CVSC and WeGOJA at Pine Grove Rosenwald School
by Timika M. Wilson
Seated is Pine Grove Rosenwald School student, Iris Taylor Simpkins. She conveyed her memories of going to a Rosenwald school, how education was valued in the community and how that education produced many outstanding students who became educators themselves. Brenda McGriff, volunteer curator and member of the SC Rosenwald Schools Trail Study Steering Committee, detailed the unique role of the school to the community to the Conservation Voters of South Carolina Board of Directors and the WeGOJA Foundation Project Leader. While the Rosenwald Fund helped to pay for the initial school in 1923, it was the Black community that came together to fund the remaining requirements to build and staff the school.
Iris will be featured in the upcoming February 28th SC Rosenwald Schools Trail Study Bulletin. This hard copy booklet features information on the contributors to the study and how the final product will include a master plan and oral histories that highlights both Jewish and African American stories. Pine Grove is one of the six schools initially included in this study.
To learn more about the Pine Grove Rosenwald School go to https://richlandcountyrecreation.com/rosenwald-school/
