Program

See the full Institute schedule including pre-Institute sessions here.

In partnership with Nobis Project the Collaborative 2025 Institute will be a place-based, experiential learning retreat exploring and learning from Gullah-Geechee history, traditions, and culture work today.

The Collaborative invites courageous conversation, learning, and applied insights at the intersections among shared history, food justice, and social and environmental change.

Participants will learn how educators, community leaders, and scholars in the region are navigating ecological and economic change through innovations including sustainable agriculture and ethical community partnerships.

Key themes of the Institute are:

Ethical community-based storytelling, oral histories, walking tours, and archives
Cultural traditions, displacement, and food sovereignty
History, interdependence, and collaboration
Food justice and agriculture
Community-led efforts to sustain and support the natural environment
Developing programming and partnerships across ideological differences

We will build community through experiential learning together, including a visit to a rice farm, a walking tour highlighting Black history in Savannah, and shared meals.

All will have opportunities to share best practices and challenges in their home community or institutional contexts, collaborating on strategies that center community voices in global learning.

Logistics and Details

LOCATION

The Beach Institute African American Cultural Center
502 E Harris Street, Savannah, GA 31401 Map
Besides an African American history walking tour and visit to a rice farm outside of Savannah (transportation provided), all shared meals and conversation will take place at the Beach Institute
Savannah is on the coast of Georgia, in the southeastern United States, off of US Interstates 16 and 95.

HOTEL

Springhill Suites, Downtown Savannah
$239 per night plus tax (group rate)
Hot breakfast and WIFI included daily
Booking link for group rate (NOBIS- CBGLC Conference 2025)
About a 20-minute walk to the Beach Institute
Other options with Nobis Project connections:
- The DeSoto Savannah, 15 East Liberty Street
  About a 7-minute walk to the Institute
- Fairfield Inn & Suites Savannah Downtown/Historic District, 135 Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard
  About a 20-minute walk to the Beach Institute
- Hampton Inn & Suites Savannah Historic District, 603 West Oglethorpe Avenue
  About a 20-minute walk to the Beach Institute
- TRYP by Wyndham Savannah Downtown/Historic District, 320 Montgomery Street
  About a 15-minute walk to the Beach Institute
- Courtyard Savannah Downtown/Historic District, 415 West Liberty Street
  About a 15-minute walk to the Beach Institute

MEALS

The following meals are included in registration:
Saturday breakfast, lunch, and dinner
Sunday breakfast and lunch

GETTING TO SAVANNAH & AROUND

The closest airport, Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport (SAV), is 8 miles northwest of downtown Savannah, Georgia. Delta, American, United, Southwest, JetBlue, and Allegiant serve the airport. Within 2 hours 15 minutes drive time visitors can also fly into Charleston, SC Charleston International (CHS).
Ground transportation from the SAV airport to historic Savannah options include taxis, Uber/Lyft, or rental cars. It’s about a 20-minute drive to downtown and rideshares cost $30+ depending on time of day.
Once to your lodging (above) there are many walkable options for coffee, nature, and museums near the Institute site. A free trolley system serves the city.

Registration Rates

Early Bird Rates Until September 19

To strive for more equity and support of institutions and our member campuses, we align our Institute fees with our tiered approach to membership.

Scholarships are limited. If you would like to request a reduced-fee registration, before starting to register please complete this brief form.