In December 2025, twenty-three leaders, professionals, and neighbors from across Alamance County reached an important milestone together: the completion of the 5th cohort of the Alamance County Racial Equity Collaborative (ACRE Co‑Lab). Their graduation marked not just the end of a twelve‑week program, but a shared commitment to helping build a community where everyone feels seen, valued, and included.

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Over several months, participants embraced deep learning and honest dialogue, exploring how the histories we share continue to shape the challenges we face today. Through these conversations, they developed the tools to navigate division, foster belonging, and advocate for systems that promote fairness and opportunity for all. What began as a group of individuals quickly became a collective of changemakers, equipped to lead with empathy and purpose in every corner of Alamance County.

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Facilitated in partnership with North Carolina for Community and Justice, ACRE Co-Lab is an important program that equips changemakers in our community with the historical and social context to better understand how systemic issues such as poverty, food insecurity, or unemployment disproportionately affect different populations. These insights empower participants to be more empathetic and effective leaders, both in their professional roles and within their neighborhoods. 

 

ACRE Co-Lab continues to serve as an essential space for learning and reflection. By fostering dialogue and providing context, the program helps participants deepen their understanding of how to foster belonging—a skill that ripples into workplaces, organizations, and everyday interactions. Each cohort represents a step toward a community that values shared responsibility and belonging, ensuring these conversations remain at the heart of progress.