher, I returned home, feeling the weight of my family's history and the responsibility to contribute meaningfully to our community.

 

When the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted our lives, it also halted our cherished heritage celebrations. I couldn't stand by and let this important tradition fade away. So, I reached out to Penn Center and proposed a collaboration to honor our ancestors. Penn Center agreed, and together we designated November as a month dedicated to cleaning up cemeteries and reflecting on those who came before us. This initiative became the foundation of what I hope will be a lasting impact. As we began this work, we found not only volunteers but also key members of the community who shared our vision.

 

Our first significant challenge was securing funds. When we wrote our first grant and received $10,000, we were able to conduct a community survey to identify the most pressing needs. This grant marked the beginning of our collaborative efforts. Our next step was partnering with Morning Glory Farms, inviting families and their children to participate in our programs. This collaboration emphasized the importance of working together to address the needs of our community. We quickly realized that while the needs were many, resources were scarce. To overcome this, collaboration became our number one priority. Since then, we've built partnerships with Sara Reynolds (The CDC and Gullah Grub), the Gullah Geechee Corridor, Penn Center through the United Way Basics Project, Univerisy of Georgia's Residency Program, the Environmental Protection Agency, and the Arts Council.