Emancipate NC Executive Director Dawn Blagrove was honored to speak at the 12th Annual NC Black Alliance Think Tank, hosted by Shaw University in Raleigh on July 26–28, 2026. This year’s theme, “A SNCC Peek: Our Liberation Will Be Socialized,” drew inspiration from the legacy of Ella Baker, the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC), and student-led organizing. The conference challenged participants to examine the state of democracy, explore movement-building strategies, and imagine a modern-day “Neo-SNCC” rooted in civic engagement, cultural advocacy, and collective action.
Dawn’s message resonated with attendees, including North Carolina A&T student Autivia Pervis, who highlighted Dawn’s remarks as one of the most impactful moments of the conference. Pervis opened her reflection with Dawn’s quote, “History never repeats itself with perfect symmetry,” and described the three-day experience as invaluable to her growth as a community leader.
Emancipate NC is proud to support and inspire the next generation of advocates committed to advancing justice and building stronger communities across North Carolina.