Belonging Contributes to the Collective Good
March 26, 2025
Category: Perspectives
Tags: Anytown, Community, Diversity, Equity, History, Inclusion, Racial Equity,
The recent conversations around diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) present an opportunity for NCCJ (North Carolina for Community and Justice) to share our core values and mission. We are committed to the kind of justice where people of diverse lived experiences and perspectives are equally valued.
Values uplifting inclusivity shaped NCCJ long before contested cultural buzzwords like DEI existed. For us, DEI means valuing a wide variety of cultural, racial, and religious backgrounds, but also different types of body shapes, ages, physical abilities, and lived experiences. NCCJ understands that diverse communities contribute to the collective good.
In 1937, NCCJ was born out of the idea that open, respectful dialogue between people of different backgrounds builds stronger communities. At that time, religious differences were the challenge we worked to overcome. Over the years, NCCJ has evolved to meet the challenges of each new era, expanding our focus beyond interfaith cooperation to also include issues of race, gender, sexual orientation, and other aspects of identity.
Our origin story continues to inform the values that we believe are inherent to the American experience. The ability to see and hear each other – even when we disagree – is essential for democracy and healthy communities.
For eighty-eight years, NCCJ has empowered multiple generations of those living in the Triad (and beyond) to advocate for the right of everyone to belong in our community. Our flagship programs like Anytown (a youth leadership and humans relation program), the Interfaith Tour, and the annual Citation Award Dinner continues to support and honor leaders of all ages as they shape the world.
Our legacy speaks to our commitment to creating a community where all feel valued and seen.
These commitments to belonging are goalposts for our programming. Anytown is an experience open to any rising sophomore, junior, or high school senior across North Carolina to learn how to build a strong community. Origins: Stories of American Democracy and Civil Rights is a cohort-style program for adults to engage in the history of social change in the United States. We offer STARR: Students Talking about Race + Racism as a two-day program for high school students to explore these issues in a nonjudgmental space. Our Interfaith Tour continues to promote understanding among the Triad’s different faith communities.
Through the Anytown experiences, we witness how young people can engage in difficult conversations on race, identity, and belonging when they are supported. We see how a shy teenager can blossom and grow into a leader when they feel safe to be themselves. Through Origins, participants are learning how to re-invest in the American story.
Since 1964, the Citation Award Dinner has honored leaders that uphold our shared values. We’ve celebrated changemakers like Jane M Armfield, Betty Cone, Bob Page, Dr. Henry W.B. Smith, III and 82 other individuals.
NCCJ remains committed to fighting for a more just community for all of us — not just some of us. We believe that creating brave spaces for building relationships with each other matters more than ever. We want everyone to feel like they belong in our community.
We are honored to serve you – our community – as we continue this work.
