A MESSAGE FROM VINCENT O. & DENA LEGGETT, FOUNDERS
Establishing BoCF’s Admiral Earl White Legacy Endowment Fund is the capstone of a 40-year journey to commemorate ALL of the great African American watermen and water-women who not only survived in the face of Maryland’s lawfully sanctioned racial segregation during the period of “Jim Crow”, but also THRIVED as boat captains and entrepreneurs.
It was not an “easy” life, nor safe occupations, but an act of resistance; a demonstration of the human power “to overcome.”
The purpose of the Endowment Fund is to financially support the plans for establishing the Blacks of the Chesapeake’s Environmental, Educational, Cultural, & Historical Opportunities Center: EECHO Center & Environmental Learning Barge to be housed at the historic Moore Property/ New Elktonia Heritage Park & Visitors Center in Annapolis.
Our purpose is to connect students and young adults with the opportunities and the information they need to learn about the wide range of current and emerging jobs with good pay and benefits; jobs and careers associated with the maritime industry and trades, environmental and land/water conservation movements; some of which may require technical or college preparation, but many more that may only require a high school diploma or equivalent.
We know that without a workforce with good paying jobs and housing, the Chesapeake’s climate vulnerable communities will continue to lose Both their shorelines, and their bloodlines.
Your financial support will fund:
- Educational and career-development workshops with water experiences
- Financial support for Employer-sponsored technical training
- Wraparound services like transportation and childcare stipends
- Maritime trades equipment
- Cost of attaining professional certifications; and other.
The fund will seek contributions and sponsor fundraisers to sustain the endowment. Transparency in fundraising and awards will be accomplished with annual reports found at https://blacksofthechesapeake.wildapricot.org/
SUPPORT BOCF’S ADMIRAL EARL WHITE LEGACY ENDOWMENT FUND