In Oglethorpe, Georgia, a community-led effort preserved a relic of the town’s segregated past

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📻One big story 📻 

Journalists are said to write the first draft of history. What if they didn’t do it alone? 

In this edition we’re revisiting a story from our spring 2024 News Ambassadors cohort in Georgia, where local residents, alumni and historians worked together to preserve the stories of the historic Oglethorpe County Consolidated School (OCCS), before its demolition this year.  The historic consolidated school building, most recently home to Oglethorpe County Primary School (OCPS) was the main school serving the county’s rural, Black population during segregation. 

OCCS alumni Maggie Mobley and Willie Waller attended the all-Black training school in their early years and have led efforts to preserve the school’s significance as a symbol of a time before schools were integrated to educate all students.

As the historic building is demolished to make way for a new K-5 elementary school, local leaders and residents are commemorating its past through the repurposing of bricks from the old building as pavers in the new school’s pavilion. 

The community held a fall ceremony to honor the school’s history and a dedication ceremony is slated for the spring or summer. Local historians Greg and Ashley Simpson have been working with the community to locate and preserve stories of the smaller segregated feeder schools that once served the county’s Black students, and the transformation as students came together to attend the new Oglethorpe County Consolidated School. The local preservation society made a book with pictures and oral histories of alumni.

Why we like it: Student reporters Izzy Wagner and Micheal Johnson highlight the collaboration between historians and community members in capturing historical perspectives and community voices which could otherwise be erased. 

Broader Context: Many policies designed to promote inclusivity in historical preservation, urban development and public education are facing scrutiny or dismantling as part of sweeping anti-DEI efforts that make it harder for work similar to the project in Oglethorpe, to preserve the contributions and stories of underreported communities. We’re revisiting this story at a time of sweeping changes to traditionally non-partisan government agencies that serve Democrat and Republican leadership alike  —  including at the National Archives and Records Administration — in charge of preserving historical records and narratives of our country’s government as well as all its citizens. A recent replacement of the acting archivist with new Trump appointees tasked with dismantling efforts to ensure diversity, equity and inclusion has alarmed some press freedom advocates who worry these changes may harm longstanding impartial efforts to preserve histories of all Americans. 

Preserving stories from OCCS’ legacy serving Black students in the region during the era of segregation is central to understanding and honoring the diverse experiences and histories that have shaped the Oglethorpe community.  

Tip: When covering community preservation stories, it's important that we consider how historical narratives are constructed and who gets to tell them. Look for stories that highlight community-led efforts and pay attention to how these efforts intersect with broader social trends, demographic shifts and political forces. Also, try to engage with local leaders and residents who may be able to provide deeper insights into the unique challenges and solutions their community faces in preserving its history. 

Read the full story by 2024 University of Georgia News Ambassadors student reporters Izzy Wagner and Micheal Johnson.

✨Story Spotlight ✨

We have an exciting update from our engagement team in Berwyn, Illinois! 

Calvin Krippner of Northwestern and Santiago Posada-Jaramillo of DePaul University were our News Ambassadors/Latino News Network Fall Engagement Journalism fellowship with us last for engagement work in Berwyn in collaboration with fall in collaboration with Illinois Latino News, Cicero Independiente and WBEZ. 

Following months of research, canvassing, and listening to community needs, our collaboration of journalists has published an Information Ecosystem Assessment report that you can read here. They are ready to move to the next phase in our program — producing solutions journalism stories. 

Berwyn is a Chicago suburb with a strong Latine population and little local news coverage. The community engagement findings in Berwyn revealed a desire for enhanced reporting on public safety, health, school, and taxes/government spending.

Read Calvin’s recent story about the spring 2025 reporting phase of our work in Berwyn here. 

👓What we’re reading👓

We’re loving the Habits of Heart and Mind: How to Fortify Civic Culture from the American Academy of Arts & Sciences, which explores thoughtful strategies to help strengthen democratic engagement in today’s polarized climate. The report focuses on the importance of building a strong civic culture, one where people feel connected to each other and motivated to participate in public life, despite deep political divisions. It also highlights the need for practices like mutual respect, service and open dialogue to create a foundation for a healthy democracy.

This publication is a reminder that treating our neighbors and fellow citizens with dignity  in our communities is just as vital as any political reform. It ties into the efforts we’ve been reading about the Dignity Index and Dignity Pledge, which we love. We're especially excited to dive deeper into the strategies they offer on how fostering trust, collaboration, and understanding can help bridge the divides we see in modern American society. A must-read for anyone interested in creating a more resilient and participatory democracy.

Bonus: A new collective called News Futures is calling journalists, organizers, educators and people who align with building a future for news that is service-oriented, participatory, and reparative. The deadline to join a working group is Sunday March 9.

That’s all we have for you this month, folks. We’ll see you in April!