Dr. Otis Johnson, Mayor of Savannah, To Visit Darien

April 7, 2010, Darien, GA: Dr. Otis Johnson, Mayor of Savannah, and 30 distinguished guests will be visiting Darien and Harris Neck in the northeastern part of McIntosh County on Friday, April 9th.

The Blue Ribbon Tour is being hosted by McIntosh SEED. It includes visits to historic sites in Darien, and exploring the rich history of the residents and descendants of Harris Neck and their links to a Mende community in Sierra Leone, West Africa.

The tour begins at the McIntosh SEED Office on Historic Columbus Square in Darien with a welcome by Darien Mayor Kelly Spratt. The agenda includes lunch and entertainment by the World- Renowned McIntosh County Shouters. The Shouters are recipients of the 2010 Georgia Governor’s Award in the Humanities, and have been invited to perform at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. and the Library of Congress later this year. “I am deeply honored that the Shouters have agreed to perform and share their extraordinary culture and artistic skills with our group”, said Mayor Johnson.

A guided bus tour will follow; including St. Cyprian’s Church, Fort King George, the McIntosh SEED Community Garden at Ashantilly Plantation, and the Liverpool Hazzard Slave Monument. Continuing to Harris Neck, the tour will focus on the community of 75 African American families that thrived and prospered there from 1865 to 1942; living off the land and the sea. The tour will highlight the art and history of these residents, and help the guests better understand the culture of this unique McIntosh County community.

For questions or interviews, contact: John Littles, McIntosh SEED, 437-7821