Build-a-book

Work begins on my second book about Activate Selma, NC

I’ve turned over production of the weekly Activate Selma e-news to Melissa Dooley so I can work on 12 posts about community builders — people I’ve met who are working on a grassroots level in Selma, North Carolina. I’m hoping these 2026 posts will build toward a second book about Activate Selma by the end of the year. Our strength is our weekly face-to-face conversations that are open to the public each Wednesday at 9 am. They move around to different locations to take people to places they may never have ventured before. The January 28, 2026 meeting is at Alta’s Coffee & Deli at 112 W. Waddell St (weather permitting - an ice storm is coming). Upcoming meetings at 9 am are Feb. 4 (Vibe Central), Feb. 11 (Barn Shelter Antiques), Feb. 18 (Carolina Wholesale Flooring) and Feb. 25 (The Rudy Theatre). We gather again, Wednesdays at 5 pm at the Longleaf Tavern for After Hours conversations.

Here’s the first post in the community builders series.

https://www.activateselmanc.com/2026/01/22/24927/a-voice-that-carries-franky-echols/

Thank you, Franky Echols for being my first interviewee! The next post will be in February.

Caption: Franky Echols with Chandler Pernell of Pernell Heating and Air Conditioning at an Activate Selma meeting held at Plant a Row for the Hungry, Johnston County's Selma Community Garden at Selma Baptist Church. Local volunteers help provide fresh, locally grown produce to local soup kitchens and food banks.