photographed by Arletha Jowers
photos taken on Jun. 1, 2009

The concept of growing a garden begins with a gardeners wish to plant and grow something.  The seeds of growing sustainable communities are planted in a similar vision.  Last year community members from the BCC's Homeless Hospitality House joined together to plant and grow a small community garden.  This year the BCC expanded that vision and its community garden.  The BCC Community Garden, now fully planted, is part of the BCC's effort to build and grow a sustainable community.  The BCC understands that community gardens improve the quality of people's lives as well as beautify neighborhoods, provide healthy foods, and encourage community social interactions.
Tim Gwyn, BCC Technology and Special Projects Coordinator has been working with a team of gardeners and community members to bring forth a harvest and into fruition, the goal of providing produce for some local families in need. Please continue to check the BCC website for more photos, articles and video footage of the garden project!

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photographed by Arletha Jowers
photos taken on Apr. 29, 2009

On April 28, 2009, BCC's youth group, New Voice, partnered with the East White Oak Community Center to host the monthly intergenerational conversation, which promotes dialogue amongst elder and younger members of the African-American community in Greensboro.  Participants boasted that this was one of the best intergenerational conversations yet, as community members came totheter to reflect on life in this former African-American mill village.  The event took place at the East White Oak Community Center.

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photographed by Lewis Brandon
photos taken on Apr. 28, 2009

In May of 1969, Greensboro Dudley High School students elected Claude Barnes as president of the high school’s student government association.  The then, predominately white, school board prevented Barnes from taking office, sparking resistance among Dudley Students.  Students rose to challenge and override the school board’s decision, soliciting help from the broader community and the governing student body at North Carolina A&T State University.  After a culmination of attempted negotiations, students began to engage in protests in an effort to defend their decision and exercise community democracy. Protest and unrest persisted for several weeks.  In response to student demands, several Dudley High Students were beaten by the police and others arrested.  Over 500 students from NC A&T State University were jailed and the US National Guard was called in. Approximately 650 National Guards flooded the campus of NC A&T causing the university to close prematurely and send students home.  As protests and then violence escalated, gunfire ensued from police and North Carolina National Guard troops, injuring NC A&T student Willie Grimes who was later pronounced dead.  In a powerful two day event on April 24-25, 2009, the Beloved Community Center in partnership with NC A&T State University History Department and Honors club, commemorated this  event, celebrating the lives, legacy and struggle of those involved in the 1969 Dudley A&T Revolt, the events leading up to it, and the events that proceeded. Read more about 1969 here!  Check back with us soon for video footage of the 2-day event!

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photographed by Lewis Brandon
photos taken on Apr. 6, 2009

On Monday March 30, 2009 roughly 300 citizens of Guilford County met with Sheriff BJ Barnes to engage in a community dialogue regarding Section 287 (g) of the Immigration and Nationality Act.  Section 287 (g) "allows the performance of immigration officer functions by state officers and employees" including detaining those suspected to be without valid legal status.  (http://www.ice.gov/doclib/pi/news/factsheets/06081dc287factsheet.pdf).  The meeting was vigorous.  The exchange with Sheriff Barnes was sharp, respectful and revealing.

Read more...

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photographed by Lewis Brandon
photos taken on Apr. 3, 2009

On Friday April 3, 2009, NCA&T State University's International Affairs Department, 12 visitors from French speaking Africa, three US interpreters, and BCC staff, joined in a panel discussion at North Carolina A&T State University.  The focus of the panel discussion was truth and reconciliation.  The Beloved Community Center of Greensboro initiated the Greensboro Truth & Community Reconciliation Project, which was the first of its kind in the United States. The GTCRP was modeled after the South African Truth & Reconciliation project and other similar projects.

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photographed by Lewis Brandon
photos taken on Mar. 5, 2009

On Thursday, March 5, 2009 we celebrated African American History with an intergenerational Panel Discussion, Pictorial and Cultural Exhibit entitled “Revisiting Sustainable African American Communities of the Past in the Greater Greensboro Area.” This exhibit included glimpses of community life, education, religious, social and cultural life in the East White Oak Community.   The Panel Discussion – “Remembering Our Community” – featured stories from living residents of this community. They and their neighbors shared memories of both their triumphs and the struggles they overcame as they crafted out and sustained community that nurtured their families and maintained cherished traditions during Greensboro’s past.  Additional historical information on African Americans in Greensboro may be obtained by visiting the BCC at 417 Arlington Street, Greensboro or calling 336 230-0001.  

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photographed by Lewis Brandon
photos taken on Nov. 24, 2008

Approximately sixty years ago in the summer of 1946, two couples in Monroe, Georgia, were dragged out of a vehicle by a white lynch mob, tied to a tree, and brutally shot near the Moore's Ford Bridge. Dorothy Malcolm, one of the victims was seven months pregnant at the time of the shooting. The reason behind what is strongly believed to be a racially motivated incident is still being investigated by law enforcement agencies and the Monroe community.  The community is seeking to understand and heal from this tragedy that has had long term effects on its well being.

On October 25, 2008, Joseph Frierson, Coordinator of the Greensboro Truth & Reconciliation Local Task Force, Lewis Brandon, Beloved Community Center Grassroots Coordinator, and Ed Whitfield, of the fund for Democratic Communities and the Beloved Community Center, traveled to Monroe, GA, to participate in a panel and share how Truth & Reconciliation processes can help a community examine the past, and heal in the present. Representatives for Southern Truth and Reconciliation (S.T.A.R) as well as community leaders were also present. The panel discussion was organized by interested and concerned citizens of the Monroe community.

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photographed by Arletha Jowers and Erica Mayo
photos taken on Oct. 21, 2008

On Tuesday, October 21, 2008, New Voice Youth Group hosted their second intergenerational conversation.  During the first conversation held in the month of September, the group discussed issues such as perceived generational gaps between elder and younger generations in the African-American community as well as education, economics, and community building.

The pertinence of the upcoming 2008 elections was the central focus of the second conversation. All were in agreement that the intergenerational dialogue must continue and that there is important community work that must be done now and post election time. 

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photographed by Lewis Brandon
photos taken on Oct. 17, 2008

The first of three proposed Black and Brown conferences to be held across North Carolina was an extraordinary success.  On October 3rd and 4th 2008, more than 250 people, mainly from the central region of North Carolina, converged on Genesis Baptist Church in Greensboro for two challenging and creative days of Black/Brown unity building.

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photographed by Arletha Jowers
photos taken on Sep. 2, 2008

Arletha Jowers and Erica Mayo, coordinators of New Voices Youth Program hosted an Intergenerational Conversation on Tuesday, September 2, 2008.

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