Housing Authority of Savannah hosting Black History Month Program

The event Thursday night is free and open to the public.

Published on Feb. 25, 2026

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The Housing Authority of Savannah (HAS) will host a Black History Program on Thursday, Feb. 26, 2026, at 5:30 p.m. at HAS Building B, 1407 Wheaton St., Savannah, GA 31404. The event is free and open to the public. The program will feature 21 youth participants alongside eight seniors, bringing Black history to life through storytelling, recognition and a celebratory finale. Seniors will be honored for their wisdom and contributions to the Savannah community, while youth will take on short speaking roles throughout the evening.

Why it matters

The event reflects HAS's mission to address housing needs while emphasizing education, job training and economic self-sufficiency for residents of public housing neighborhoods and participants in the Housing Choice Voucher Program. By honoring elders and uplifting youth, the program aims to affirm that legacy is not only remembered, but also passed forward.

The details

The program will include a special segment, 'Our Trailblazing Children' — a Housing Authority of Savannah Recognition Moment, which will spotlight the first class of IGNITE Scholars for their commitment to academic excellence, leadership development and personal growth through HAS programming. The program will also recognize several community leaders as Living Legends, including Savannah's first African American woman mayor, the first African American sheriff of Chatham County, the first African American woman to serve as chief judge in Chatham County, and the first African American graduate of Armstrong College and Savannah's second African American mayor.

  • The Black History Program will take place on Thursday, Feb. 26, 2026, at 5:30 p.m.

The players

Evette Hester

The executive director of the Housing Authority of Savannah.

Edna Branch Jackson

Savannah's first African American woman mayor and longtime public servant.

Sheriff Richard 'Ricky' Coleman

The first African American sheriff of Chatham County.

Judge Tammy Stokes

The first African American woman to serve as chief judge in Chatham County.

Otis Johnson

Former mayor and pioneering educator; the first African American graduate of Armstrong College and Savannah's second African American mayor.

Estella Shabazz

Community leader and the first African American woman civil engineer hired by the City of Savannah.

Colonel John A. White

Georgia's first sworn African American police officer, a member of the Original Nine, a Congressional Gold Medal recipient, a veteran of the 51st Defense Battalion, and a former personal bodyguard to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. during his visits to Savannah.

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What they’re saying

“We are intentional about creating moments where our children can see themselves reflected in greatness.”

— Evette Hester, Executive Director, Housing Authority of Savannah (wjcl.com)

The takeaway

This Black History Month program organized by the Housing Authority of Savannah aims to honor the wisdom and contributions of local elders while uplifting and inspiring the next generation of Savannah's leaders, reflecting the organization's commitment to empowering its residents through education, job training, and community engagement.