For nearly 15 years, the NC Black Alliance (NCBA) has consistently worked to convene and cultivate Black Elected Officials across North Carolina to centralize collective power. NCBA has also addressed policy and economic issues to enhance black communities and build local black political infrastructure. We do this by engaging black faith spaces, black Greek-lettered organizations, and collegiate campus-based organizations as a means to cultivate leadership development for youth. These actions have empowered us as an organization to address policy and economic issues to enhance black communities and promote systemic policy change.

It is for this reason that we believe that black faith spaces are integral to this work. Black faith spaces have been at the forefront of the black liberation movement, from its roots in the “hush harbors,” where secret worship and anti-slavery resistance movements were formed, to its role in the Civil Rights, Voting Rights, and Black Power movements. This history has compelled us to work alongside faith-based organizations to create safe spaces, provide opportunities, and cultivate leadership skills for faith leaders to politically empower the communities they serve.