Support Ella’s History

The Ella L Jordan Home was badly damaged by Hurricane Ivan in 2004 and was subsequently condemned and set to be torn down by the City. Mrs. Georgia Blackmon, the former director of the Mother Wit Institute, was approached about saving this historic home. She tirelessly set out on a mission to save this historic home that had so much significance to the community. Private donors, smaller grants, and countless volunteers, coupled with Mrs. Blackmon’s determination, saved the home and as of early 2020, the construction and renovations were complete. Now, the mission changes from saving the home, to outfitting it with the necessary equipment, furniture, and resources that will transform it from a historical home to its former glory as a community center and educational museum.

The donations will be used to transform the historic home of Ms. Ella L Jordan into a Museum. Specifically, enabling the organization to purchase educational signage, displays, electronics (a computer, a projector screen, and speakers), kitchen equipment, furniture to host large groups, and enable the completion of non-construction improvements such as parking lot repairs, brick steps and facade repairs, landscaping, and fence installation and repairs. The funds will also be used to provide exterior signage to raise awareness to the importance of and historical significance of the home.

Being situated in the historic Belmont-DeVilliers neighborhood, the home, in its current renovated state and with the improvements we continue to work on, will once again become a beacon of education for the local community - educating those across race and gender about the important political, social, and economic contributions of African American women throughout history in our community.