KING JORDE Cultural Projects Consulting

Peggy King Jorde is a distinguished practitioner in cultural heritage consulting, documentary filmmaking, and principal of KING JORDE Cultural Projects. A Harvard Loeb Fellow in Advanced Environmental Studies and Consulting Penn Scholar at the University of Pennsylvania's Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology, she brings over thirty years of specialized expertise in cultural heritage preservation, memorial design,and community-based archaeology & placemaking to projects spanning New York City and the international landscape.

King Jorde's foundational work in cultural preservation began through her service under three New York City mayors, including the Honorable David N. Dinkins, where she provided comprehensive oversight of capital construction projects for the city's cultural landmarks, public art installations, and art museums. Her career took a pivotal turn in 1990 when she emerged as a critical figure in preserving the 17th-century African Burial Ground, rediscovered during construction of a federal office building in Lower Manhattan. As Executive Director of the Federal Steering Committee and federal contractor, she spearheaded nationwide architectural design competitions for what would become the African Burial Ground National Memorial and Interpretive Center, collaborating with art & architecture professionals to commission public art that honors this sacred site's profound historical significance.

Building on this landmark achievement, King Jorde has expanded her preservation practice internationally, securing UNESCO designations for sites in the Dutch Caribbean. Her expertise in memorializing African burial grounds led to groundbreaking work in the British Overseas Territory of St. Helena in the South Atlantic, where she consulted with government and community stakeholders on what is believed to be the most significant burial ground of enslaved Africans from the Middle Passage. This work is documented in A Story of Bones, a British documentary that premiered at the 2022 Tribeca Film Festival, where King Jorde serves as both producer and on-screen expert. The film continues to generate international dialogue, with screening requests from universities worldwide, since its PBS Television debut in 2023.

Currently, King Jorde serves as lead project consultant for the Inwood Sacred Site Memorial Project in Manhattan, coordinating developer, design team, archaeologists, community engagement, and repatriation efforts for this significant burial ground that connects both enslaved African and Lenape heritage. Her approach to preservation consulting emphasizes collaboration with diverse stakeholders—community organizations, developers, and government agencies—to protect and celebrate cultural heritage in marginalized communities both domestically and internationally.

The daughter of the late Civil Rights Attorney Chevene Bowers King Sr., who served as legal counsel for Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. during the Civil Rights Movement, King Jorde carries forward a legacy of advocacy and justice through her work. She champions the principle that how we choose to remember our past shapes our future, bridging the essential gap between development and preservation to ensure that cultural heritage sites receive the recognition, protection, and dignity they deserve.

Please visit the KING JORDE Cultural Projects Blog and Gallery for more information about current projects and events.