Mission:

The mission of the Beloved Community Center of Greensboro is to foster and model a spirit of community based on Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s vision of a "Beloved Community." In this spirit, we envision and work toward social and economic relations that affirm and realize the equality, dignity, worth and potential of every person.

History:

Drawing deeply from the life and work of movement leaders such as Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Ella Baker, the mission of the BCC is to model a spirit of community that promotes social, economic, and personal relationships that affirm and realize the equality, dignity, worth, and potential of everyone. Though the BCC has evolved from over 40 years of connected struggles, beginning with the 1960's student sit-in movement, it was in 1991 that this particular manifestation of the movement for beloved community began. Barbara Dua, Assistant Minister of First Presbyterian Church, Z. Holler, Pastor of Presbyterian Church of the Covenant and Nelson Johnson, Pastor of Faith Community Church came to that initial mission as the three together participated in a course at the Servant Leadership School of Greensboro. Since that coming together in 1991, the BCC has moved to pursuing the mission of building an inclusive, egalitarian community through involvement in community organizing, public meetings and protests and other forms of advocacy, as well as training and coalition building.

Right from the start the BCC was involved in advocating for and with the least, the lost, and the left out: not simply standing for, but primarily standing with those who were already standing to fight the injustice and oppression that they faced as a daily reality. From 1993-1996 The BCC worked across social, economic and political divides to resolve the contentious K-Mart labor struggle. Also instrumental in the early growth of the BCC was the struggle for the release of Kwame Cannon, who was serving two life sentences for unarmed burglary. In 1995, the BCC continued to expand our vision to include Homeless hospitality and advocacy and education reform.

The Truth and Reconciliation process has had a significant role in forming the BCC and impacting the community of Greensboro. Initiated in 2002, the Greensboro Truth and Community Reconciliation Project has worked to examine the context, causes, sequence and consequence of the events of November 3rd, 1979. The Project initiated a democratic process to select the seven member Greensboro Truth and Reconciliation Commission. After two years of public hearings, interviews, in-depth research and deliberation, the Commission published a 529 page Final Report in May, 2006. To read more visit www.gtcrp.org.

The work of building beloved community began long before the BCC was birthed into existence and will continue long after. But we are thankful to be contributing our energy and spirits to this work and are excited for the new seasons of struggle to come.