Project Summary

The London Nelson Legacy Initiative seeks to recover the stories of Black pioneers in early Santa Cruz, California whose names and legacy have been lost to antiquity, and to memorialize them for their role in the town’s founding and development. Led by Santa Cruz resident, historian, and activist Luna HighJohn-Bey, with support from core partners Santa Cruz County Black Health Matters Initiative (SCCBHMI) and Santa Cruz Museum of Art & History (MAH), researchers will develop a full historical narrative about each Black person buried at Evergreen Cemetery, as well as those individuals in their community network, for an approximate total of 22 people. We will use this information to create a monument and headstones for the individuals buried there, to produce history exhibitions, a documentary, and a student curriculum, to create a walking tour to highlight historical landmarks, and to engage regional artists in the creation of two community murals. By unearthing and sharing the legacy of early Black Santa Cruz, we hope to awaken all residents to our county’s buried historic and cultural heritage, and to nurture a sense of belonging, identity, and appreciation of and among Black residents.