Now Hiring! Sarasota African American Cultural Center Director of Programs & Cultural Experiences

Join Our Movement
Sarasota African American Cultural Coalition (SAACC)
Sarasota, Florida
Director of Programs & Cultural Experiences
Salary Range: $75,000 to $95,000, commensurate with experience.

History Doesn’t Live in the Past. It lives in the people who choose to preserve it, celebrate it, and carry it forward. At the Sarasota African American Cultural Coalition (SAACC), we believe the past informs the future. Every story we preserve, every cultural experience we create, and every connection we inspire strengthens our community and honors the courage, dignity, and determination of the Black pioneers whose vision helped shape Sarasota.

As we continue transforming the historic Leonard Reid House into a destination for history, arts, culture, and community engagement, we’re looking for an innovative leader to help bring that vision to life. If you’re passionate about storytelling, creativity, education, and creating experiences that inspire people of every generation, we’d love to meet you.

Imagine Your Impact
Imagine welcoming students into the Leonard Reid House and watching history come alive through stories that have too often gone untold. Imagine partnering with artists, historians, educators, and community leaders to create programs that spark curiosity, celebrate culture, and strengthen community pride. Imagine designing experiences that inspire visitors, honor the legacy of Sarasota’s African American pioneers, and become signature moments in our community. As SAACC’s Director of Programs & Cultural Experiences, you’ll have the opportunity to do all of
that and more.

What You’ll Do
You’ll lead the development of engaging educational programs, cultural experiences, exhibits, and community initiatives that establish SAACC as a premier destination for learning and cultural enrichment.

Your responsibilities will include:

  • Designing and implementing a year-round calendar of educational and cultural programming.
  • Developing the Leonard Reid House Experience as SAACC’s signature visitor experience.
  • Creating exhibits and interactive storytelling experiences that bring history to life.
  • Planning and leading public programs, performances, lectures, workshops, and signature cultural events.
  • Building relationships with artists, historians, educators, civic organizations, and community partners.
  • Collaborating with SAACC’s Development and Marketing teams to strengthen donor engagement, sponsorship opportunities, and community outreach.
  • Measuring program success and continually enhancing the visitor experience.

About SAACC
The Sarasota African American Cultural Coalition preserves, celebrates, and shares the rich history, arts, culture, and contributions of African Americans in Sarasota and beyond. Through storytelling, educational programming, cultural experiences, and community partnerships, SAACC creates a place where history is experienced, culture is celebrated, and future generations are inspired.

Qualifications
The ideal candidate will have:

• A bachelor’s degree in education, African American Studies, History, Public History, Museum Studies, Arts Administration, Cultural Studies, Community Development, Communications, Nonprofit Management, or a related field.
• A master’s degree is preferred.
• Five or more years of experience leading educational programming, cultural experiences, museum initiatives, nonprofit programs, or community engagement efforts.
• Experience planning public programs, exhibits, educational initiatives, workshops, performances, or community events.
• Strong project management, communication, organizational, and relationship-building skills.
• Knowledge of African American history, culture, and heritage.
• Experience working collaboratively with community partners and diverse stakeholders.
• Experience supporting fundraising initiatives, sponsorships, donor engagement, or grant-funded programming is preferred.
• Flexibility to work occasional evenings and weekends for programs and special events.

Why Join SAACC?
This is an exciting moment in SAACC’s history.
You’ll help shape one of Sarasota’s emerging cultural destinations while preserving history, celebrating culture, and creating experiences that educate, inspire, and connect our community for generations to come. If you’re looking for an opportunity to make a meaningful impact while working alongside passionate community leaders, this is your chance.


The Time Is Now.
History is still being written.
Bring your creativity.
Bring your passion.
Bring your vision.
Help write the next chapter of SAACC’s story.

How to Apply
Please submit the following:
• Cover letter
• Résumé
• Three professional references

Email your application to:
Attention: Vickie Oldham, President & CEO
aaccsrq@gmail.com
Subject Line: Director of Programs & Cultural Experiences Application
Applications will be reviewed as they are received and will remain open until the position is filled.

Equal Opportunity Employer
The Sarasota African American Cultural Coalition is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive workplace where every employee, volunteer, and community member is valued and respected. We encourage qualified candidates from all backgrounds to apply.

Observer: Newtown is the largest Black historic district in Florida.

Thanks to the efforts of the Sarasota African American Cultural Coalition preservation project, Sarasota has become the second city ever to win the Stewards of Heritage Award as it is recognized as the largest historic African American district in the State.

Historic House in Largest Black Community in Florida
Historic House in the Newtown district of Sarasota, Florida. Photo taken by Ian Swaby

This July Sarasota received the Stewards of Heritage award from the Florida Archaeological Council. Based on the number of contributing resources, The Newtown district is now the largest Black historic district in Florida and joins St. Augustine as the only other city in the state to receive this award in its 50 years of existence.

Since 2015 Vickie Oldham, the president and CEO of the Sarasota African American Cultural Coalition, has been documenting the history of Newtown. At the start little information was readily available about the city’s historical Black community, meanwhile it it has seen a massive outgrowth. For instance, it has captured the attention of Steven High, executive director of the John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art. 

As a result of this interest, the SAAC is now in partnership with the museum. Therefore the SAAC plans to create a new space for making and exhibiting art, at a warehouse site the museum owns next to Truvine Church, which is located at 1947 31st St.  

According to Vickie, “A project which started with a seed of an idea, has made possible a new Sarasota cultural institution”

Read full article by Ian Swaby on Observer

Interested in learning more about SAAC’s mission? Click here.

Interested in donating? Click Here.

Changing curriculum urges scholar to spark conversation

WUSF 89.7’s Kerry Sheridan interviews Sarasota resident and author James Stewart about Florida’s changing Advanced Placement Black History curriculum.

The Florida Department of Education has revised its curriculum for Black history after facing criticism over its previous version. The new curriculum includes more comprehensive coverage of Black history, including the contributions of Black Americans to science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) fields.

The previous curriculum, which was implemented in 2019, drew criticism for its limited coverage of Black history and its focus on slavery and segregation. Many educators and community leaders argued that the curriculum did not adequately reflect the contributions of Black Americans to American history and culture.

The new curriculum, which was developed with input from educators and community leaders, aims to address these concerns. It includes a more diverse range of topics, including the Harlem Renaissance, the Civil Rights Movement, and the contributions of Black Americans to the arts, literature, and music.

However, some educators and scholars argue that the new curriculum still falls short in some areas. Dr. Ashley Robertson, an assistant professor of African American history at Florida A&M University, argues that the curriculum does not go far enough in addressing systemic racism and inequality. She encourages educators to speak up and advocate for more comprehensive coverage of Black history in the classroom.

Despite these criticisms, the new curriculum represents an important step forward in acknowledging and celebrating the contributions of Black Americans to American history and culture. It is a reminder of the importance of ongoing dialogue and collaboration between educators, scholars, and community leaders in shaping our understanding of history and culture.

On August 22, 2023 at 5:47 Pm WUSF Public Media published an interview between Black History Scholar James Stewart and their Kerry Sheridan. James Stewart is a Sarasota resident and senior fellow at the Institute on Race, Power and Political Economy at the New School in New York. He is the also the author of a popular textbook called Introduction to African-American Studies, and professor emeritus at Penn State University. They discussed the topic of the changing curriculum in Florida for Advanced Placement for Black History classes and how to address the topic to help steer the conversation towards a brighter future through education. Stewart believes that a push towards broad participation in the ongoing public dialog is necessary to change policy and the current standards.

Check out the video interview and its transcription on WUSF Public Media’s website by clicking here.

Interested in learning more about SAAC’s mission? Click here.

Interested in donating? Click Here.

Rosalyn Howard Remembered

A committed scholar and amazing Friend. Dr. Rosalyn Howard is remembered by Vickie Oldham.

Dr. Rosalyn Howard

SAAC President and CEO Vickie Oldham memorialized Dr. Rosalyn Howard recently in the Herald Tribune . She was an accomplished anthropologist and associate professor at the University of Central Florida. Rosalyn’s work helped add historical context to the actions of early pioneers and civil rights leaders. She passed on March 4th, 2023. Rosalyn Howard is remembered fondly as a mentor, partner, and most of all a friend.

Here is a snippet from the story:

“I hear Dr. Rosalyn Howard’s voice in all of the ‘Looking for Angola’ resources that our research team created from the time we began our search in 2005 for artifacts related to the 1800s Black Seminole settlement.

Her fingerprints are on the materials that document Newtown’s 100-year-plus history; indeed, Newtown Alive’s research report, website, book, oral history interviews, podcast series and historic markers all have her stamp of approval.

Roz was my research partner, my mentor and my friend, and she taught me how to honor diverse people, cultures and history.“

To read the full story by Vickie Oldham in the Sarasota Herald Tribune click here.

Interested in learning more about SAAC’s mission? Click here.

Interested in donating? Click Here.

New SAAC Updates for Reid House and more!

Here are some SAAC updates about our current programs, events, and efforts to convert a historic house into an African American arts, culture, and history center in Sarasota.

Our momentum to complete the repairs and renovations to the Leonard Reid House is growing. This effort is possible because of the commitment of multiple Sarasota philanthropists. Because of their kind donations and their belief that Black history is American history –– not only in February, but yearlong. We send them and all of our supporters our heart felt gratitude. The lights are on now and contractors have been landscaping and mulching the exterior of the building. Soon other renovations such as a new restroom will be coming soon as well. We also thank our partners, particularly the Amaryllis Park Neighborhood Association and their president Mary Butler. Together, we’ll work magic in Newtown.

The Reid Family’s impact and influence remains. SAACC is anxious to continue this legacy of community service with the Leonard Reid House opening soon as the site of our African American arts, culture and history center.

Come learn more about other SAAC updates that we’ve been up to and discover how you can help promote African American arts, culture, and history in the community of Sarasota and the Tampa Bay area.

Read our most recent newsletter.

Learn more about becoming a member.

Or make a contribution and donate.

Sarasota African American Arts and Cultural Center designer receives unique donation

Sarasota Herald-Tribune


 Juan Self is the designer and architect for the Sarasota African American Cultural Center (SAACC), a center and museum planned for the heart of Sarasota’s historically Black neighborhood of Newtown. Self became involved with the Sarasota African American Cultural Coalition, the nonprofit organization behind the center, in 2019. Since then, he’s assisted with designing the museum that aims to highlight and amplify both the achievements and history of Sarasota’s Black pioneers. Set to open in early 2023, the museum also serves as a gathering place for community members to share stories, learn the history of Sarasota’s Civil Rights activists and leaders and connect past with present through arts and culture.

Click here to read the full article Submitted by Samantha Choler and published by Sarasota Herald Tribune

Baseball Hall of Famer Buck O’Neil’s legacy honored with Key to the City of Sarasota

Sarasota Herald-Tribune

The enduring legacy of John “Buck” O’Neil was honored with the Key to the City of Sarasota on July 24 to celebrate his induction into the National Baseball Hall of Fame.

The key, commemorating O’Neil’s powerful history in the community, will be donated to the Sarasota African American Cultural Coalition to be displayed at the future Sarasota African American Arts and Cultural Center located in Newtown.

“Buck O’Neil has made countless contributions to the City of Sarasota and has had a profound impact on the African American community,” Sarasota Vice Mayor Kyle Battie said. “He serves as a shining example of strength, and has broken down barriers for children and adults alike. It’s a humbling privilege to celebrate his well-deserved induction into the National Baseball Hall of Fame and bestow him the Key to the City.”

Click here to read the full article Submitted by Julia Groom and published by Sarasota Herald Tribune

YourObserver.com: Historic Leonard Reid House on the move to Newtown

After it arrives from the Rosemary District to its new site in Newtown, the home of the “right-hand man” to Sarasota’s first mayor will become home to a new Sarasota African American cultural center.

A piece of Sarasota history will be loaded onto a flatbed and moved more than 2 miles in the early morning hours on Friday when the historic Leonard Reid House will be relocated to city-owned property in North Sarasota. There it will become home to a new Sarasota African American cultural center.

The house will be moved from its location at 1435 Seventh St. in the Rosemary District to 2529 N. Orange Ave. in Newtown.

Click here to read the full article by Andrew Warfield and published by YourObserver.com.

WTSP Tampa Bay 10: Leonard Reid’s descendant speaks as house moves to become a museum

Reid’s house would be moved to a new location on Orange Avenue at Dr. Martin Luther King Jr Way in Newtown early Friday morning.

The City of Sarasota joined by elected officials and community leaders gathered for a sendoff celebration for the Historic Leonard Reid House Thursday.

The house is moving to a new location on Orange Avenue at Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Way in Newtown early Friday morning. It was donated to the city by the owners and will become the first home of the Sarasota African American Cultural Center (SAACC) and History Museum.

The gathering included a symbolic ritual for prosperity and protection and a reflection on preserving the history and heritage of the city’s black community. Reid was one of the early pioneers who helped establish Overtown, Sarasota’s African American community, in an area now known as the Rosemary District.

Click here to read the full article written by Adaure Achumba and published by WTSB Tampa Bay 10.

WTSP Tampa Bay 10: Historic Leonard Reid house set to move to Newtown on Friday

Reid helped set up Sarasota’s first black community in Overtown. The house would be the first home for the Sarasota African American Art Center and History Museum.

This Friday, the historic Leonard Reid House, home to one of Sarasota’s early black pioneers will be moving to a new location to become a museum.

Reid helped set up Sarasota’s first African American community in Overtown.

The City of Sarasota community has anticipated the move for a few years. The historic house will be moved from its current location on 7th Street in the Rosemary District to a city-owned lot at the corner of North Orange Avenue and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr Way in Newtown.

Click here to read the full article written by Adaure Achumba and published by WTSB Tampa Bay 10.