The Coalition for Truth and Reconciliation held a press conference on February 11th to disseminate a newly released report created by the Robinson-Spangler Carolina Room, Charlotte Mecklenburg Library to educate the community to understand the harm done to Charlotte’s Black Community since the development of the Board of County Commissioners in 1868.
Our aim is education so the community reads the report and understands the harm done and empowerment so communities that have been harmed can access restorative equity investment funds and discriminatory systems are dismantled. The coalition seeks to utilize this report to encourage the community to read the report and focus on actionable steps to dismantle systems of oppression and discrimination.
“We must share this report widely so Charlotte/Mecklenburg residents can understand the harm caused by the County since 1868 to today. We call on the County and the City to repair the harm they have caused and to renounce the “Charlotte Way” of people in power making decisions without the partnership of those who were and continue to be impacted.” – Reverend Janet Garner-Mullins, chair of the Coalition for Truth and Reconciliation.
Who? The Char-Meck Community
What? Coalition for Truth and Reconciliation invites you to hold a community conversation to discuss the report
Where? At your house of worship, organization, or neighborhood gathering
Why? We have a new report focused on the harm done by Mecklenburg County since the development of the Board of County Commissioners in 1868. Our aim is education so the community reads the report and understands the harm done and empowerment so communities that have been harmed can access restorative equity investment funds and discriminatory systems are dismantled.
How? We aim to disseminate the report so Char-Meck residents can understand the harm caused by the county since 1868 to today. We aim to help people identify the restorative measures that are needed and make recommendations to the county for repair to the system. We invite you to share your thoughts and vision through social media and through community-led dialogue
Read the recent report on “Systemic Racism in Mecklenburg County Government” by Kathleen Greer, Dr. Tom Cole, and John O’Connor (Charlotte Mecklenburg Library, 2021).
Host a community conversation about the report using the Community Conversation Guide created by QC Family Tree.
Share your solutions #repaircharmeck.
Join the Coalition for Truth and Reconciliation Community Engagement Action Team for 2022. The team will have virtual monthly meetings to work on education and empowerment in response to the report. Contact Coalition Leader Reverend Janet Garner-Mullins, jmullins0@bellsouth.net.
The Coalition for Truth and Reconciliation currently includes 48 organizations (to add your organization’s name email Rabbi Judy Schindler, schindlerj@queens.edu):
- The Brooklyn Collective
- Carolina Jews for Justice (CJJ/CLT) – Charlotte Chapter
- Charlotte Clergy Coalition for Justice
- Charlotte Poor People’s Campaign
- First United Methodist Church
- FOODiversity
- Health Care Justice – NC
- Homeless Services Network of Charlotte-Mecklenburg (comprised of 36 agencies)
- Myer Park Baptist Church
- NAACP Charlotte-Mecklenburg County Branch
- QC Family Tree
- Reimagining America Project: The Truth, Reconciliation, and Atonement Commission of Charlotte (RAP/TRACC)
- Restorative Justice CLT
- Stan Greenspon Holocaust and Social Justice Education Center
Media coverage from February 11th Press Conference:
WCNC – “Truth and Reconciliation Coalition combating systemic racism in Charlotte”
Charlotte Observer main story – “‘154 years of harm.’ Black oppression is Mecklenburg’s origin story, report shows”
Charlotte Observer side bar on our history as a coalition – “What is the Coalition for Truth and Reconciliation in Charlotte-Mecklenburg?”
Axios Charlotte, “The many ways Mecklenburg County perpetuated systemic racism”
Southern Piedmont Poor People’s Campaign streamed the entire press conference. Click here to view.