NCCJ presents annual Citation Awards

By Yasmine Regester / November 17, 2016

The National Conference for Community and Justice of the Piedmont Triad, Inc. (NCCJ) held its 50th Annual Brotherhood/Sisterhood Citation Award Dinner on November 10 at the Koury Convention Center.

The annual award dinner is a multicultural sharing of community, businesses and faith-based organizations all coming together for one common cause of creating a compassionate community free of racism and bigotry. The event also honors individuals who have made significant contributions to make their communities better places.

This year’s honorees included Marsha and the late Jack Slane of High Point and Bob and Sally Cone of Greensboro.

The Slanes were honored for their longtime commitment to early childhood education and quality daycare for economically challenged children in High Point. The Slanes are well-known for their generosity to the community through their involvement with the United Way of Greater High Point, the High Point Regional Health Center, High Point University, Family Service of the Piedmont, and the High Point Community Foundation. The Slanes have also been key advocates and leaders in the High Point business community through their family business, Slane Hosiery.

The Cones were recognized for their extensive work with organizations such as the Cone Health Foundation, Greensboro Urban Ministry, and the Interactive Resource Center to improve the lives of Greensboro’s most vulnerable and underserved citizens. Sally is widely recognized for her commitment to the arts and her tireless efforts to make music, art, and theater accessible to all. As an attorney with Tuggle Duggins, Bob has played a key role in Greensboro’s business community.

Past Brotherhood/Sisterhood Citation Award honorees community volunteer Shirley Frye, former WFMY News 2 anchors Lee Kinard and Sandra Hughes and Zaki Uddin Khalifa also shared their perspectives of the work that NCCJ does in the community and asserted the fact that the work is not over.
“The work of NCCJ is just as relevant now as it was when we hosted the first Citation Award Dinner in the 1960s,” said Ivan Canada, executive director of NCCJ of the Piedmont Triad.

NCCJ is a human relations organization that promotes understanding and respect among all cultures, races and religions through advocacy, education and dialogue. The organization works to fight bias, bigotry, and racism in America through its weeklong residential summer youth program called ANYTOWN.

“It is our young people who are the most fearless when it comes to embracing change and creating a future that is truly free of racism and bias,” said Nora Carr, NCCJ Board Chair.

Summer camp attendees spend a week engaging with a diverse group of students to build a community based on inclusivity, respect and understanding through workshops, discussion groups and interactive games.