Erica Xavier-Beauvoir, a former sustainability and land use program manager in Durham, N.C., has been named the first resiliency manager in the Gullah Geechee Cultural Heritage Corridor.
Beauvoir fills the corridor’s new position as rising sea levels, storm surges and erosion pose serious challenges for the Gullah Geechee communities in the corridor that stretches from Wilmington, N.C., to St. Augustine, Fla.
“Implementing protection strategies is essential to safeguard ancestral lands, cultural sites, and economic livelihoods,” said Djuanna Brockington, the corridor’s interim executive director, said. “Xavier-Beauvoir’s work will focus on holistic approaches that honor cultural practices, promote community engagement, and sustain the delicate balance between human needs and environmental conservation,” Xavier-Beauvoir said her goal was to listen and learn about hyper-local restoration needs along the corridor.
“To grow and recover from nature’s climate, communities must thread resiliency plans, communication networks, and the spirit of our ancestors into our work for culture to thrive generations forward.”
Xavier-Beauvoir has more than 15 years of experience in community engagement, emergency response and project management.
The Gullah Geechee Cultural Heritage Corridor is a National Heritage Area managed by the Gullah Geechee Cultural Heritage Corridor Commission. The corridor’s purpose is to preserve, share and interpret the history, traditional cultural practices, heritage sites, and natural resources associated with Gullah Geechee people of coastal North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia and Florida.
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