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It started in 2021, when Kamira Holman and Alana Johnson won the Women’s History Month essay contest from the Pine Grove Project. But both seventh-graders wondered how they could do more than just write an essay. They wanted to help, to contribute to the overall Pine Grove Project. As a result, Pine Grove President Sonja Branch-Wilson came up with an idea. She created a Youth Council within the organization, designating junior members as student ambassadors. 

“The primary objective of this youth initiative is to nurture leadership qualities, educate youngsters about local Black and Pine Grove history and bridge the generational gap between youth and elders in the community,” Branch-Wilson wrote in a note to The Herald. 

Four years later, still working as a student ambassador, Kamira feels that the work they do is important. Now a vice president in the ambassador program, it’s her job to make sure other students are doing well with their projects and are prepared for upcoming events. 

“Responsibility is a really big part of ambassadorship,” Kamira said. 

Leaving a mark 

And Kamira, as wella s the other ambassadors, have showed that responsibility, while also drawing attention to the story of Pine Grove School. They’ve taken part in interviews as close as Richmond, and as far away as Virginia Beach, speaking on national television for The 700 Club. 

Kamira and her team also served as panelists at the Justice Film Festival in New York City for the documentary “Pine Grove: More Than A School,” contributed to planning and managing stations during annual May Day celebrations, while also creating a Rethinking Waste presentation and infomercial for an Environmental Justice Forum hosted by Pine Grove Project. They also played a role during last year’s unveiling ceremony for the Pine Grove School historic marker. 

“What initially began as a dynamic duo has evolved into a formidable team of 10 members and continues to grow,” Branch-Wilson wrote. “Inviting other young individuals in Grades 7-12, irrespective of their location, to join the AMMD Pine Grove Project Youth Council, the Student Ambassadors are eager to expand their circle and welcome new participants.” 

Kamira said history has always been a passion of hers, adding that she loves going to the library to look up her genealogy. As a result, she’s happy to draw attention to part of Cumberland County’s history and connect people in the community. 

Some history about Pine Grove

And Pine Grove is most certainly an important part of Cumberland’s history. Booker T. Washington came up with the concept. The idea was to create a system of schools for African American students. Finished in 1917, the Pine Grove School is one of six such schools in Cumberland County. It served as a school until 1964, when it closed. Beyond that, Pine Grove served as a community center and was a gathering place when local residents wanted to get together. 

The AMMD Pine Grove Project, meanwhile, is an organization that seeks to protect and preserve the legacy of the school and the African-American community it served for decades. The project initially started when the families tied to the school learned that the school was going to be sold due to delinquent taxes. The family and friends raised enough money to save the school. Through the years, the group has been able to get the Pine Grove School included in the Virginia Landmark Register and National Register of Historic Places.

Now through efforts involving the student ambassadors, group members want to reach out and bring in more members of the local community to help achieve their goal. 

What’s next for Pine Grove Project? 

The Pine Grove Project, with assistance from student ambassadors, will premier the documentary called “Pine Grove: More Than a School” in Farmville next month. That’ll take place at the Moton Museum, located at 900 Griffin Boulevard, on Friday, April 5 from 5 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.