The Beloved Community Center, BCC, presented its initiative to organize a North Carolina Truth, Justice, and Reconciliation Commission (NC-TJRC) on February 8, 2024, in Apodaca 201.<\/p>\n
According to Dr. Vincent Russell, communication professor and contact point, the initiative \u201cis a grassroots, people-powered process, commission, and movement\u201d designed to bring NC\u2019s diverse populations together to build \u201ccommunity truths.\u201d<\/p>\n
BCC encouraged people to get involved with the NC-TJRC. They also explained how a truth process works.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Beloved Community Center of Greensboro, North Carolina is a community-based, grassroots empowerment-oriented organization rooted in Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.\u2019s legacy of proactive struggles for racial and economic justice, democracy, and beloved community,\u201d said Russell.<\/p>\n
BCC is a community-based organization in Greensboro, NC, founded by Rev. Barbara Dua, Rev. Z. Holler and Rev. Nelson N. Johnson in 1991.<\/p>\n
The group focused on building a community of equality based on Martin Luther King Jr.\u2019s legacy. To do so, their mission is to increase leadership quality and guide an era of equality and social justice.<\/p>\n
Russell has been periodically involved with BCC for a decade, and helped them connect with the Western community. Russell invited them to partner with his students in Intercultural Communication.<\/p>\n
The Long March is the focus for students involved. The series of events will be statewide in the late summer or early fall and will focus on raising awareness for the necessity of the truth, justice and reconciliation process.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Long March will be a chance to bring people together to promote truth, healing, and reconciliation,\u201d said Russell.<\/p>\n
Russell\u2019s Intercultural Communication class will partner with Dr. Katharine Mershon, professor of philosophy and religion, Feminist Thought course. Students will support the Long March and NC-TJRC.<\/p>\n
Students will \u201cengage in service-learning to help lay the groundwork for the NC-TJRC in Western NC,\u201d said Russell.<\/p>\n
Five student groups have been formed with different focuses to support BCC. The groups include a teach-in-group, a community scan of Western NC issues group, a strategic communication group and a personal testimony documentary group.<\/p>\n