Building Legacy Through Oysters

Our work is grounded in strengthening cultural legacies through strategy, storytelling, and design. Few projects embody this mission more vividly than our partnership with Gullah Man Oysters, a bold initiative rooted in St. Helena Island’s waters, traditions, and future.

Gullah Man Oysters is more than an aquaculture business — it’s a cultural apprenticeship. By cultivating oysters in the rich tidal flats of the Gullah Geechee corridor, the project creates opportunities for youth and young adults to learn hands-on skills in foodways, entrepreneurship, and stewardship of the land and water. We have been honored to help shape the structure, messaging, and digital presence of this effort.

Learning Modules & Apprenticeship Structure

One of our key contributions has been the design of learning modules for the SOAR (Sustainable Oyster Aquaculture Relay) apprenticeship. We worked alongside local leaders to create training modules that cover:

• Aquaculture basics: licensing, safety standards, environmental regulations.

• Food handling & ServSafe preparation: ensuring youth meet the highest standards for food safety.

• Entrepreneurship & marketing: from pricing oysters to pitching them at farmers’ markets.

• Cultural grounding: connecting oyster cultivation to Gullah history, storytelling, and intergenerational memory.

These modules not only prepare apprentices to succeed in the industry but also embed the work in the cultural values of discipline, resilience, and pride.

Recruiting & Pathways for Youth

We built a recruitment structure that makes the program accessible and sustainable. We designed outreach materials and intake processes to connect with high school students, young adults, and community partners. Our framework includes:

• A clear application process with equity at its center.

• Partnerships with schools, community organizations, and cultural leaders to identify participants.

• A tiered pathway that allows youth to grow from observers, to apprentices, to potential business owners.

This ensures that the program is not only about oyster farming but also about building long-term opportunities for economic empowerment in the Gullah Geechee community.

Digital Development & Storytelling

We also supported web development and digital branding for Gullah Man Oysters, ensuring the project had a home base that reflects its values. We created a clean, accessible website that highlights the cultural story while making space for product promotion and future e-commerce.

On social media, we developed messaging strategies to engage both local community members and broader audiences. Posts highlight not just the oysters themselves but also the faces of the youth, the waters that sustain the work, and the heritage that makes it unique. Through consistent storytelling, we’ve helped Gullah Man Oysters build recognition as both a business and a cultural beacon.

Support the growth of Gullah Man Oysters by following our journey, sharing our story, and investing in the future of youth, culture, and coastal sustainability. Visit gullahmanoysters.com to learn more, sign up for updates, and get involved today.