#238 Harriet Tubman’s Legacy in Health and Freedom with Victoria Smalls

Victoria A. Smalls, a Gullah Geechee native of St. Helena Island, SC, is Founder & CEO of Smalls Cultural Resources, where she champions Gullah Geechee communities across the United States and their global ties to Africa’s Diaspora. With more than two decades of experience, she has served as a state Commissioner on the SC African American Heritage Commission, Federal Commissioner on the Gullah Geechee Cultural Heritage Corridor Commission, and Executive Director of the Gullah Geechee National Heritage Area. 

Her leadership has been crucial in preserving the cultural practices, heritage sites, and natural resources of Gullah Geechee communities across the Southeast. Smalls has also contributed her expertise in history, art and culture to the Penn Center, International African American Museum, and the National Park Service. 

Her dedication to community advocacy has earned her numerous accolades, including the Black History USA Community Advocate Award, recognition as one of the 12 Black Leaders to Know in South Carolina, and the 2024 Governor’s Award in Humanities. She has been named a Leo Twiggs Arts Diversity Leadership Scholar, a Riley Fellow, and one of the 50 Most Influential Leaders in Charleston. In 2022, she was awarded The President’s Lifetime Achievement Award for her outstanding volunteer service.