About
Southside Sankofa, Inc. is a collaborative group of Spartanburg’s Citizens working to restore and advance intercommunity support networks and safe spaces, from neighbor to neighbor, especially in schools, community, and churches. The Southside of Spartanburg is a diverse, historic area located in the city’s south end. It holds a key place in African American history which includes the remarkable successes of entrepreneurs, educators, civil rights activists, and community leaders who achieved some degree of economic mobility. This organization represents the Southside’s own response to the pronounced disenfranchised ruins caused during the era from Ku Klux Klan to the broken promises of Model City programing. It is our purpose to establish equitable relationships with larger Spartanburg and engage in civic processes that will benefit the Southside, build trust, restore and advance our community identity.
Southside Sankofa is an incorporated 501(C)(3) nonprofit organization which grew out of a series of community discussions held from Fall 2020 to Spring 2022 under the banner “Concerned Citizens for Rebuilding of the Southside”. These discussions culminated in a report of findings in April 2022.
Southside Sankofa was created to establish a sustained effort for addressing community needs and goals identified in the Report, both through direct action and through engagement in partnerships with government agencies and non-governmental organizations.
Board of Trustees
Ms. Toni Sutton, Chair
Ms. Evelyn Blakley, Acting Secretary
Mr. James Jones
Mr. Brian Cohen, Treasurer
Ms. Monique Watson
Mr. Robert Cheeks
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Sankofa mean?
Sankofa is a principle that one should remember the past to make positive progress in the future. The Southside of Spartanburg has a long history as a strong community and once had a thriving business environment. These things have been eroded or undercut by various forces, but the memory of them serves to inspire us about what is possible in the future.