This October as the leaves change colors and fall to the ground, allow your perspective to do the same. Let your guards down and embrace diversity. After all, October is Diversity Awareness Month. Just as there are variety of yellows, oranges, and reds outside, there are also a variety of identities, nationalities, religions, sexual orientations, and disability statuses.
Diversity Awareness Month is a time to reflect on aspects of cultural diversity. It is not only a chance to learn from each other’s differences; it’s also an opportunity to discover what you have in common with others and build a stronger community.
Friday, October 4th, is National Diversity Day. We encourage you to visit National Diversity Day official website for great ideas about how to get involved in the celebration of diversity. Participation is simple, easy, and fun; simply embrace who you and others are. For example, get to know your neighbor better, host a cultural potluck dinner, or pledge to learn more about another nationality.
This October, take the time to reflect on and learn about different cultures. You never know who you might have something in common with. Happy Diversity Awareness Month!
“This event was very insightful; to hear people care about and discuss racial profiling makes me feel better about the situation [George Zimmerman verdict]” – Tim Gallon, recent AL Brown High School graduate and attendant at “Moving Forward – Community Forum”
On Sunday, July 28, 2013, more than 25 guests gathered for The Vine Event’s “Moving Forward- Community Forum” hosted at Westridge Place Clubhouse in Salisbury, NC. In light of the recent shootings that occurred in Clancy Hill Apartments nearby (click here to read more), The Vine’s discussion about NC Law, civic engagement, and community involvement could not have come at a better time. The purpose of the forum was to openly discuss the George Zimmerman verdict and how we can move forward as a community. Guest facilitators included Kristen Thompson Esq. of The Thompson Law Office, PLLC, Anthony Smith of Rowan Concerned Citizens, and Mercedes Harrington of Everything Under The Sun PR.
NC Law
Thompson contributed a legal point of view to the discussion by comparing North Carolina’s Castle Doctrine to Florida’s Stand Your Ground Law. According to Thompson, the two laws are very similar; both allow you to use force (even fatal) to prevent unlawful happenings in a private place (ie. home, car, or workplace). The only difference is the Stand Your Ground Law applies to anywhere you are lawfully, not just private places. After explaining the Castle Doctrine, Thompson opened the floor for discussion about the NC law and invited guests to ask questions pertaining to Zimmerman’s trial and verdict. These questions ranged from inquiry about jury selection, to what the prosecutor could have done differently to successfully convict Zimmerman of a crime.
Civic Engagement
Smith spoke to the group about the importance of voting to ensure laws like the Castle Doctrine don’t turn into another Stand Your Ground Law. According to Smith, only 14 percent of Rowan county citizens voted in the 2011 Municipal Election. So what is the solution to this staggering low voter turnout? Smith said citizenship engagement through citizenship education. His main message to the group was to never get comfortable; a healthy democracy depends on citizens being awake and paying attention to the issues around them. “In order for democracy to be healthy, you need a diverse group of voices represented,” said Smith. “When you have a small group of people making decisions on behalf of everyone else, this is when things fall off.”
Community Involvement
Harrington talked about how as a community we can be active and engaged. She said educating our children is a key to bringing about change. Several guests shared personal anecdotes about how they used the Trayvon Martin tragedy to teach their children important lessons about race. Harrington also said you can get involved with making a difference by letting your voice be heard. One way you can do this is by writing a blog, speaking out in an open forum, or getting involved with your local community.
The dialogue concluded with a final thought shared by Keesha Reynolds, an event guest, “My skin is my hoodie and I can’t take that off.” This statement emphasizes that there’s still a need for racial reconciliation in America. The Vine Events believes reconcilement starts with open and honest dialogue… For people to be able to sit down together and have a conversation, that’s the power of love. – Jada Pinkett Smith
Desere’ Cross
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Journalism and Communication Studies Major
Class of 2014
How do you question your legacy? Before you make decisions, do you consider how your actions will affect others? Do you weigh the impact that your choices will have on the future generations? If you don’t ponder these questions daily, then August will be the perfect month to start. August is “What Will Be Your Legacy” month. It is a time to examine the effectiveness of your life and plan what will be your legacy.
Leaving behind a legacy can be simple. You don’t have to succeed at ensuring world peace, or single handily solving world issues. Nor do you have to possess something tangible of great value to pass on to your descendants. You can leave a legacy simply by being a good friend or example. You never know who is watching you, or who you will inspire with your actions. To imprint your legacy upon others, merely live life to its fullest, take advantage of opportunities, and watch how you change lives one positive action at a time.
Almost always, the creative dedicated minority has made the world better. – Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Everywhere you turn people are discussing the George Zimmerman trial and verdict. People are openly expressing their frustration and desire for change. Here at The Vine Events, we used our frustration to create something positive. We choose to EDUCATE our community and ENCOURAGE engagement.
Join The Vine Events on Sunday, July 28th at 6pm at 100 Donner Drive, Salisbury, NC for “Moving Forward”. The following topics will be discussed:
1. North Carolina’s Castle Doctrine – Kristen N. Thompson, Esq. (The Thompson Law Office, PLLC)
2. Voting and political engagement- Anthony Smith and Charlotte Giles (Rowan Concerned Citizens)
3. Ways to get involved.- Mercedes Harrington (Everything Under The Sun PR)
We’re confident that collectively we can create change that will positively impact our community. Will you join us?
Never underestimate the power of a small group of people to change the world. In fact, it is the only way it ever has. – Margaret Mead
July is Park and Recreation Month. We will be highlighting the benefits that parks and recreation provide for communities on our social media sites. This year’s theme “I Love My Park and Recreation”, encourage community members to share the role parks and recreation plays in their life.
National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) will be hosting a “Show UR Love for Parks and Recreation” weekly photo contest on their Facebook page. Visit and like NRPA’s Facebook page for more information and to obtain the official contest rules.
Join our Google+ Community @ The Vine Events Chat Cafe!
We asked some of our guest from our screening of “Free Angela and All Political Prisoners” to share their thoughts about the film. Our third guest blogger is Dustin Wilson. Thanks Dustin for your support and sharing!
It was a great night on May 29th as Hannah (my wife) and I got the chance to attend the viewing of “Free Angela and All Political Prisoners” with our good friends Anthony and Toni Smith. This documentary was about a professor and activist Angela Davis who took a stand for justice for the oppressed in the midst of difficult times in the 60s and early 70s. This documentary was beautifully painted by the film’s director Shola Lynch.
Here are the few things that stood out to me.
HERO or TERRORIST?
Growing up in the 90s as a young white boy, I never heard stories about Angela Davis. I did hear stories about Ronald Reagan and also Richard Nixon but not like I heard them in this documentary. As I watched the story of Angela, my eyes were opened once again to the fact that when someone goes against the powers that be, to some that person might be a terrorist but to others, a hero. In this case, I believe that Angela Davis was a hero to the oppressed in the face of angry, power-hungry white males that did not want to see things the way that they were during the 60s and early 70s.
Story Teller
In a way, what Angela Davis did was read the story of society as it was displayed during her day and then wrote a new story of how it should be. Her story was for justice and for freedom. She used her well-educated words to speak out for equal rights. Just like when you are reading a book that you do not like, you close it and put it down, the folks that were in power tried to do the same thing by closing the book. They wanted Angela Davis quiet. They wanted to shut her book. But just like a book that cannot be put down, people wanted to hear Angela Davis. Through the “new” story telling of Angela Davis, a revolution was birthed and lived out.
Race Issues/Women Rights Issues
Angela Davis challenged white men and people of power to see things through different eyes. She spoke up for the voiceless. The 60s and early 70s were full of racism in the deepest form and women were also not viewed the same as men. As I see it, we live in a society where race is still an issue and justice is sometimes one sided. We, like Angela, need to see the story of our society and call for justice. Not only do we need to call for it, but also, as Angela, do our part to rewrite the story.
I would like to thank Tonya Miller Cross with “The Vine Events” for organizing this event. There was a great turn out and I look forward to
future events by The Vine.
Dustin Wilson lives in East Spencer, NC. Dustin is co-organizer/missionary of Freedom Journey – a missionary effort in Rowan County journeying toward reconciliation of people to God, neighbor to neighbor and church to community. Dustin is also apart of a kingdom experiment in Salisbury, NC called Mission House.
We asked some of our guest from our screening of “Free Angela and All Political Prisoners” to share their thoughts about the film. Our second guest blogger is Whitney Peckman. Thanks Whitney for your support and sharing!
Seeing Free Angela and All Political Prisoners was both a learning experience and a trip down Memory Lane since I am a year older than she. I remember, at the time, the disbelief in the white community – disbelief at what so many saw as audacity (that blacks would take such an independent stand without fear – though, of course, there was plenty of fear!), as incredulity (that “they” had anything to complain about…after all, the Civil Rights Bill was a done deal!), and, as events continued to evolve and invade living rooms with the evening news, growing fear. Would this be the revolution? (Would this be when “they” got back at us?) And, there were some, mostly on college campuses (and amazingly, on farms!), who could see the truth, as is well shown in the film. Thank God for institutions of higher learning!
My personal life, in those years, was greatly in turmoil. I had spent several years living in a mixed community and on college campuses. Looking back, and watching people come together over what was such a righteous cause, made me wish I had driven across the country, my two-year old by the hand, and joined the picket line. Angela was a bright shining star – an enormously intelligent woman in control of her choices because she took control of them. Others of us came more slowly to that achievement.
And so, I watched the film with a much greater understanding of those hard fought battles. I wonder if Angela knows, really understands, what a giant leap she made – for all of us…black, white, women, men, Americans striving to live up to our vision of this land of the free. One could not sit in that audience and fail to understand that the same struggle goes on today. The struggle continues, and every high school student should see Free Angela.
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We asked some of our guest from our screening of “Free Angela and All Political Prisoners” to share their thoughts about the film. Our first guest blogger is Anthony Smith. Thanks Anthony for your support and sharing!
On May 29th Toni (my wife) and I hung out with our friends and gospel co-conspirators Dustin and Hannah Wilson to see the new documentary about professor, activist and revolutionary Angela Davis titled “Free Angela and All Political Prisoners”. The event was hosted by The Vine Events, a local group that curates educational, cultural and community events whose lead organizer is Tonya Miller Cross.
Free Angela covered the events surrounding Angela Davis’ imprisonment in California during the late 60s and early 70s. The documentary itself did a great job in weaving her personal story within the larger social and cultural tumult of the 60s.
Rather than a re-cap I’d like to just simply point out random ideas, thoughts and observations that emerged for me on that night.
1. It only takes a handful of committed change-agents to demonstrate that another world is possible. In particular, Davis’ connection with various organizations within the black power movement, Communist party, and other radical movement groups during this period. These folks literally saw themselves ‘ushering in’ another world characterized by equality and freedom. Today, we need more leaders with this kind of mindset. Reminds me of the conversation in larger liberationist movements that focus on pre-figurative politics and what some followers of Jesus would describe as a kind of eschatological politics….whereby a group of people demonstrate in the present moment a more just and peaceful lifestyle in the midst of societal oppression. Will you play a part in ushering a different more just world?
2. You don’t need permission to start a revolution. I was inspired by Davis’ self-possession. She had a strong sense of self and identity as a woman, revolutionary and human being. Her courage to distinguish herself from the patriarchy and nationalism of some of the black power organizations demonstrated her willingness to be about revolutionary projects that fit her own particular story. Also her ability to see herself unfolding within a larger story with different streams pouring into her personal story. She did not distance herself from all that made her who she was and is. She weaved into her story her life as an entrenched Continental Philosopher, child of the Jim Crow South (hailing from the black elite in Birmingham, Al); an elite education and other elements you’d think would disqualify her from solidarity with the oppressed and marginalized. Her elite education did not stop her from joining in the social revolution. But she realized she had to dig in and get her hands and feet dirty. She was not afraid to be her own person thus demonstrating her equality whether it was recognized or not. What revolution will you start?
3. Raison d’etre. This word was used a couple of times during the documentary. I was asked its meaning by someone watching it with me. It is a French phrase that means ‘reason for existence’. It also means to possess a sense of purpose or direction. Dr. Davis represented a human being who discovered her raison d’etre. Also, someone that made an intentional decision to unfold and flourish in it. Unfortunately, the graveyard is overflowing with people who never discover nor walk out their raison d’tre. What’s yours?
Anthony Smith lives in Salisbury, NC. Anthony is one of the co-hosts (along with this wife Toni Cook-Smith) of Mission House, a kingdom experiment in Salisbury, NC. He is the ‘resident emerging theologian’ of an Emergent Village cohort in Charlotte and a co-host of the emergent cohort in Statesville, NC. He also serves on the leadership team of TransFORM, a global network of missional leaders and communities. He facilitates a blog, Musings of a Postmodern Negro, that is an investigation into the intersection of theology, philosophy, race, popular culture, politics, and emerging culture
This October as the leaves change colors and fall to the ground, allow your perspective to do the same. Let your guards down and embrace diversity. After all, October is Diversity Awareness Month. Just as there are variety of yellows, oranges, and reds outside, there are also a variety of identities, nationalities, religions, sexual orientations, and disability statuses.
The Vine Events 