CIILS Scholarship Foundation

The CIILS Scholarship Foundation was an idea brought to life when a simple ancestry search turned into a deep dive into the existence of slavery in the Appalachian Mountains. Lucinda, Cofus, and Sarah were three enslaved black people traded with horses and household goods on May 12, 1834, per a deed transfer in Nelson County, Virginia.

The Campbell Family enslaved at least another two people, who have remained nameless to date. It is these five enslaved for whom the CIILS Scholarship Foundation is named. While we don't know their own personal stories, we do know of their existence. Honoring and acknowledging those who could not and did not have the opportunity to flourish of their own free will and giving an opportunity to the black and native communities today in Nelson County is vitally important.

I'm Megen Porter, an Atlanta-based artist, and descendant of the Campbell family. I believe that with acknowledgment of historical truths comes accountability. America has always been based on inequality, a duality of humanness where one skin tone was always valued more than others. We live in a society where whiteness is the default gaze; our systems are built around white wealth, and our government bodies are based on centuries-old racism and laws that favor white people. So, what does it mean to be white in America today, and how does self-awareness equate to accountability in terms of social inheritance? This is how I will make a difference in the community where my ancestors previously enslaved humans.

But I can't do it alone. I've created the foundation, but now I need to crowdsource so I can help give back to those communities. That's where you come in - join me in giving back to the communities that have had so much taken from them.