(This is the second in a series highlighting older Mount Pleasant communities).

Nakia Wigfall, a life long resident of Six Mile, is the spokesperson for her community. Six Mile, formerly known as Liberty Hill, is a community she estimates to be made up of about 500 residents, many of whom can traced their roots back several centuries. The defined area used to extend past the Isle of Palms Connector before land was sold off little by little and developed.

The Chadbury Village neighborhood, along with the trailer park on Six Mile and the Gulf Drive neighborhood are not considered part of Six Mile by local residents.

Wigfall was invited to participate in the CORE group and was intrigued about the benefits this could essentially offer her community.

"ECCO has a lot of educational opportunities, dental services, food, clothing, job training and more. Because they are a nonprofit, they can possibly grant us funds to restore the praise house to be used for neighborhood meetings," she said. "I knew a little bit about ECCO but not all of what they offer. Once I found out then I figured ECCO could be very resourceful for the Six Mile community."

It is estimated that 95 percent of people in Six Mile own their homes, and some home owners rent property to family residents or friends. While some residents struggle, many are gainfully employed in service industries, the medical field, and manufacturing. There is a strong tradition of sweet grass basket making and many residents still make a living or augment their income by making and selling baskets, including Wigfall. No one makes a living farming any longer, though some families garden and share their harvest with their neighbors.

According to Gail Montgomery, director of the Out of Poverty Initiative with ECCO, as family units become more unstable and women are supporting families, the basket making trade has become more relied upon but competition is fierce and the income is not consistent.

"The people who live in these communities think of their community as Six Mile and Mount Pleasant is almost secondary in their minds. I think the way it's been conveyed in multiple meetings is that they are much more self sufficient historically;they are very close family members and friends living in very tight knit group; sharing the bounties and helping each other out when times where tough," she said.
Montgomery added how much of that has started to fray as generations have moved away and developments have come in and cut up neighborhoods. "There is less cohesion within these communities. Not everyone shares the historical values that have fortified these neighborhoods," she said.
The Praise House building is available for meetings, but it is seldom used and is need of repair. The Praise House is privately owned and on private property but is a site of cultural and historical significance and residents would like to see it restored.
"I used to go with my mom when I was little and my mother and the women of the community used to hold their society meetings there," Montgomery said.
About 40 percent of the residents are members of the Olive Branch AME Church; 40 percent are members of Greater Goodwill AME. The rest belong to smaller churches or are not affiliated with a church. There are few businesses in the community, but there are three day care centers.<0x00A0> Wigfall said the greatest needs for Six Mile are a playground area and after school recreational opportunities for children.
"The strong sense of family and close friendships is our community strength," she said. "I'm one of the main voices for our community and we do get together as a whole on certain issues concerning change and what is necessary to prevent or encourage the change."
The problem, however, is that local children are growing up and moving out on their own.