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Carolina K-12

@carolinak_12

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A program of @unchumanities. Offering free, high-quality professional development programs for teachers all over NC.

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What happens when local history opens the door to a much larger American story?

Yesterday, I had the opportunity to explore that question by sharing my research on Griggs v. Duke Power Company with educators during a workshop hosted by Facing History & Ourselves in partnership with Carolina K-12 and the NC Department of Public Instruction.

Bringing the United States Supreme Court case of Griggs v. Duke Power Company into conversation with the Delano Grape Strike created an opportunity to examine how workers challenged racial inequality, how communities organized against unequal power, and how collective action helped shape the ongoing pursuit of justice in the United States. Though these struggles unfolded in different places and circumstances, both reveal the power of people who challenged systems of inequality.

Dexter Britt of Facing History & Ourselves captured the heart of my work in his words following the presentation:

“Valencia vanguards, verifies, and validates important histories!”

That affirmation meant a great deal to me. My research began with a local history in Rockingham County, North Carolina, but the stories of the 14 original plaintiffs in Griggs v. Duke Power Company reach far beyond our community. Their experiences belong in the broader American story, and educators have an important role in ensuring those stories are researched, taught, and remembered.

Local history is American history. The people behind the cases deserve to be remembered. And the stories we teach shape how we understand our past and our possibilities for the future.

#GriggsvDukePower50 #FacingHistoryFacingOurselves #TeachingHistory #PublicHistory #HistoryEducation

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Still time to register!

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The Griggs story is once again going beyond Rockingham County.

Over the years, the Griggs v. Duke Power Company story has been shared with audiences well beyond Rockingham County—at conferences, professional learning experiences, and with educators who may have never heard that this history began right here.

And it deserves to be told.

This is the story of Black workers, their families, and their community who challenged discriminatory employment practices and helped take a local fight all the way to the United States Supreme Court. I’m honored to have been able to carry this story beyond Rockingham County many times over the years—and to do so once again with Carolina K-12 and Facing History & Ourselves.

This professional learning experience will bring Griggs into conversation with the Delano grape strike and the broader themes of organizing, workers’ rights, and solidarity.

Griggs is more than a Supreme Court case.

It is a Rockingham County story.
A Black history story.
A workers’ rights story.
A story of people coming together to create change.
A story that shows how local history can make national headlines.

I’m grateful for another opportunity to share this history beyond the borders of Rockingham County and to keep making sure the people at the center of this story are remembered.

The people of Rockingham County helped change the nation.

#GriggsvDukePower50 #BlackHistoryMatters #WorkersRights #LocalHistory #TeachTruth #HistoryEducation #DelanoGrapeStrike

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When was the last time a 90-minute ride changed the way you saw a city or history itself? 👀🚌

Come down to Wilmington, NC and experience history beyond the textbooks with WilmingtoNColor Heritage Tours!

Ride with us through historic Wilmington for an unforgettable experiential learning experience as we uncover the people, places, stories, and moments that helped shape one of North Carolina’s oldest cities and one of the most significant cities in African American history.

Bring your:
🎓 Class or college group
⛪ Church family
💼 Coworkers or organization
👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Family and cousins
🚌 Tour group
🤝 Community organization

Our 90-minute public history tour is more than sightseeing. It’s storytelling, education, culture, and history brought to life right where it happened.

People have told us this experience has changed the way they understand Wilmington, North Carolina, and American history. Now it’s your turn to take the ride.

Book your experience today at www.WilmingtoNColor.com

All you gotta do is bring the people — we’ll bring the history! ✊🏾🖤💛

#WilmingtoNColor #WilmingtonNC #BlackHistory #PublicHistory #ExperientialLearning BlackHistoryTours NorthCarolinaHistory AfricanAmericanHistory HeritageTourism HistoryComesAlive

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Last week, we were honored to host @unchumanities and over 50 teachers from across the state for the opening reception of their Harbors of Democracy Teachers Retreat. It was wonderful to see so many passionate educators gather together, eager to unpack what democracy has meant in practice throughout North Carolina’s history—and how these stories can deepen classroom learning.

Group photo courtesy of @carolinak_12 / @unchumanities

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This summer, 100 educators from across North Carolina joined us for our Democracy in Place retreats in Asheville and Wilmington. Together, we explored how democracy has been shaped, challenged, and carried forward across our state, and how these histories can enrich civic learning in classrooms today.

To the teachers who spent their summers learning alongside us: thank you for making North Carolina a better place. ❤️🤍💙

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There's still time ⌚ to register for NC Welcomes, In Our Classrooms. Secure your spot today to hear from refugees with international teaching experience about how we can better support their aspirations to re-enter the teacher workforce! 🔗Link in bio or paste the URL in your preferred browser #NCWelcomes2026 #NCWelcomesInOurClassrooms

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Are you an educator, education researcher, student, parent, faith leader, or policymaker? Join us for NC Welcomes: In Our Classrooms, a morning forum and an afternoon legislative advocacy focused on strengthening 💪 the teacher workforce by supporting the recruitment and retention of diverse educators 🧑‍🏫 by streamlining the process for teachers, here in NC, who have been internationally trained. 🔗Link in bio or paste the URL in your preferred browser - https://worldrelief.org/durham/events/nc-advocacy-day/#NCWelcomes2026 #NCWelcomesInOurClassrooms

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We are so excited to have you join us for NC Welcomes, In Our Classrooms❕ If you haven't gotten yours yet be sure to register today and secure your spot! Through research presentations, panels, and information sessions, participants will explore a comprehensive approach to bolstering the teacher pipeline‍🏫 by investing in current educators, supporting aspiring teachers🫶, and ensuring internationally trained teachers—both here in North Carolina and abroad—can contribute their expertise. 🔗Link in bio or paste the URL in your preferred browser - https://worldrelief.org/durham/events/nc-advocacy-day/#NCWelcomes2026 #NCWelcomesInOurClassrooms

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Huge shout out📢 to our NC Welcomes: In Our Classroom sponsors ! Be sure to register for NC Welcomes: In Our Classrooms and check out their tables at the event! 🔗Link in bio or paste the URL in your preferred browser - https://worldrelief.org/durham/events/nc-advocacy-day/#NCWelcomes2026 #NCWelcomesInOurClassrooms

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📢Registration for NC Welcomes, In Our Classrooms is live! Secure your spot today! 🔗Link in bio or paste the URL in your preferred browser - https://worldrelief.org/durham/events/nc-advocacy-day/ #NCWelcomes2026 #NCWelcomesInOurClassrooms ✨

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Fabulous weekend learning and reflecting on Rivers and Resistance: Pathways to Freedom in Eastern NC with @nc.dncr @carolinak_12 @naturalsciences --- remember you are resilient!

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