Preserving Sacred spaces initiative

 
 

Preserving Sacred Spaces Initiative (PSSI) is a peacebuilding initiative at the UNC Charlotte under the direction of Dr Julia Robinson Moore. PSSI provides substantive steps towards memorializing formerly enslaved African American burial grounds in the city of Charlotte and beyond. PSSI was conceived out of Dr Julia Moore’s second book project that investigates the complexities of Black and White race relations through the context of the Presbyterian Church in Charlotte, NC. While reflecting on the history of Charlotte’s and the greater South’s racial past, PSSI is committed to respect and affirm everyone’s common humanity. PSSI promotes sustainability by helping to strengthen race relations within the Charlotte community and beyond.

Moore Grace Ministries’ partners with PSSI through its Pathway for Peace Project. The Pathways for Peace Project oversees all of the community engagement activities and administration. In addition to the UNC Charlotte collaboration, Moore Grace Ministries has strategic partnerships with Mecklenburg County, NC area Churches, Life Model Works Inc, Thrive Today Inc, SILO AR+D, New South Associates, and various other scholars, vendors, artists, professionals and donors that are committed to community sustainability.

The WHY behind Moore Grace Ministries’ involvement with PSSI:

  • Every person is born in God’s image and likeness.

  • God’s design was for all ethnos to live in community.

  • Because we are children of God, we know humanity needs to have a relationship with Jesus Christ to live out God’s call for love, equity and unity.

  • Choices that were made in the past that yielded slavery, segregation and injustice for the formerly enslaved persons are not forgotten.

  • Because we are children of God, we make compassionate choices as we value the equality of all people.

  • Pathways for Peace in conjunction with PSSI is a testament of God’s love for humanity and His unwavering passion to not leave us alone to the limits we impose on ourselves.

  • Because we are children of God, we love well, we honor the forgotten, and we esteem the least as we bring equity in memory and memorial to those who were formerly enslaved. Foundational Scriptures: Genesis 1:26-28, John 17:20-23, Galatians 3:27-29, Philemon v15-19


Moore Grace Ministries’ leadership sessions with church representatives focus on the below results:

  • Learn how to keep Christ at the center of the conversation and following Holy Spirit throughout the process

  • Learn how to navigate the genealogical and organizational history while staying in peace

  • Stay connected with God and each other when faced with emotional triggers

  • Vision casting for memorialization artifacts

  • Joint Declaration of Hope from participating churches

  • Preservation and Community Engagement Planning for the Memorialization Site


If you want to know more about how Moore Grace Ministries can be of service to your organization as it relates to Pathways to Peace, please go to our contact page and fill-out a request for more information and select the Option “Pathways”.