SANDHILLS FAMILY HERITAGE ASSOCIATION

Sandhills Family Heritage Association (SFHA) originated in the 1970s as a group effort to research family genealogy and issues of land-loss for African-Americans. SFHA became a nonprofit in 2001. SFHA uses culture and history as the table around which people gather to work on common goals that strengthen families and communities.

Programs and Activities

SFHA carries out its mission through its programs of H.O.P.E.: Heritage, Outreach, Preservation of Land and Economic Empowerment. Our programs approach communities holistically, addressing the history, culture, economic growth and stability and the health and well-being of families. Programs include Heritage Tourism, HealthWise, Sankofa Youth, Girls REACH, Know2Grow (financial literacy), Sankofa Players, the Spring Lake Farmers Market and activities to promote and protect landownership and creation of family wealth.

GEOGRAPHIC AREA

SFHA is located in Spring Lake, NC. We work with communities in Cumberland and surrounding counties. Our African-American culture and history programs focus on the N.C. Sandhills. Our annual heritage festivals draw attendees from all over the state. Counties – Cumberland, Harnett, Lee, Vance

POPULATION SERVED

While SFHA programs and activities focus on the African-American community, our programs are open to anyone interested in attending, participating, volunteering or benefiting from the services, information and access to resources we offer.

COLLABORATION

SFHA is a volunteer-driven, small nonprofit organization. We utilize collaborative partnerships to carry out our mission and effect community change. We work with local and state agencies, nonprofits, businesses and churches, including Cumberland Health Department; NC Folklore Society; Colleges and Universities; NC Cooperative Extension – Cumberland County; 4-H; Boy Scouts; Second Harvest Food Bank of SENC , NC Association of Black Lawyers; Elder Law Clinic, Sandhills Area Land Trust, Land Loss Prevention Project, Resourceful Communities and local farmers.

AFFILIATIONS

Greater Spring Lake Chamber of Commerce, Fayetteville Area Convention and Visitors Bureau, Cumberland County African-American Heritage Tour, NC African-American Heritage Commission, NC Farm Fresh, NC Agritourism Networking Assoiation, NC Veterans History Project, American Folklife Center, National Trust for Historic Preservation, RAFI - Fresh Bucks - SNAP/EBT, Cumberland County – Fayetteville Area Commerce and Visitors Bureau, NC Arts Council

Current renovation Project

SFHA is renovating its historic Spring Lake civic Center, constructed in 1945 by African-American residents of Spring Lake, Manchester Township and surrounding communitities. With donated materials, the community constructed the one-story cement building to serve as a welcoming pace for community and family events. civic activities and y outh recreation. During the 1960s, the Spring Lake Civic Center served as a hub for Civil Righs activities, including voter registration and school desegregation. The Spring Lake Civic Association, owners of the property, gifted the building and land to SFHA in 2009 with the charge to renovate and reopen the building. SFHA is committed to restoring this cherished community resource to the community that built it and sustained it for many years. SFHA is working with Critical Path Solutions, contractor, to complete the renovation by early 2024. As a historic structure, the renovation will restore the building to its original appearance.

Deerfield Cemetery Project

A local property owner donated the Deerfield Cemetery to SFHA in 2021. Deerfield Cmetery is an abandoned burial site where more than 80 enslaved and free African- Americans are buried. SFHA is working to identify those interred at the site, install fencing, clean the grounds and repair existing grave markers and install a sign with history information about the cemetery. This project is in the early stages. We hope to secure financial support to continue and expand the project.