About the Association to Preserve the Eatonville Community (P.E.C.)
Pride in Heritage. Educational Excellence. Cultural Arts.
Guardians of America’s First Black Town
For nearly four decades, the Association to Preserve the Eatonville Community (P.E.C.) has served as the dedicated steward of Eatonville, Florida’s remarkable heritage.
To promote Eatonville, Florida’s considerable heritage, historical, and cultural resources as a means for the community’s revitalization and economic development; and via programming which promotes pride of heritage, educational excellence and the cultural arts will preserve and protect the community for posterity.
To make Eatonville an internationally recognized cultural heritage tourism destination for the arts and culture throughout the African Diaspora, with special emphasis on the multi-disciplines as represented by the life and work of Zora Neale Hurston.
Our Core Values
Pride in Heritage
Celebrating the legacy of America’s first incorporated African American municipality
Educational Excellence
Sustaining a commitment to life long learning, thereby empowering individuals in a dynamic world
Cultural Arts
Showcasing the artistic contributions of people of African ancestry throughout the diaspora
Experienced Leadership Team
Board of Directors P.E.C. is governed by a dedicated board of community leaders, business professionals, and cultural advocates committed to preserving Eatonville’s legacy while building its future.
Officers
Primerica Regional VP
Member since 2009
UCF, Rosen College of
Hospitality Management
Member since 2009
U.S. Postal Service (Retired)
Member since 2015
R.G. Smith & Associates, LLC
Member since 2019
Center for Multicultural
Wellness & Prevention, Inc.
Member since 2009
Members
Chair of Development
Member since 2024
ClaDom Enterprises, LLC
Member since 2019
City of Orlando
Office of the Mayor
Member since 2000
International Entrepreneur
Past President; Returning Member since 2019
Walgreens
Member since 2015
Staff
Executive Director
Resident Curator,
Zora Neale Hurston®
National Museum of Fine Arts (The Hurston®)
Community Archivist (Courtesy of the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation)
Bookkeeper
Museum Assistant
Nearly Four Decades of Cultural Leadership
1887
Eatonville is incorporated in the state of Florida on August 15.
1897
Robert Hungerford Normal and Industrial School is founded, becoming one of Florida’s leading educational institutions for African Americans.
1937
Zora Neale Hurston publishes Their Eyes Were Watching God, immortalizing Eatonville in American literature.
1987
Preserve the Eatonville Community, Inc. (P.E.C.) is founded. During its first year, Preserve the Eatonville Community was primarily an advocacy organization, focusing on preservation strategies including an historic survey of the Town and supporting the opposition of a “community-busting” road-widening project.
1990
In January, P.E.C. launches the first annual Zora Neale Hurston Festival of the Arts.
1990
In July, P.E.C. opens the Zora Neale Hurston® National Museum of Fine Arts (The Hurston Museum).
1991
P.E.C. establishes the ZORA! National Planners, bringing together distinguished scholars, artists, and cultural leaders to guide the festival’s vision.
1996
Zora Neale Hurston Festival of the Arts and Humanities Festival receives recognition as part of the 1996 Atlanta Olympics (Cultural Olympiad).
1998
After a 10-year advocacy campaign, P.E.C. is successful in its efforts to have an Eatonville Historic District listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
2020
The Town of Eatonville receives designation as a Florida Main Street community.
2023
Eatonville is featured on CBS Sunday Morning with Jane Pauley, bringing national attention to preservation efforts and the historic Hungerford property.
2024
The National Trust for Historic Preservation names Eatonville as one of America’s 11 Most Endangered Historic Places.
2024
Orange County Florida Government invests $1.3 million to encourage marquee arts and cultural blockbuster events in Orange County.
2025
The 36th annual ZORA! Festival celebrates “Placemaking – Exploring Its Implication in a 21st Century Context” and continues its national growth, welcoming audiences from across the country and around the world.
2026
The 37th annual ZORA! Festival celebrates “Hurston, History & Heritage: Commemorating America 250.”
August 2026
P.E.C. officially launches Eatonville Rising™: Sacred Ground and Storied Eyes—A Celebration of Two American Milestones. The series is introduced at the Martha’s Vineyard African American Film Festival and the national launch during the National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ) Convention & Career Fair in Atlanta.
August–
Sept.
2027
P.E.C. presents Eatonville Rising™ a six-event culturalheritage tourism series Celebrating Two American Milestones: 140 Years of Eatonville’s Incorporation & The 90th Anniversary of the Publication of Their Eyes Were Watching God, funded in part by Orange County Government through the Arts & Cultural Affairs Program.
Distinguished Participants Include:
Renowned Scholars:
Dr. Elizabeth Alexander, Dr. Henry Louis Gates Jr., Dr. John Hope Franklin
Celebrated Artists:
Maya Angelou, Ruby Dee, Ossie Davis, Cicely Tyson
Musical Legends:
Ashford & Simpson, Kem, Najee, Ramsey Lewis, Morris Day & The Time, Freddie Jackson, the Isley Brothers, Maze Featuring Frankie Beverly
Impact by the Numbers:
37 consecutive years
of programming
Hundreds
of featured artists, scholars, and performers
1+ million
estimated cumulative attendance
Recipient of numerous national recognitions
National Trust for Historic Preservation
National Endowment for the Arts
Cultural Olympiad (Atlanta) 1996
Mission: To provide a place “in the heart of the community” where the public can view the work of artists of African ancestry who live in the United States or throughout the Diaspora.
Selected Featured Artists Since 1990:
Benny Andrews
Renowned painter and activist
John Biggers
Legendary muralist and educator
Elizabeth Catlett
Sculptor and printmaker
Lonnie Graham
Contemporary photographer
John Jennings and Stacy Robinson
Graphic novelists
Betye Saar
Mixed-media artist
Carrie Mae Weems
Conceptual photographer
Deborah Willis
Photography historian and curator
Hank Willis Thomas
Contemporary artist
Expanding Our Reach:
Group Tours
Customized experiences for visitors
Educational Workshops
Training for municipalities and nonprofits
Community Engagement
Local programming and partnerships
Heritage Preservation
Historic site maintenance and interpretation
Driving Local Economic Growth
Statewide Context: Historic preservation in Florida generates over $4.2 billion annually, supporting nearly 123,000 jobs and contributing $657 million in tax revenue. P.E.C.’s Direct Contribution: Through nearly four decades of cultural programming, strategic partnerships, and heritage tourism initiatives, P.E.C. has:
Generated millions in economic value at the local level
Attracted hundreds of thousands of visitors to Eatonville
Supported local businesses through event programming
and tourism
Created employment opportunities in arts, culture, and hospitality sectors
Leveraged public and private investment in community development
P.E.C. has pioneered a community-driven approach to the development of year-round cultural heritage tourism that:
Empowers local residents as cultural ambassadors
Preserves historic assets while encouraging high-end development
Creates sustainable revenue streams through cultural heritage tourism
Builds partnerships with all sectors including: government, business. nonprofit and the faith community
Maintains authentic cultural identity while welcoming diverse audiences
