No. 54 - March 7, 2006

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

Greetings,

Is there hope that the United States can transcend its past and build loving, just and sustainable communities, or is reconciliation just a pipe dream? We’re believers, and we believe our work will make a valuable contribution to the enormous body of work, near and far, toward this end.

• We send thanks this week to some fellow contributors, including the Rev. Michael Battle, author of books including “Reconciliation: The Ubuntu Theology of Desmond Tutu,” the Rev. Julie Peeples, pastor of Congregational United Church of Christ, and Dr. Bennett Ramsey, associate professor of Religious Studies at UNCG, who joined Commissioners on Monday to talk about reconciliation from a religious perspective.
• Hitting it from another angle, we’re grateful to the Greensboro Public Library for helping us explore the power of poetry as part of Poetry GSO, a community-wide celebration of National Poetry Month, April 1-30. We’re co-sponsoring the workshop “Poetry, Truth and Reconciliation” on April 22. More details are below.
• The newest member of our Commission work team is Jennifer McHugh. We’re glad to have her sorely needed research assistance, her experience with community reconciliation initiatives and the International Center for Transitional Justice, and her spirit. Welcome, Jen!
• Volunteers of the Week: Jim Keith, John Young and Bishop Chip Marble, three friends and supporters of this process who helped organize our meeting with Rev. Battle. Thanks, Jim! Thanks, John! Thanks, Chip!
• This week’s progress indicator: Thanks to a $1,200 mini-grant from the N.C. Humanities Council (Thanks, N.C. Humanities Council!), our fundraising total now stands at $425,109.48, $68,800 short of the total we need to complete our work and produce the high-quality final products we envision.

Related Upcoming Events:

• “Poetry, Truth and Reconciliation,” 2-5 p.m. Saturday, April 22, Nussbaum Room, Central Library, 219 N. Church St. Workshop co-sponsored with the Greensboro Public Library as part of Poetry GSO, led by Jacinta White of the Word project, who will present techniques for using poetry as a means of community healing. For info, e-mail [email protected].

Latest news coverage:

• Blue Plate Special Story Mention, Tuesday, March 7, 2006
• Allen Johnson column mention, News & Record, Sunday, March 5, 2006