WS Chronicle

Union Baptist Church will host its 9th Annual Corner 2 Corner (C2C) Drug Dealers and Street Life Conference from Nov. 15–18.

The conference is designed to help individuals take the first steps in changing their lives of crime and substance abuse.

Noted journalist Roland Martin will give the keynote address on the final day of the conference. Martin is a commentator for the TV One network and host and managing editor of “Washington Watch with Roland Martin.” He is also a CNN analyst who appears on the network to discuss a variety of issues.

Martin will speak on Sunday at the 11 a.m. worship service, which will include the C2C graduation ceremony.  Yasmine Arrington, a PBS intern at Elon University and the founder of ScholarCHIPS (for Children of Incarcerated Parents), will speak at the 9 a.m. worship service.

The conference starts today (Nov. 15) at 8 a.m. with a registration period and a breakfast. Participants may also register tomorrow, beginning at 8 a.m. A full schedule of panel discussions, speeches and seminars are slated for both today and tomorrow. There will be a luncheon for program particpants after Sunday’s graduation.

Dr. Sir Walter Mack Jr., pastor of Union Baptist Church, envisioned the conference while driving home one day after giving a powerful worship service messge.  Dr. Mack casually observed a young man dealing drugs on the cornern and he felt compelled to confront this problem. C2C’s mission is to educate, mentor and provide viable alternative options for employment and entrepreneurship to deter current and future drug dealers.

Those interested in participating in this year’s conference should call 336-724-9305, ext. 222.  Registration is free and open to the public.  Union Baptist is located at 1200 N. Trade St.