FAIRHOPE — Residents had a chance to hear more about the efforts of Hope Community as part of Fairhope Single Tax Corporation's lecture series last week.

Hope Community founding member Shawn Graham, along with historian and professor Mara Hunter, spoke at the Fairhope Public Library about the work done by Hope Community, their future plans as well as the "We Are Here" project, which is a collaboration between Hope Community and the University of South Alabama History Department, funded by grants from South Alabama and the Alabama Humanities Alliance.

It is a multi-media project that highlights several historic sites related to African American history on the Eastern Shore, giving users an oral history and virtual tour. These sites include the former site of the Anna T. Jeanes School, a school for Black residents during the Jim Crow era.

After Hunter spoke about the "We Are Here" project, Graham came up to speak about the Hope Community initiative, which he helped create.

Founded in 2017, the goal of Hope Community is to create an interconnected community in Baldwin County through food, bonding and education. Recently, they have been revitalizing the former location of the school, regularly maintaining the property after receiving a lease from the city, with big plans coming to the property in the future.

The group is looking to build quite a few additions to the 12-acre property, including a teaching farm and kitchen, an arts and cultural center and a splash pad, all as an effort to revitalize the area and to bring the community together.

"It is your job to renew the community, and it starts with you and we can do it together," Graham said.

To learn more about the Hope Community and their vision, go to www.hopecommunityal.org. The "We Are Here" project can be viewed here.