Our Staff

Nelson Johnson has been active in the movement for social and economic justice since high school in the late 1950's. He served as a student leader Student Government Association at A&T State University, in Greensboro, NC in 1970. Between high school and college Rev. Johnson served four years in the United States Air Force. He continues to work for social and economic justice in Greensboro as Pastor of Faith Community Church and Executive Director of The Beloved Community Center of Greensboro. Read More.

Joyce Johnson’s activism began as a high school student in Richmond, VA during the 1960s struggle for civil rights and open accommodations. She deepened her involvement in college as one of the earlier black students at Duke University and while supporting campus non-academic employees and the movement for relevant education. A former university professor and research director, Joyce is currently Director of the Jubilee Institute, a community-based leadership development and training entity. Read More.

Dr. Claude Barnes, Senior Research Associate
Dr.  Barnes is a native of Greensboro, NC and a 1970 graduate of James B. Dudley High School.  He also received a BA degree in Political Science from North Carolina A&T State University, as well as, an MA and PhD  in political science from Clark Atlanta University in Atlanta, Georgia.  Dr. Barnes served as the youth organizer of the Greensboro Association of Poor People and the Student Organization of Black Unity during the late 1960s and early 1970s.  After teaching political science for twenty seven years Dr. Barnes now serves Senior Research Associate with the Beloved Community Center.  You can gain access to Dr. Barnes Linkedin Page and more detailed information by  selecting the following: Read More. 

Lewis A. Brandon III, Director of the Grassroots History Project
Lewis Brandon is a native of Asheville, North Carolina and a retired science teacher from the public schools of Guilford County.  Brandon was a student organizer during the early 1960s while he was an undergraduate student at North Carolina A&T State University.  Brandon was one of the founders of the Greensboro Association of Poor People in 1968, was active in the formation of the Greensboro Community Truth and Reconciliation Project in 1991 and the Greensboro Truth and Reconciliation Commission in 2004.  Currently Brandon serves as the Director of Beloved Community Center’s  Grassroots History Project.

Wesley Morris, Youth and Student Initiatives Coordinator
Brother Wesley is a native of Raleigh, NC.  His current focus of work at the Beloved Community Center includes immigrant and worker justice and youth organizing.  Brother Wesley is a dedicated mentor, facilitator, and reconciler.  He actively works, building better relationships among the races, especially African American and Latino Unity. Brother Wesley also serves as Youth Pastor at Faith Community Church  for the youth ministry called the "Dreamzone". Wesley considers the work of social justice and healing as a major inspiration of his call to Christian Ministry.  Brother Wesley currently serves as the Youth and Student Initiatives Coordinator.