Historically Black Neighborhood Gets Boeing's Support for Schools

Nelson Rivers hopes to keep Liberty Hill a black community; Boeing's inadvertently trying to help.

"Liberty Hill was bought in 1864 by a free black man and his wife, who sold it to four families whose descendants still live there. But the neighborhood is now surrounded in the East Montague area by new development, much of which is unaffordable to those longtime residents, Rivers said."

If left to market forces, Liberty Hill might become unaffordable to its present residents; it might even become integrated, or the latest buzzword, "diverse." Rivers is struck with horror at the thought of gentrification. 

With the assistance of Rivers's Charity Foundation, the Charleston County School District, and Boeing, "special programs in science, technology, engineering and math at three schools serving the city's Liberty Hill community: North Charleston Elementary, Morningside Middle and North Charleston High" are planned.

"The education initiative is just one of four parts in a larger community revitalization effort called Transformation: Liberty Hill. Boeing, the Charleston County School District, the Coastal Community Foundation and the Charity Foundation are partnering with a mission 'to transform Liberty Hill into a community of multi-generational and economically stable individuals and families,' according to a press release."

"Under the agreement, Boeing will contribute $150,000 to the STEM project this school year, with the option to extend the program based on results. The school district will contribute $350,000, which a district spokesman said was approved in its 2017-18 budget."

"The money will support the use of STEM curricula from Project Lead the Way, a nonprofit that provides programs for schools across the country." 

The edublob gets its hands in the till as usual.

"North Charleston High already has a Project Lead the Way program. Boeing’s donation will support that as well as new Project Lead the Way initiatives that began this school year at North Charleston Elementary and Morningside Middle.Middle schoolers will use a curriculum called PLTW Gateway to Technology."

"With the agreement signed and workforce development in place, organizers will focus on the next component, affordable housing, Rivers said. The community has more than 240 vacant tracts, he said. About 160 homes are owner-occupied, and another 100 are lived in by non-owners."

"'Frankly, that sets Liberty Hill up to be gentrified, and that's what we are concerned about,' Rivers said."

"North Charleston and North Charleston Housing Authority currently have few affordable housing programs, but Rivers said they have shown interest in his group's plans."

Few programs because North Charleston already has plenty of affordable housing? More than any other area close to downtown?

"The plan calls for buying lots to build or renovate with a "Liberty Hill home," a 1,200-square-foot, three-bedroom, two-bath home with a garage, he said." 

Who's paying?