One of the most valuable and most-often ignored resources of the grassroots is history. No community can be all it can be without knowing, learning from, and being strengthened by its own story. Sharing our knowledge and understanding of Greensboro’s grassroots history is a key part of our work, and we’ve amassed an extensive archive of photographs, artifacts and stories of key events, people, and groups in our city’s past.
Mindful of the long history of ignoring, distorting, and/or co-opting the rich, vibrant history of people of color, especially as it relates to the struggles for social transformation, our purpose is to authenticate and preserve with historic accuracy and integrity the social change movement of Greensboro and Guilford County, North Carolina.
We sponsor an annual Grassroots Hall of Fame program, maintain an ongoing grassroots history display, sponsor seminars, workshops, and other programs to acknowledge the contributions of ordinary and diverse people from our community.
Our Greensboro Grassroots History Tours allow participants to retrace the footprints of the Civil Rights Movement through Greensboro. Our tours can be tailored to meet the needs of various university, high school and community groups. Recent visitors have come from Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Washington, DC, and New Mexico, Detroit, San Francisco, and Los Angeles.
Lewis Brandon provides leadership for our Grassroots History work. He can be reached by calling the office or by email at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .
Related Links
An Unsun "Shero" of the February One Movement
by Lewis Brandon
Revisiting Sustainable African American Communities of the Past In the Greater Greensboro, North Carolina Area
by Lewis Brandon
In the News: Community Center Receives an N.C. Defender of Justice Award
by Nancy McLaughlin