Some of the people who were the moving forces behind the restoration of the Scotland AME Zion Church in Potomac have joined together to form a foundation dedicated to improving educational and employment outcomes for underserved communities.
The nonprofit Potomac Community Foundation also hopes to preserve the historic legacies of post-Civil War settlements like Scotland community by Seven Locks Road.
“We believe there’s both a need in the community and a group of people who want to help fill that need,” said Dr. Jason Wingard, founder and Chairman of the Board of the new foundation.
Referring to those who helped restore and expand the Scotland AME Zion Church, Wingard said, “What that team accomplished—bringing together supporters from all corners of the County in faith, government, and private philanthropy—will one day be written up in textbooks.” he said.
“We plan to keep that momentum going by focusing on the needs of Scotland and other historic Black communities that deserve more opportunity, while keeping their history intact.”
The foundation’s executive director, Krystal Holland Davis of Gaithersburg, is a published author with more than 30 years of experience in the nonprofit world. She is a descendant of Emory Grove, a historic Black community that was built by former enslaved county residents.
The board of directors includes many prominent individuals, including Catherine Leggett, the former First Lady of Montgomery County.
“PCF’s work is not charity—it’s justice in action,” Leggett said. “We are building on the resilience and self-determination of our historic Black communities, investing in education, economic mobility, and legacy preservation so they can shape their own futures.”
Paul Tukey, formerly of the Glenstone Museum, was named the foundation’s chief advancement officer.
“For the past three years, Emily and Mitchell Rales challenged an incredible team at Glenstone to engage all corners of society in a different kind of sustainability known as restorative justice. I felt the whole time we were building a template of community engagement that could be replicated for good work in the future,” Tukey said.
The foundation is expected to launch new program and support existing ones, including Scotland Storm, an academic enrichment program serving Scotland community’s children.
