CHARLOTTE, Tenn. (WTVF) — Have you heard of the Promise Land Community? The community was established and settled by former slaves from the Cumberland Furnace during the Reconstruction Period in Charlotte.
At one time, the community had encompassed around 1,000 acres with more than 50 homes, many stores, churches and an elementary school.
Today, only the St. John Promise Land Church and the Promise Land School Building remain.
The Promise Land Heritage Association is throwing its annual festival to celebrate the community's ancestry, legacy and creativity.
The Music & Arts Festival is taking place on June 1 at the Promise Land Historic Site in Charlotte. You can see a layout of the event schedule here.
The festival begins at 10 a.m.
The celebration begins with a Tennessee Historic Marker dedication and the Parade of Hats for Healthy Hearts.
Admission to the festival is free with donations accepted for parking.
Journalism is at its best when we can shine a light on an issue that needs more attention. Once again, Hannah McDonald does this beautifully by highlighting the hardships of teens aging out of the foster care system. I learned something new in her reporting and am inspired by the work I AM NEXT is doing to make a difference. I think you will be too!
-Carrie Sharp