Historic Mitchelville to host Freedom Day panel

Historic Mitchelville Freedom Park will mark its annual Freedom Day celebration on Saturday, Feb. 7, 2026, with a public program examining education as a foundation of freedom, civic leadership and self-determination.

The event, scheduled from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the park on Hilton Head Island, is free and open to the public. Organizers say the 2026 theme, “Freedom to Learn: Education as Liberation Then, Now, and Next,” reflects Mitchelville’s historic role as one of the first self-governed communities of formerly enslaved people in the United States and its early embrace of compulsory education.

Founded in 1862 during the Civil War, Mitchelville established schools as a central institution of community life, a legacy that park officials say continues to inform contemporary discussions about educational access and equity.

This year’s program will feature a panel discussion moderated by Dr. Deborah L. Mack, former director of the Smithsonian National Museum of African Art. The discussion will include leaders from both K–12 and higher education, including Dr. Valerie Cave, superintendent of Allendale County School District; Dr. Glenda Sheffield, superintendent of Hampton County School District; and Dr. Paulette R. Dillard, president and CEO of Shaw University.

The conversation will explore why education was viewed as essential to freedom by formerly enslaved people, how learning functions as both opportunity and responsibility today, and the ongoing challenges facing educational institutions. Organizers say the panel will also focus on practical ways communities can support schools and universities beyond commemorative events.

“Freedom at Mitchelville was never just an idea—it was built, governed, and taught,” said Ahmad Ward, Executive Director of Historic Mitchelville Freedom Park. “Our annual Freedom Day celebration invites our community to reflect on what it means to protect the right to learn, and how education remains one of the most enduring pathways to dignity, power, and self-determination.”

The program will include a musical performance by the South Carolina State University Concert Choir of Orangeburg.

The park is located at 40 Harriet Tubman Way on Hilton Head Island. The event will be held rain or shine, and donations will be accepted.

Additional information is available at exploremitchelville.org