No. 21 - July 12, 2005

UBUNTU - "I am what I am because of who we all are." For a more complete definition, visit Wikipedia

Greetings,

It's all about our first Public Hearing this Friday and Saturday for us these days, and we're grateful to interns, volunteers and many other helpful friends who have joined us in making final preparations. We also thank the Greensboro Public Library and the 50 people who watched �In My Country� (about the South African hearings) and discussed it with us on Sunday.

• We welcome and encourage all to make some time to join us during the two-day Hearing. Even if you hear only one of the 16 scheduled speakers, you'll have played a crucial role in the process by listening. We also hope book clubs, Sunday School classes, Mosaic partners and other discussion groups will attend together and talk about what they hear.
• Our Hearing site, the theater of the Weaver Education Center, is right downtown at 300 S. Spring St. and easy to reach. Here's a map to help you find it; parking will be available in the lot behind the building, off West McGee Street. Seating in the theater is limited.
• We will be providing childcare and activities for children 3-years-old and older. We hope that all parents for whom childcare was a barrier will now decide to attend.
• Watch for us this week on the local TV morning shows: 6 a.m. Thursday, WXII 12; 6:20 a.m. Thursday, WFMY (News 2); and 8:30 a.m. Friday, WGHP (Fox 8).
• The Rev. Bongani Finca, a member of the South African Truth and Reconciliation Commission, will be among visitors from around the nation and world who will serve as international observers of the Hearing. Also on hand, among others, will be the Rev. Herbert Nelson of Memphis, Tenn.
• This week's progress indicator: The number of local businesses making in-kind donations to the GTRC has expanded to 14 with the following, to whom we're thankful for providing gift certificates we'll use to thank our Hearing volunteers: Applebee's, Golden Corral (Lawndale), Maxie B's (Battleground), Outback Steakhouse (Four Seasons), Mayflower, Panera Bread (West Market).
• Volunteers of the Week: Diya Jost, a rising sophomore in the Early College at Guilford, and Riley Driver, a rising senior at Grimsley High School, both have been invaluable in helping us deal with the details involved in planning the Hearing. Thanks, Diya and Riley!

Our Upcoming Events:

• "What brought us to Nov. 3, 1979?", first Public Hearing, 2-9 p.m. Friday, July 15; 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday, July 16, Weaver Educational Center, 300 S. Spring St.
• "What happened on and after Nov. 3, 1979?", second Public Hearing, 2-9 p.m. Friday, Aug. 26; 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 27, Location TBA.
• "What does the past have to do with the present and the future?", final Public Hearing, 2-9 p.m. Friday, Sept. 30; 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 1, at UNCG.

Related Upcoming Events:

• GTCRP Pre-Hearing Events:
  
  • Community Celebration, featuring Rev. Bongani Finca of the South African Truth and Reconciliation Commission, 6-9 p.m. Thursday, July 14, New Light Baptist Church, 1105 Willow Road.
  • Prayer and Reflection Breakfast, 8-10 a.m. Friday, July 15, New Hope Baptist Church, 306 S. English St.
  • Silent March to Weaver Center, 1 p.m. Friday, July 15, (starting point TBA). Call 336-230-0001 or email [email protected] for more information.
• Archbishop Desmond Tutu, 8 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 3, War Memorial Auditorium, part of Guilford College's Bryan Series on "Spirit and Spirituality."

Latest news coverage:

• News & Record Q&A, July 10, 2005
• More News & Record coverage, July 11, 2005
• Yes! Weekly coverage, July 6, 2005