ABOUT US
Jessica C. Neal is a millennial creative, archivist, and black memory worker based in Mobile, AL. Informed by the frameworks of Black studies, Black feminist theory, decolonial theory, and critical archival studies, her work seeks to investigate, interrogate, imagine and document practices of liberation, heritage, and culture.
jessica.neal@okeswamp.org
Jennifer Berglund, Project Manager (she/her)
Project Manager Jennifer (Jennie) Berglund keeps the Company 1433 Project running by managing deadlines, connecting and communicating with project stakeholders, and monitoring the project’s progress. Outside of the Project, Jennie is a National Geographic Explorer and professional storyteller working in multiple media as a museum practitioner, writer, photographer and filmmaker. Formally trained as a scientist and a journalist, she gravitates to stories and projects that explore our human connections with nature. Her work has taken her around the world to all seven continents and deep into some of the world’s largest museum collections, namely those of Harvard University where she has developed dozens of exhibitions for four of their museums. Her work has appeared in numerous national and international publications, networks, and film festivals, including Discover Magazine, Scientific American, the Discovery Channel, and PBS.
Born and raised in Chattanooga, Tennessee, she grew up exploring southern wildernesses, from the mountains to the caves to the coast. It’s in these spaces that she first developed her profound attachment to the natural world, one that she has carried throughout her life. Helping people and communities find their own connections to nature is a critical part of her work and is among the many aspects of the Company 1433 Project that excites her most.
jennifer.berglund@okeswamp.org
The Okefenokee Swamp Park
The Okefenokee Swamp Park (OSP) opened its doors to the world at the northern entrance into the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge almost 75 years ago and has welcomed millions of visitors since that time.
Located mostly in Dixon Memorial State Forest south of Waycross, Georgia, the Okefenokee Swamp Park, is known for lily-decked water trails, with their reflective waters mirroring the overhanging beauty which lead to all points in this vast wilderness of islands, lakes, jungles, forest and prairies. The Okefenokee Swamp Park is a rare experience for every member of the family. Extravagantly beautiful, the swamp, nearly a half million acres, carries you back into the world’s prehistory. Boat tours, available to book online or in-person, on original Indian waterways, wilderness walkways, Pioneer Island and native animals in their own habitat, all combine to weave a spell of pioneer American life.
The Okefenokee Swamp Park is a non-profit operating under a long-term lease and is not supported by federal or state funds.
Community Liaisons
Our community liaisons serve as vital bridges between the Company 1433 project and the people and places most connected to its history. They help us build trust and foster relationships with local communities, guide us toward meaningful collaborations, and ensure that community voices, knowledge, and priorities shape every stage of our work. From sharing stories and resources to helping organize events and outreach, they play an essential role in keeping the project rooted in the communities it represents.
Rev. Antwon Nixon (he/him)
Antwon Nixon is the lead pastor of Mt Carmel Missionary Baptist Church, serving in that capacity since 2017. He’s a community activist and youth empowerment leader. He serves on several boards, including the Okefenokee Protection Alliance, Friends of Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge, and the St Mary’s Riverkeeper.
His passion for God, community and service led to founding the non-profit Sowing Seeds Outside the Walls, a 501c3 non-profit organization, which serves to inspire, encourage and enrich the lives of the community through educational and social development by way of mentorship and financial investment.
His work outside the walls of the church through Sowing Seeds includes rebuilding a community park, hosting community events, advocating for the Okefenokee Swamp, and being featured in several short films, including a PBS documentary. His service within his community has been recognized by his peers and local officials by awarding him the Humanitarian Award, and the city of Folkston proclaiming May 30th “Antwon (Cheez) Nixon day.”
“I am honored to be a part of this unique assignment for Company 1433, helping to restore the names, lives and efforts of those African Americans whose works have been largely overlooked and omitted,“ he said.
Curriculum Consultants
Our curriculum consultants bring their expertise as educators to help translate the history of Company 1433 into engaging, standards-based learning materials. They advise on lesson plan design, classroom activities, and educational resources, ensuring the project is accessible, relevant, and inspiring for students and teachers alike. By connecting archival stories to today’s classrooms, they help us extend the legacy of Company 1433 to future generations.
Priscilla Jones (she/her)
Priscilla Jones joins the Company 1433 Project as a dynamic curriculum consultant with a passion for transforming education through creativity and innovation. With extensive experience in designing student-focused learning experiences, she excels in crafting curricula that foster engagement, critical thinking, and academic excellence. Priscilla’s work is deeply rooted in her dedication to empowering educators and students to reach their fullest potential. Beyond her role with Company 1433, she is a visionary leader and advocate for transformative learning experiences, committed to making a lasting impact in education and the community.
April Balenger (she/her)
A student of history, April Balenger always knew she wanted to do something that combined her love of the past and teaching. Having taught for almost three decades, she brings history alive in her Georgia Studies classroom. Ms. Balenger prides herself in making history relevant and immersive.
Dr. Holly Eimer (she/her)
Dr. Holly Eimer is a veteran educator and lifelong learner. As an 8th grade teacher of Georgia Studies, Dr. Eimer works extensively with students to engage them and enrich their knowledge and appreciation of the contributions of our great state and its citizens. In addition to teaching 8th grade, Dr. Eimer also teaches doctoral students at two universities and has created curriculum at the state, district, and school levels for 8th grade and doctoral courses. She is excited to share the accomplishments and contributions of the CCC Company 1433 members through creative and engaging lessons for teachers and students. Finally, Dr. Eimer is a nature-lover and local snake rescuer and rehabber.
Financial Support:
Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock
National Historical Records and Publications Commission