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Crisis Assistance Ministry

Crisis Assistance Ministry

Charlotte, NC

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Charlotte Delegation Visits Montgomery to Study Racial Justice

A diverse group of about 90 Charlotte residents traveled to Montgomery, Alabama to explore America's complicated history and ongoing story of racial injustice and social change. "We have to learn our history, " reflected one participant, "so that we can pass it on to our children."

March 3, 2019

Early on Friday morning, a diverse group of about 90 Charlotte residents boarded buses and settled in for an eight-and-a-half hour journey to discover America’s complicated history and ongoing story of racial injustice and social change. The destination was Montgomery, Alabama, and specifically, the National Memorial for Peace and Justice, Legacy Museum, and Rosa Parks Museum.

During the bus ride, the group watched An Outrage: a documentary about lynching in the American South. Participants also heard from Willie Green, staff historian at the Levine Museum of the New South, about the historical context for lynching and specific acts perpetrated against blacks in Mecklenburg County. “We have to learn our history, ” reflected one participant, “so that we can pass it on to our children.”

The first stop was the Rosa Parks Museum and historical marker. A short walk down the street was the Dexter Ave King Memorial Baptist Church, where Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was pastor for six years and which served as the headquarters for the Montgomery Bus Boycott. The courage and determination of those who participated in the boycott was particularly apparent. How many of us would be willing to make similar sacrifices today?

  • Montgomery Bus Boycott historic marker
  • Dexter Ave King Memorial Baptist Church

On Saturday, the group visited the Legacy Museum and National Memorial for Peace and Justice. Each tells a powerful story about the legacy of enslavement, terror, and humiliation inflicted upon African Americans by racial segregation and violence, including the more than 4,000 documented racial terror lynchings between 1877 and 1950. Moments of hope were also highlighted in the stories of brave individuals and communities who rose up to defend the rights of others and to demand social change. “Moving”, “no words”, and “powerful” were the typical responses as people left in quiet reflection.

  • Wall of tears
  • Mecklenburg Co. marker
  • “Raise Up”

Every day at Crisis Assistance Ministry, we see the impact of the legacy of racial segregation and discrimination in the lack of opportunities and barriers to economic mobility facing people of color. We are grateful to our co-sponsors of this trip, the Arts & Science Council and Levine Museum of the New South, for their efforts to educate the community on these issues.

Equal Justice Initiative (EJI) who created the museum and memorial, is also organizing a Community Remembrance Project to collect soil from lynching sites across the country and erect historical markers. Stay tuned for more information on how Charlotte will honor its two documented victims of lynching – Joe McNeely and Willie McDaniel.

Filed Under: Advocacy, Agency News Tagged With: Advocacy, Arts & Science Council, Civil Rights Trail, Levine Museum of the New South, National Memorial for Peace and Justice, Racial Justice

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Crisis Assistance Ministry

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    Charlotte, NC 28206
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Recent Photos

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These community-minded Deltas celebrated Founder's Day last week by inspecting and preparing donated goods for Free Store shoppers. With their help, families shopping free of charge will find essentials to help them live with dignity this week.

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The King Center's theme for MLK Day 2023 is "It Start's With Me: Cultivating A Beloved Community Mindset to Transform Unjust Systems." Fifty-five years after his death, we still see the impacts of unjust systems every day at Crisis Assistance Ministry.  Read more in this weekend's blog (link in bio)

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Crisis Assistance Ministry will be closed on Monday, January 16 in observance of  Martin Luther King Day. The office will be closed to all customers, volunteers, staff, and donors. Typical hours resume on Tuesday, January 17, 2023.

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Families in Charlotte, and across the country, are struggling to make ends meet. Inflation has outpaced wage growth. People are working harder than ever but still falling behind on rent and utilities. People need more money. But could we use policy to get more money into the hands of those who need it the most? This week's blog takes a look at the potential for Guaranteed Basic Income here in the Queen City. (Link in bio)
📷 courtesy of @stocktondemo

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Just one more day before we're back to "normal." So, @CrisisAssistMin is closed January 2, 2023,  and will return to typical business hours tomorrow, January 3.
(Financial assistance 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Free Store by appointment 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Donation drop off 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.)

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Wishing you hope, warmth, & light in the new year and beyond.
(P.S. @crisisassistmin will be closed tomorrow, January 2, and reopen with typical hours on Tuesday, January 3, 2023.)

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"Everybody wants to have that light shine."
Nikki shares what the holidays mean to her family as we reach the end of the year.  Looking back, she's grateful for the help of the community to get her through a financial crisis and back on her feet moving toward economic mobility.
Thousands more families will seek that same kind of help -- to stay safely housed, to keep utilities flowing, to provide clothing and household goods, and to rebuild financial stability -- in 2023.
Visit our quick links to learn more and to make a tax-deductible year-end gift to help more of our neighbors in the coming year.
Oh, and HAPPY NEW YEAR!

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Crisis Assistance Ministry wishes the hope, warmth, and light of home to all those who celebrate Kwanzaa this week.

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This snack ministry was a little different. Ashley (a.n.outlaw)  from @nachoaveragetruck wanted to provide hot food to neighbors seeking financial assistance or waiting to shop for essentials in the Free Store. So, she brought freshly made beef or veggie burritos and a caring smile to @CrisisAssistMin on a very cold day. It's so inspiring when the community steps up in BIG and small ways.

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