Artists, community leaders, and familiar faces gathered inside The Fruit in Durham on a Sunday afternoon to catch a sneak peek of a documentary focused on local quilter, Jereann King Johnson.

In the 10-minute preview of “Not I, But OUR: Jereann King Johnson, a Life of Art, Activism, and Community Building,” the video featured Johnson hosting the Warren County Schools New Staff and Teachers tour, arriving at the Kindred Spirits Quilt Conference, and in her element, piecing together a quilt.

Following the film trailer, director Courtney Reid-Eaton spoke with the star in an informative yet lighthearted Q&A.

For more information about the documentary, read “Jereann King Johnson the Focus of Forthcoming Documentary.”

This film project is being made possible by the Resource Center for Women and Ministry in the South, Inc.

To donate to the project, visit RCWMS.org/donate and click “Jereann King Johnson Film Project” in the dropdown menu.

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For over four decades, Jereann King Johnson has woven various fabrics with intricate details into her quilted works to share stories and traditions with the world.

Now, her own life story is being told in an upcoming documentary.

The Resource Center for Women and Ministry and the Black Feminist Film School are producing, “Not I, But OUR: Jereann King Johnson, a Life of Art, Activism, and Community Building,” (working title) a documentary film that will tell the story of the life and work of African American quilter, educator, and community organizer Jereann King Johnson.

A long-time Warren County resident, Johnson pieces together people, organizations, and resources into racial and social justice. For Johnson, quilting is a dynamic metaphor for living, community development, and creative expression; quilting involves putting together often-discarded pieces to make something new.

Using archival footage and interviews with Johnson and her colleagues and friends, they will create and distribute a one-hour (56:46) documentary film. Rafael Samanez and Leilani Clark of Elevate Media Films are working their magic as the filmmakers and producers.

When asked, Johnson stated that she “felt honored” that the women in her circle saw something in her that merited time and resources to tell a story. She continued. “And the story is more than just my story, it’s the story of many black women who emerged from strong communities that show them a way to muster up the courage to try and build better communities for everybody. I hope that my story reflects the stories of countless women who are inspired by the work of their hands and in my case, quilting and textile arts to step out of the box and work for social change.”

Jereann King Johnson has a legacy of artistic creation and working for equality. She assisted in launching two quilting groups: African American Quilt Circle in Durham and the Heritage Quilters in Warrenton, NC.

Johnson and her fellow quilters work to preserve and highlight African American quilting traditions; they also speak to the present moment by creating quilts that artistically portray historic and current events. One such quilt of Johnson’s is called “Hope in Impossible Odds.” Made with black and white cotton and red linen, it depicts a figure behind bars against a swirling black-and-white background.

In addition to quilting, the Heritage Quilters work directly in the community by leading community tours, working with the schools, and organizing a giving circle that funds scholarships and youth field trips.

In the film, the producers will document the many ways that Johnson has been a pivotal figure in her community and beyond, and show the ways she connects people, encourages artistic expression, preserves and contributes to a fiber arts tradition, and works for justice.

The Resource Center for Women and Ministry is hosting an exclusive sneak peek of the forthcoming documentary on Sunday, August 25, from 3-5 pm at The Fruit in Durham. Alongside Johnson, attendees will meet director Courtney Reid-Eaton and film editor Tamar Rachkovsky. To donate or for more information, visit rcwms.org.

The Fruit is located at 305 S. Dillard Street in Durham, NC.

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Raleigh, N.C. — The Leandro case has circulated through North Carolina courts for nearly 30 years now, but many parents of school-aged children are hearing the name for the first time. WRAL’s investigative documentary reporter Cristin Severance and photojournalist Jay Jennings traveled across the state to uncover what’s really at stake when it comes to your child’s education. Leandro: The Case for a Sound Basic Education is hosted by Severance and premieres on WRAL-TV and WILM-TV Wednesday, March 16, at 7:30 p.m.

The landmark education case was filed in 1994 by five poor counties which said they couldn’t afford to give their students an adequate education. After almost 30 years, the lawsuit is still going on and affects funding for every school system in North Carolina. Parents say the problems in school districts across the state have gotten worse, and many blame politics for the lack in progress.

“When I heard about the Leandro case, started researching it and realized its impact, I knew this had to be my first documentary at WRAL,” said Severance. “We traveled all over the state, interviewed superintendents, teachers, students, advocates, former judges and lawmakers about the Leandro case. I hope after watching, viewers get a big picture understanding of this important case and why it should matter to anyone living in North Carolina.”

The latest WRAL Documentary dives into the facts of the case, its impact on students in North Carolina and why there could finally be a resolution that parents should be aware of in 2022.​

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The Warren County Environmental Action Team cordially invites you to a Red-Carpet Kickoff for the 40th Anniversary Commemoration: Birth of the Environmental Justice Movement on Saturday, Dec. 11 at 11am at the Warren County Courthouse (109 S. Main St, 2nd floor). During the program, they will show the documentary, Warren County:Birth of a Movement.

Following the showing, there will be a panel featuring the Honorable Eva Clayton, Dollie Burwell and Wayne Moseley, all of whom played instrumental roles in the protests.

The program will serve as a springboard for next year’s events and the organizers are requesting that people bring items they have saved from the protests such as buttons, bumper stickers, photos, posters, newspapers, and to also assist in identifying people in photos and videos.

There will also be time set aside to record stories for those who participated in the 1982 protest.

This event is open to the public. Refreshments will be served. Masks are required and social distancing will be practiced.

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