Freedom Fete 2025
Trinity is honored to welcome three local leaders as they share their experiences and perspectives on Charlotte’s past and future at Trinity’s annual Freedom Fete on Thursday, Jan. 23, 4:00-5:30 p.m., in the Center for Community and the Arts.
This year’s event features a panel discussion with local civil rights pioneer Dorothy Counts-Scoggins, Mecklenburg County Commissioner Arthur Griffin, and author and organizer Greg Jarrell.
The conversation will explore Charlotte’s history, particularly the culture of community and the city’s legacy in education, and how lessons from the past can shape the city’s future. Following the discussion, a Q&A session will bring the audience into the conversation.
We are fortunate to welcome these distinguished voices to Trinity for Freedom Fete - our annual celebration highlighting social justice work in our community and beyond. Please take a moment to RSVP for this insightful discussion at the link below.
Meet the Speakers
Dorothy Counts-Scoggins made history in 1957 as one of the first four Black students to integrate Charlotte’s all-white public schools. During her time at Harding High School, she faced violent harassment, including being spat on and having rocks thrown at her. Newspaper images of her experience reverberated around the world. Her bravery paved the way for future generations. A graduate of Johnson C. Smith University and Charlotte Magazine Charlottean of the Year, she has worked extensively with neglected and abused children and is a dedicated advocate for the preservation of the history and culture of Charlotte’s Beatties Ford Road corridor.
Arthur Griffin is in his second term on the Mecklenburg County Board of Commissioners as an at-large member. His Charlotte roots run deep, having grown up in First Ward before being displaced by urban renewal. He attended Charlotte’s public schools during the era of segregation. A passionate advocate for public education, he served 12 years on the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Board of Education, including five years as chairman at a time when the school district faced legal challenges to policies that made Charlotte a pioneer in school desegregation.
Greg Jarrell is co-founder of QC Family Tree, a community-focused organization based in the Enderly Park neighborhood of west Charlotte. He is passionate about building spaces for belonging and community, especially in underserved areas. An ordained minister, musician, and author, his most recent book is “Our Trespasses: White Churches and the Taking of American Neighborhoods” which examines the urban renewal movement of the mid-20th Century and its destructive impact on communities, including Charlotte’s Brooklyn neighborhood in Second Ward. He has also advocated for housing justice and served as co-chair of the Charlotte Clergy Coalition for Justice.
About Freedom Fete
Freedom Fete is an annual celebration at Trinity, occurring around Martin Luther King, Jr. Day in January, dedicated to celebrating the work of those who lead the struggle for social justice - both in our local community and beyond. Each year, we feature guest speakers from across the country who are experts on a wide variety of diversity and social justice issues.