Our Motto: First, We Reach Out and then We Reach Up!

About Yalik's [Ya-leeks] 

As a 501 ©3 organization, Yalik's African American Art and Cultural Movement ® is the premier cultural arts organization founded and curated in 2012 by local historian, Phyllis Bridges, High Point native who has spent the last few years researching, documenting and preserving the rich African American culture and History of the city of High Point NC. 

For more than a decade Yalik's African American Art and Cultural Movement, along with Yalik's Kids Committee, currently relies on the support of our community to continue the work we do in High Point and other geographic areas of interest. 

Bridges is a passionate leader, community invigorator and African American cultural arts historian, who's focus is strategically aligned with bringing awareness, cultural inclusion and recognition to Black American history and culture, Yalik's AAACM Founder and Executive Director is dedicated to presenting  homegrown cultural programming that contributes to a culturally competent community so that significant and lasting improvements can be made in our society

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The evolution of influence for YAAACM includes a fine Art Gallery and Cultural Center, award winning documentaries, committee of historical preservation, growth and programming, as well as our recent community involvement with the African American Heritage Trail. YAAACM has been a true historian leader in the community for more than a decade​​.

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​Our Mission 

​Yalik's African American Art & Cultural Movement inspires lifelong cultural based learning, advanced knowledge that further strengthen our communities awareness of the African American heritage and contributions.

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​Our Executive Director..... Phyllis Bridges is a lifelong native of High Point, a local historian, and the chief curator and founder of the former Yalik’s Cultural Arts Center. Through her work with Yalik’s, (Ya-leek's) she captures and shares photographic imagery, video documentaries, interviews with individuals and untold stories, and more about the forefathers and foremothers of High Point’s history. A native and true community leader, she has been researching, advocating and convening with National Historical and Heritage Societies, writing authentic documentaries, bringing black culture events to the local community and so much more for 17 years. When you think about homegrown culture, Phyllis is very intentional about ensuring that everything she creates is with true authenticity and creative inspiration. Yalik's has always been about Black Culture in all forms--art, education, music and history. Since 2008 my mission, purpose and vision have been crystal clear and I'm not turning back. We are about the culture, we are that life style!

Phyllis's relentless passion is twofold: to create a legacy for the Black community and to educate the wider city about African American history. Her understanding of the importance extends beyond information and memory; it encompasses the preservation of eye-witness accounts and physical structures. 

It is through the dedication of individuals like her, along with her fellow local historians, that we find a path to support and commemorate Black heritage in High Point. Phyllis is no stranger to reaching back and bringing forth, true homage to the meaning of Sankofa. 

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