“Birthplace of the Environmental Justice Movement”

The Warren County Environmental Action Team, Warren County Community Center, NAACP Warren County Branch, Coley Springs Missionary Baptist Church, United Church of Christ, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and Duke University along with other groups will hold a multi-faceted commemoration of the historic 1982 Warren County PCB protests this month. These protests led to the birth of the environmental justice movement.

Organizers plan to retrace the landmark marches and sing many of the protest songs when they walk to the Warren County dumpsite on Sat., Sept. 17. In addition to an ongoing exhibit at UNC-Chapel Hill’s Wilson Library, there will be panel and webinar discussions and an NAACP virtual banquet.

Among the events are:

Aug. – Dec. 22: UNC-Chapel Hill Wilson Library Environmental Justice Exhibit

Sept. 14 at 1 PM: Webinar discussion with former protester Dollie Burwell, the Rev. Dr. Ben Chavis and the Rev. Bill Kearney. Register here

Sept. 14 at 5:30 PM: “Recalling Warren County – Discussing the Birth of the Movement. Discussion between former protesters, a protest photographer, the first NC Black woman elected to Congress and the Rev. Dr. Ben Chavis at Duke University’s Penn Pavilion Garden Room. Register here

Sept. 15 at 1-3 PM: UNC-Chapel Hill Wilson Special Collections Library panel discussion and exhibit viewing

Sept. 15 at 5:30 PM: “Environmental Justice: Past, Present and Future” with Rev. Dr. Ben Chavis and Catherine Coleman Flowers at Duke’s Chapel (see attached flyer) Register here

Sept. 17 from 8 AM – 2 PM: Commemoration Ceremony & March to the landfill. Registration and gathering at Coley Springs Missionary Baptist Church in Warren County. Address: 224 Parktown Road, Warrenton, NC 27589 More info. here

Sept. 18 from 2 – 4 PM: Community Worship Service at Coley Springs Missionary Baptist Church. Info. here

Sept. 20 from 5 PM – 8 PM: Downtown Warrenton & Warren County Jail Museum EJ Tour. Info. here

Sept. 24 at 1:00 PM: EPA to make policy announcement at the Warren County Courthouse Square. Address: 109 S. Main Street, Warrenton, NC 27589

Sept. 24 at 6:30 PM: “Back Together Again” Virtual gathering NAACP Warren County Branch. Register

Sept. 30 at 12-1 PM: “40 Years of Environmental Justice: Birth in Warren County to Today & Beyond” with Rev. Bill Kearney and additional speakers TBA, a free lunchtime webinar hosted by Clean Water for NC. Info here

Sept. 30 at TBD: “The Roots, Experiences, and Future of Climate Justice” with William Barber III, Yumna Kamel, and Dr. Jennifer Hadden at Duke University Gross Hall room 107, Ahmadieh Family Auditorium. Register Here.

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As part of his “20 Places in 20 Days” series, Scott Mason, or best known to TV viewers as the “Tar Heel Traveler,” added our very own Warren County Community Center to his list of stops. The segment featured organization president Shauna Williams, vice president Felton Davis and board member Joyce Long.

If you missed it when it aired, no worries – you can watch it below:

Community center tells story of spirit of Black community in Warrenton

Also, check this out: Warren County Community Center Receives $300K State Grant.

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A major win for this Historic Warren County building!

One of Warren County’s most notable historic sites, the Warren County Community Center has been awarded a grant for $300,000.00 from the North Carolina State Capital and Infrastructure Fund (SCIF).

According to the Committee Report, page H55, item 571, “this funding is for improvements, therefore the funding must be spent on capital improvements.”

Shauna Williams, Board President of the Warren County Community Center stated she has secured several grants over the years. She noted, “This is the first substantial grant we have gotten that will allow us to rehabilitate our aging building and make it accessible.”

Shauna Williams, Board President of the Warren County Community Center

NC Senator Don Davis, who represents the Fifth Senatorial District, was the key reason The Community Center received the grant. “He presented it and got it into this year’s state budget,” Williams stated.

When asked he supported the Community Center, Senator Davis stated:

“The Community Center is a pillar of strength and vitality for not only Warren County, but all of eastern North Carolina. Since 1934 when the association was founded, it has served as a critical site for educating young people, bringing together social leaders and families, and uniting us together through our shared history in North Carolina. I’m proud to champion the renovation of this community center and investing in its mission as we work for a brighter future in the east.”

Senator Don Davis spoke during a Black History Program at Warren New Tech High in 2020. (: Shauna Williams)

Williams explained how the process went:

“We had to submit all types of information to the NC Office of State Budget and Management over the course of several weeks starting in January. The information about the work was included in: a Scope of Work, which includes objectives, expected results, performance measures and a budget. Further we had to determine Grant Performance Measures, describing the work to be done, showing start and completion dates. From there, the state drew up a contract that I signed and they signed and then they sent the money! We were able to see the electronic transfer on Friday, February 25th.

I called a Board of Trustees meeting on Monday, February 28th and informed our entire Warren County Community Center, Inc. Board of Trustees.

Next week, I’ll attend another state Office of Budget and Management webinar to learn our reporting requirements with details!” – Shauna Williams

Williams concluded they will be rehabilitating the entire building, inside and outside. The work will include exterior porch, steps, walls and handrails; roof, electric, plumbing, lighting, upgraded bathrooms and kitchens, pain, roof, insulation, new interior and exterior doors, and addition of a lift with required walkway to make the building accessible.

We look forward to seeing the end results to this prominent historic property and how it will continue to serve the Warren County community!

The Warren County Community Center is located at 111 West Franklin Street in Warrenton, NC.

: Warren County Community Center/ Crystal Myrick (The Warrenist)

Source: Press Release

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