225th Anniversary of Peter Oliver's Freedom

This June, Winston-Salem will host a weeklong celebration honoring the 225th anniversary of Peter Oliver’s freedom June 13-21, 2025. Peter Oliver, and enslaved man in the late 1700s, lived and worked in Salem as a Moravian Single Brother. Known for his skilled craftsmanship in pottery, firefighting service, entrepreneurial spirit and perseverance, Oliver gained his freedom on June 13, 1800.

On June 13th, 1800, Peter Oliver signed the documents for his freedom in a Lancaster, PA courthouse. Peter Oliver’s freedom was not accidental or happenstance. Guided by Pennsylvania’s abolition laws and through a strategy of Oliver and the Moravian Church, Oliver stood before a Lancaster judge who declared him free “to all intents and purposes.” Historical records suggest Oliver may have contributed to the financial cost of his emancipation, a testament to his perseverance. After securing his freedom, Oliver returned to Salem, where he lived as a freedman, respected tradesman and church member until his death in 1810.

This milestone will be commemorated through a series of events that reflect his enduring legacy and impact on the community. The Creative Corridors Coalition is coordinating with a variety of community organizations that have a connection to Peter Oliver’s life and story along with decedents of Peter Oliver. In addition to Creative Corridors, organizations involved in planning the events include Historic Bethabara, Home Moravian Church, Moravian Archives for the Southern Province, Old Salem Museums &; Gardens, Triad Cultural Arts, and numerous historians and educators.

We invite the public to take park in the following events and programs being held in conjunction with the 225th Anniversary of Peter Oliver’s Freedom.

Friday, June 13 – Family Remembrance Walk Old Salem

The week begins with a guided Family Remembrance Walk at 3:30 p.m. on Friday, June 13. The tour will start at the Single Brother’s House in Old Salem and take family members and other attendees to points of interest related to Peter Oliver’s life including Home Moravian Church, the Fire House, Pottery Site, Oliver’s Farm Site, Graveyard, and the Doctor’s House. Speakers will include selected family members and historians including Teddy Reeves, Curator at the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History & Culture. Content for the walk was developed by Sabrina Garity, assistant director of the Moravian Archives for the Southern Province. An informal reception will be held at the Creative Corridors offices at 500 South Church Street (Second Boys’ School) in Old Salem immediately following the walk.

Saturday, June 14th – Peter Oliver’s Freedom Day at Old Salem

From 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Old Salem Museums &; Gardens will host a celebration featuring powerful storytelling, hands on demos, and guided tours at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. honoring Peter Oliver, skilled craftsman and the only documented enslaved individual in Salem to purchase his own freedom. In partnership with the Creative Corridors Coalition, this special event will shine a light on Black history and post-emancipation life in early Salem. All activities are included with Old Salem general admission.

Monday, June 16th – Songs of Freedom and African American Spirituals

At 6 p.m. Home Moravian Church in Old Salem will host a special music program featuring organist Jonathan Williams and vocalist Rev. Kenneth A. Pettigrew, pastor of St. Philips Moravian Church in celebration of Oliver’s act of freedom. Free Tickets Click Here

Tuesday, June 17 – Peter Oliver Life and Legacy Lecture

Sabrina Garity of the Moravian Archives for the Southern Province will present a lecture highlighting the life and legacy of Peter Oliver at the Archie K. Davis Center at 457 S. Church Street at 5:30 p.m. Get your tickets online.

Wednesday, June 18 – Peter Oliver Vault Tour

A special tour of the Peter Oliver Archives will be held at 4:30 p.m. at the Moravian Archives for the Southern Province in the Archie K. Davis Center. Get your ticket online.

Thursday, June 19 – Symposium on Peter Oliver

From 2 to 4:30 p.m., The Peter Oliver symposium will take place at Reynolds Place Theatre, Milton Rhodes Center for the Arts in downtown Winston Salem. The symposium will be hosted by Creative Corridors and consist of a overview of Peter Oliver, brief summary of Peter Oliver Pavilion Gallery project, a panel discussion, and keynote talk by Jon Sensbach, Professor of History, University of Florida who did foundational research on Peter Oliver in the 1990s. Other historians and panelists participating in the symposium include Martha Hartley from Old Salem Museums &; Gardens; Mike Wakeford, MUSE Winston-Salem; Michelle Hopkins Lawrence, Salem Academy; Geoffrey Hughes, Archaeologist; Earl Ijames, North Carolina Museum of History; and Sabrina Garity, Moravian Archives for the Southern Province. George Jones will offer closing reflections as a descendant of Peter Oliver. Free Tickets Click Here

Thursday, June 19 – Documentary Film Premiere about Peter Oliver

At 7 p.m., also at the Reynolds Place Theatre, Milton Rhodes Center, a documentary entitled “The Life and Legacy of Peter Oliver” will premiere. The film brings to light Oliver’s path to freedom, his deep commitment to family, and his enduring impact on Winston-Salem’s history. Written and filmed by students in Wake Forest University English 175 class during the Spring 2023 semester, and directed by Brianna Healey with production by Dr. Meredith Farmer, this student-driven documentary weaves together rare archival materials, expert insights, and heartfelt interviews with Oliver’s descendants. The film also explores present-day efforts to commemorate Oliver’s legacy through the creation of The Peter Oliver Pavilion Gallery, currently underway on the very land he once farmed. Free Tickets Click Here

Friday, June 20 – Bethabara Walking Tour & Moravian Archives Vault Tour

From 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. walk in Peter Oliver’s footstep at Historic Bethabara Park. See the places he lived, worshipped, and worked and learn how he persisted in advocating for himself in a time when most enslaved people were unable to do so. The tour will include foundations, buildings and a look at some pottery artifacts, as well as a pottery demonstration. The event is free, but registration is encouraged at this sign up page from Bethabara.

Also on Friday, at 5:30 p.m. a second opportunity for a vault tour of the Peter Oliver Archives will be held at the Southern Moravian Archive Archie K. Davis Center. Get your ticket online.

Saturday, June 21 – Winston-Salem Juneteenth Celebration

From 12:30 to 8 p.m. the Winston-Salem Juneteenth Celebration will take place, presented by Triad Cultural Arts, at Bailey Park. Peter Oliver will be lifted up as an African American trailblazer for Winston-Salem and Creative Corridors will have a table sharing information and activity highlighting the Peter Oliver Pavilion Gallery project. For more information on Winston- Salem’s Juneteenth Celebration, visit Triad Cultural Arts Juneteenth webpage.

Two Foundations Award $145K to Creative Corridors

We are thrilled to announce that the Richard J. Reynolds, lll and Marie M. Reynolds Foundation have awarded Creative Corridors $100,000 towards the building of the Peter Oliver Pavilion Gallery. Also Creative Corridors is the recipient of $45,000 from the Z. Smith Reynold's Community Progress Fund. To learn more about that fund click here: https://www.zsr.org/articles/zsr-awards-14-million-33-organizations-working-local-progress-across-nc

A birds eye view of the future site of The Peter Oliver Pavilion Gallery. The site will be located on the land that Peter Oliver once farmed. It is adjacent to the MUSE Winston-Salem building on Liberty Street.

Winston-Salem City Council Backs The Peter Oliver Project!

A rendering of the Peter Oliver Pavilion Gallery. It will be located on the land that Peter Oliver farmed. It is adjacent to the MUSE Winston Salem building on Liberty St.

On Monday, June 17, 2024 the Winston-Salem City Council unanimously approved designating the land where Peter Oliver lived and farmed for The Peter Oliver Pavilion Gallery. There was great coverage of the event here are a few highlights:

https://myfox8.com/news/north-carolina/winston-salem/winston-salem-city-council-approves-plans-for-pavilion-gallery-honoring-slave-who-became-free-man/

https://wstoday.6amcity.com/real-estate/peter-oliver-pavilion-gallery-winston-salem-nc?utm_term=wstoday&utm_campaign=daily-newsletter&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_source=wstoday&utm_content=wstoday

Arbor Investment Advisors Pledges $25,000 to the Peter Oliver Pavilion Gallery

Thank you to Arbor Investment Advisors for pledging $25,000 in honor of their 25th anniversary towards the trees that will grow at the Peter Oliver Pavilion Gallery site.  “In our firm’s 25th anniversary year, Arbor Day represents a unique opportunity to connect with our area’s roots,” says Bill Hollan, a principal at the firm. “We are pleased to be able to support a project which has such significant meaning for our community’s history.” The extraordinary pledge brings Creative Corridors a step closer to creating the first public space in Winston-Salem that tells the story of an enslaved person who persevered and received his freedom. The space will illuminate the rich and varied African-American legacy in Winston-Salem and Forsyth County that Peter Oliver and his descendants helped forge.


Celebrating Brenda Fulmore

Brenda Fulmore first joined the Creative Corridors board in 2012 and served in a variety of ways, supporting many projects. In 2021 she became Chair of the Board and led the organization through key moments of project design and implementation, collaborating with local and state leaders, elected officials, and the community at large. In September 2022, Brenda stepped into the organization's new part-time Executive Director role.

Over her years with Creative Corridors, she has brought leadership, passion, and boundless joy to the work and everyone involved in it. From speaking to community groups and doing media interviews, to golf tournament fundraisers, walking tours and ribbon cuttings, countless emails and meetings with city staff and elected officials; Brenda has been deep in the work of Creative Corridors.

Group of Creative Corridors board members and Peter Oliver descendants sitting around a conference room table at the Mayors officer

Creative Corridors board members and Peter Oliver descendants preparing for a meeting with the Mayor of WINSTON SALEM

In early 2023, Brenda decided to step down from the Executive Director role to pursue personal goals. However, will continue to be involved. She has accepted a role as Honorary Advisor for the Peter Oliver Pavilion Gallery capital campaign. We are forever grateful for her years of hard work and dedication to the Creative Corridors mission. We wish her all the best in all her endeavors!

Brenda Fulmore standing beside the Salem Parkway highway point to a sign that says "Salem Parkway 2021 America's Transportation Awards"

Brenda Fulmore pointing to the Salem Parkway 2021 America’s Transportation Awards Sign

Local Leaders Join Screening of Creative Corridors Film

Winston-Salem, Forsyth County, and North Carolina leaders joined the Creative Corridors Coalition on April 19th for a screening of the film “Bridging A Community: The Creative Corridors Coalition Story” at the RiverRun International Film Festival. The film documents the history of the Creative Corridors Coalition. Creative Corridors board member Talitha Vickers moderated a panel discussion, and filmmaker Seth Wingate of Twin City Media also attended the event. The panel that discussed the film included Winston-Salem Mayor Allen Joines, Creative Corridors Board Member and former Forsyth County Commissioner Fleming El-Amin, N.C. Department Transportation Division Engineer Pat Ivey, and Creative Corridors Board Chair Christie Williams.

Photos by Jessica Tefft

Bridging a Community: The Creative Corridors Coalition Story. A new Short film about CCC will show at the 2023 RiverRun International Film Festival

Bridging a Community: The Creative Corridors Coalition Story is a new short film that documents the history of the Creative Corridors Coalition and profiles its pioneering work benefiting Winston-Salem and serving as an inspiration to other cities. The film will be shown on Wed., April 19th, from 3:00-4:30 pm. Tickets are free. To find out more about the event and get a ticket, click here: https://riverrunfilm.com/events/bridgingacommunity/

Community Conversations-Thursday April 6th, 12:00pm at Bookmarks in Winston-Salem

Continuing the conversation from Wake Forest University's Face to Face Speaker Forum that brought social justice activist, public interest lawyer, and founder of the Equal Justice Initiative Bryan Stevenson to town.
Let’s reflect together on how Bryan Stevenson’s remarkable vision of social and economic justice, and his dedication to candid historical reckoning with difficult pasts, can translate into a more just Winston-Salem.
Come to one or more of three follow-up conversations MUSEws is co-hosting with Bookmarks, Creative Corridors Coalition, Love Out Loud, and the United Way of Forsyth County.
--Thursday, March 2, 6:30 pm: Love Out Loud, at The Hub at Augsburg Community Center, 502 N. Broad Street. Come 30 minutes early for refreshments and networking.
--Thursday, March 16, 6:30 pm: MUSE Winston-Salem, 226 S. Liberty Street. Come 30 minutes early for refreshments and networking.
--Thursday, April 6, 12:00 pm: Bookmarks, 634 W. Fourth Street. Come 30 minutes early to network and browse the shelves.

CCC Announces New Board Chair, Executive Director

Creative Corridors Coalition is excited to announce that it has hired an executive director, Brenda Fulmore, and has a new board chair, Christie Williams.

 The changes come as CCC builds, strengthens, and sustains its mission to provide the Winston-Salem community with a network of green, artful, iconic corridors, footpaths, and bridges.

Fulmore has been involved with CCC for 12 years and most recently served as the board chair. Beyond CCC, she is known in the community for her advocacy for minority- and women-owned businesses. Fulmore is excited about transitioning to the executive director's role to continue the work of the CCC. 

 "We have an exciting new project on the horizon this fall, and it will need all hands on deck. This upcoming project is a passion project for me, and I think our city will "GAIN" positively from its impact," Fulmore said. "GAIN," a guiding principle for CCC, stands for Green, Artful, Iconic, Network.

 Williams has served on the CCC board for six years and was most recently the Community Relations Committee co-vice chair. Beyond CCC, Williams is known in the community for her work with the nonprofit organizations Love Out Loud and Cycle Recycle. Williams is thrilled about her new role at CCC because she knows there is so much work to be done. In addition to the new project CCC is launching this fall, the organization is also working on the multi-use paths in Winston-Salem, corridor signage, and beautifying the Martin Luther King Jr. Drive corridor.

 Williams says Brenda Fulmore is the right person for the executive director role at CCC.

 "Brenda will be a great executive director because of her passion, understanding of the community, and persistence," Williams said.

 Conversely, Fulmore knows that Williams brings a wealth of knowledge about the community to the role of board chair. 

 "I am grateful that we will continue to work together to support the organization's mission," Fulmore said. 

Remembering Joycelyn Johnson

We are saddened to announce that Joycelyn Johnson, a long-time board member of Creative Corridors Coalition, died Tuesday, June 21, 2022, of natural causes. Joycelyn was a kind and loving person who was always concerned about other people's needs. She was a fierce advocate and dedicated public servant for the causes she believed in and worked to make Winston-Salem better for everyone.

Creative Corridors Coalition board chair Brenda Fulmore said, "Joycelyn was a tremendous asset to the Creative Corridors Coalition organization. Her passion for this city was unmatched, and her commitment to growth and inclusion was paramount for the community she served. Joycelyn's friendship will be missed, and she will forever hold a special place in my heart."

Former CCC board chair Bill Davis noted that Johnson's city government connections, knowledge, wisdom, and experience helped guide CCC projects and choices smoothly. Likewise, design vice-chair Jimmy Hoots remembered that Johnson helped keep the CCC projects community-focused and fostered the conversations that led to those outcomes.

In addition to her community service with CCC, she served the East Ward of Winston-Salem for 16 years, first on the board of aldermen and then on the city council. She chaired the Public Works Committee and worked tirelessly to improve working conditions for the city sanitation employees. To honor her outstanding work, the building that houses the city's public works department was named after her.

For most of her career, Joycelyn worked as a social worker at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center. She graduated from Atkins High School and received her bachelor's degree in social work from Bennett College in Greensboro.

Honoring Sylvia Sprinkle-Hamlin

Winston-Salem was illuminated in purple the week of January 10, 2022 in honor of Sylvia Sprinkle-Hamlin. Sprinkle-Hamlin passed away January 3. She was director of the Forsyth County Public Library, leader of the Black Theater Festival and a Creative Corridors Coalition Board Member. We are eternally grateful for her many contributions to our city.

Vote for Salem Parkway - AASHTO 2021 America's Transportation Awards

The greatness of Salem Parkway is a result of many years of planning and fundraising, creativity and innovation of world renown designers, and dedicated collaboration between North Carolina Department of Transportation, the City of Winston Salem, and Creative Corridors Coalition. Along with all the workers who contributed to it’s construction.

Brenda Fulmore, Board Chair, speaks about this exciting award.

The American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) has posted the Top 12 Finalists for the 2021 America's Transportation Awards and we are pleased to share that the Reconstruction of Salem Parkway (U.S. 421/I-40 Business) Project , aka U-2827B - Business 40 in Winston-Salem, is one of the 12 finalist. AASHTO will select from these 12 projects for two awards, the Grand Prize winner and the People’s Choice Award.  A panel of industry experts will select the Grand Prize winner.  The general public will decide the People’s Choice Award winner through online voting.

If you like the improvements to the Salem Parkway please go to the site and vote for the Reconstruction of Salem Parkway (U.S. 421/I-40 Business) Project for the People’s Choice Award.

VOTE HERE

Online voting ends at 11:59 PM EST on October 25.  Note: You can vote one time per Project per 24 hours. AASHTO will announce the winners of both awards during their Annual Meeting in San Diego, October 26-29.