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International African American Museum (IAAM) Celebrates First Anniversary 

The International African American Museum (IAAM) will celebrate its first anniversary with numerous special programs designed to promote the museum’s accomplishments and encourage residents across Charleston, the Lowcountry, and the state of South Carolina to embrace the iconic entity as a local treasure that is becoming a national icon.

“This milestone is a testament to the power of unity and the importance of telling our stories authentically,” said Tonya Matthews, Ph.D., inaugural president and CEO of the museum, which tells the stories of African Americans and teaches visitors to find and tell their own stories.

Matthews added, “Through our exhibits and education programs, we will continue to build a world where our history is honored, with humanity as our common bond.”

After an opening that USA Today called one of the “Ten Best New Museums to Visit” and spending a year building membership and programming, IAAM will now focus its attention on the local community.

Beginning this summer, the museum will conduct extensive outreach to Charleston, Lowcountry and South Carolina residents to encourage them to visit the historic site, discover their stories, and learn about the achievements and contributions of Black Charlestonians and South Carolinians who were instrumental to America’s success.

The museum will also host special programming from Juneteenth to the anniversary to celebrate its present and future success.

The programming includes:

J.O.Y. Juneteenth on the Yard: On June 19, IAAM Public Historian Brandon Reid will host this celebration beginning at noon, featuring local hip-hop sensation Benny Starr, a live DJ, food, and storyteller Julian Gooding. Reid will also be joined by Charleston influencer Alicia Brooks, starting at noon onsite in the museum’s West Yard, 14 Wharfside Street, Charleston, S.C., 29401.

June 20: The celebration continues with IAAM’s Anniversary Jubilee Soirée, the museum’s annual signature fundraiser. It’s an evening with eminent artist Jonathan Green, as well as Lowcountry stars Virginia Stokes-Watson, Cookie Washington, Chef BJ Dennis and Chef Bintou N’Daw. The event, whereby proceeds will benefit the museum’s local outreach, begins at 6:00 p.m., onsite.

June 23: IAAM’s Faith Based Department will partner with Lowcountry Juneteenth Week to honor eight community heroes who have tirelessly worked for humanity's betterment and to uphold the legacy of freedom and empowerment. This black-tie affair will begin onsite at the museum at 7:00 p.m.

June 25: IAAM’s Center for Family History will hold its Genealogy 101 workshop at 11:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m., onsite at workshops are in the Center for Family History Conference room. The workshops will guide visitors through the essential steps to start their genealogy journey, unraveling their families’ pasts using proven research methods, online databases, and traditional archives.

June 27: The final special program occurs on the museum’s anniversary, Thursday, June 27, with the debut of “Salon Marronage,” a new series of discussions hosted by IAAM President and CEO Dr. Tonya Matthews. The first session, onsite at 6:00 p.m., features Lonnie G. Bunch III, the 14th Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution. He and Matthews will discuss the crucial role museums play in preserving and telling authentic stories.

“As we celebrate the museum’s first anniversary, let us remember that our journey is not measured in years but in the lives we touch and the stories we share,” Matthews said. “We will continue to weave a tapestry of strength, wisdom and hope for future generations.”

For more information about IAAM’s first anniversary events, go to  www.iaamuseum.org.

Kauhale Health Acquires Upstate South Carolina Community

RoadSafe Traffic Systems, Inc. Acquires Site-Safe Products, LLC and Innovative Access Solutions, LLC

RoadSafe Traffic Systems, Inc., a leading provider of infrastructure services, announced the acquisitions of Site-Safe Products, LLC and its wholly owned subsidiary, Innovative Access Solutions, LLC (IAS), expanding its full-service work zone safety offerings across the U.S.

Financial terms weren’t disclosed.

Established in 2001, Site-Safe has grown from a supplier of crash cushions and TMA solutions to a full-service work zone safety provider in the Ohio, Kentucky, Tennessee and South Carolina markets.

Officials said the transaction expands RoadSafe’s traffic control footprint in the southern and midwestern markets and adds to its roster of safety product offerings, including those developed by IAS.

These are RoadSafe’s 14th and 15th acquisitions since entering into a strategic partnership with private equity firms Investcorp and Trilantic North America in 2021.

“For more than two decades, Site-Safe has strived to establish itself as the regional authority in highway safety through consultative planning and contractor friendly services,” said David Rich, Site-Safe president.

Rich added, “We are excited to partner with RoadSafe to build on prior successes and continue our delivery of quality products across the South and Midwest while embarking on our next phase of growth.”

RoadSafe is one of the nation’s largest providers of infrastructure safety services and products.

The company’s offerings include traffic control, pavement markings, sign manufacturing and installation, and distribution of innovative traffic safety products.

RoadSafe’s customers include heavy highway contractors, state transportation departments, municipal governments, special events organizations, U.S. railroads and utility companies.

Trilantic Capital Management L.P. is a growth-focused middle market private equity firm focused on control and significant minority investments in North America.

Trilantic North America's primary investment focus is in the business services and consumer sectors.

Since inception, Trilantic North America has managed or is currently managing seven private equity fund families with aggregate capital commitments of $11.0B.