We're On A Mission
Challenges of the 21st Century now known as Legacy Bridge NC is a African American led community organization rooted in East Winston and committed to advancing racial fairness, economic justice, and environmental resilience in East Winston and other historically disinvested communities. Legacy Bridge NC leverages land and community assets to create affordable housing, support BIPOC entrepreneurship, and build regenerative economic models that foster the creation of greater wealth within the communities served.
With A Vision
Challenges of the 21st Century now known as Legacy Bridge NC envisions a future where historically disinvested communities—beginning in East Winston—thrive for racial fairness, environmental justice, and economic self-determination. We believe in the power of communities to define their own futures and lead the work of restoration, preservation, regeneration and healing.
Together-with-Community, Legacy Bridge NC is building locally rooted, culturally grounded models that close the racial wealth gap and create just, sustainable futures for generations to come.
Futuristic Journey To Create A Better Future
Legacy Bridge NC, formerly Challenges of the 21st Century, was conceived and incorporated in 1996, with the aim of addressing the needs of the African American Community and other historically oppressed communities in Winston-Salem and North Carolina in the areas of Education, Entrepreneurship and Housing.
32 Acres Of Land On The East Side Of Winston-Salem
Legacy Bridge NC (Legacy) owns 32 acres of land in East Winston, a historically African American and Latinx community long impacted by environmental harm, racial inequity, and economic exclusion. Located at the intersection of I-40 and Highway 52, this underutilized land—now under a Brownfields Agreement—holds tremendous potential to advance Legacy’s mission of Education, Entrepreneurship, and Housing.
Legacy continues to spearhead a bold environmental justice initiative to transform the land into a hub for community-led regeneration, with plans for affordable housing, expanded urban farming, renewable energy projects, community-owned enterprises, and culturally rooted educational spaces. Legacy’s continued community economic development work represents a broad blueprint and pathway towards reclaiming land, restoring community health, and building intergenerational wealth in economically disinvested communities. Legacy’s vision is anchored in environmental healing and community power—ensuring that East Winston residents not only remain in place but also shape the future of their neighborhood as architects of a sustainable, just, and self-determined future.
Legacy Bridge identified education as its initial endeavor, which came after North Carolina passed its first charter school law in 1996. The new law gave non-profits the right to organize and operate public charter schools with funding resources the state traditionally allots for each student to receive in traditional public schools.
Legacy Bridge birthed its initial endeavor to focus on Winston-Salem’s K-12 African American children determined to be “at risk” and under threat of entering the “school to prison pipeline.” This concern was and is the greatest threat to African American children and their communities.
Birthed Out Of Education Focused On Disrupting the
School to Prison Pipeline
THE CHALLENGE
Legacy Bridge’s Carter G. Woodson School was formed to ameliorate the treatment of student miseducation and provide viable holistic educational paths for students and their families.
For over twenty seven years, Legacy Bridge NC has expanded its educational initiative under CGWS to develop flagship projects -- introducing students to study abroad opportunities in Africa;
providing them with experiences in urban farming Winston-Salem; training them on the finer parts of legal advocacy through mock trial competitions; partnering with local colleges and universities to peak their curiosity in STEM paths for professional development; providing viable paths towards civic engagement in all levels of American government; and building lifelong character development.
Legacy Bridge’s Carter G. Woodson School (CGWS) was formed
OUR SOLUTION
Johnnie Larrie, ESQ.
Acting Executive Director
Dr. Johnnie C. Larrie is a “community lawyer” and community economic development specialist. With over 28 years of legal experience in consumer and community economic development initiatives, she has led a dynamic role in community development and civil legal initiatives that helped shape the lives of thousands of vulnerable homeowners in their communities. Dr. Larrie joined Legal Aid of North Carolina (LANC) in 2004 where she became the recipient of the Deborah Greenblatt Outstanding Legal Services Attorney Award (2021). Dr. Larrie serves as the consumer practice manager for LANC’s statewide consumer practice group and manages the Economic Justice Initiative (EJI), which initiative strives for financial stability and economic security for vulnerable North Carolina populations. Johnnie received her M.A. and PhD in Public Administration from North Carolina State University, focusing on J-12 Public Education Policy. She also received a J.D. from Boston University School of Law and her B.A. from Canisius College in Buffalo, New York.
Hazel Mack, Esq
Board Chair (Emeritus)
Hazel Mack, a dedicated native of Winston-Salem, committed her life to service, influenced by her early experiences in the Black Panther Party's survival programs. After earning her law degree from Temple University, she worked with The Legal Aid Society, later becoming Executive Director of Eastern North Carolina Legal Services. Hazel's leadership included significant litigation post-Hurricane Floyd, and she played a crucial role in saving homeowners during the 2008 housing crisis. Beyond her legal career, she founded educational initiatives like Challenges of the 21st Century and The Carter G Woodson School, continuing her community service even after retiring from Legal Services in 2016.
Ruth Hopkins, M.Ed
Board Treasurer
Ruth Mack-Hopkins, the inaugural Executive Director of Carter G. Woodson School (CGWS) from 1997-2017, has come out of retirement to join the Legacy Bridge NC board. Recognized for transforming CGWS into a community-centered institution disrupting the school-to-prison pipeline, she is celebrated for her dedicated and loving approach to educating children. With a master's degree in Elementary Education, Ruth Mack-Hopkins, a recipient of the Sojourner Truth Award for Leadership, is known for demystifying educational systems and advocating for historically oppressed communities.
Sharon Bey-Christopher,ESQ
Board Chair
Sharon Bey-Christopher, licensed in North Carolina (1998), New Jersey (1983), and Georgia (1994), is a Cornell University graduate with a Juris Doctorate from Rutgers University School of Law. Initially, Sharon gained valuable experience in commercial litigation for corporate law firms. Transitioning to her true passions, Sharon entered private practice where she championed the legal rights of vulnerable children in North Carolina K-12 public schools, and now represents low-income clients across North Carolina in foreclosure prevention & homeownership preservation and general consumer practice work. Sharon's extensive background in commercial litigation uniquely benefits the most vulnerable North Carolinians. Her practice encompasses general consumer litigation, education law, and economic development/community lawyering.
Pamela Thombs, ESQ.
Board Secretary
With over two decades of legal expertise, Pamela Thombs is a distinguished professional admitted to the North Carolina State Bar in 2000. She began her career at The Land Loss Prevention Project. She is a Certified Housing Development Officer. While at Experiment In Self Reliance she directed Community Services Block Grants (CSBR) and developed Site Based section 8 and Self Sufficiency Programs. She also has experience in administering HUD Home Funds, Community Development Block Grants and other federal programs. As the Managing Attorney at Legal Aid of North Carolina, Inc., she led a dynamic team, providing crucial legal services to thousands in landlord-tenant, foreclosure, and bankruptcy matters. Pamela directed the Consumer Financial Transactions Clinic at North Carolina Central University School of Law, emphasizing student instruction in bankruptcy and foreclosure. A recipient of the Defenders of Justice Award for Litigation in 2013, she co-managed the Mortgage Foreclosure Defense Project, demonstrating a commitment to justice and advocacy.
Larry D. Little, ESQ
Board Member
Larry Donnell Little, a passionate advocate for freedom, justice, and equality, emerged as a prominent leader in the fight for African-American rights and the liberation of oppressed communities. From organizing successful statewide efforts to free individuals wrongly accused, such as Joann Little and Darrell Hunt, to his role as a founding member of the Winston-Salem Black Panther Party, Little dedicated his life to community service. Larry Little received a Masters Degree in Public Administration from UNC-Greensboro and his Juris Doctorate from Wake Forest University School of Law. His impact extended beyond activism as he later served as an Alderman, earned multiple degrees, and ultimately became a distinguished Political Science Professor now Professor Emeritus.
Sue Perry Cole, JD
Board Member
Susan Perry Cole, President and CEO of the NC Association of Community Development Corporations (NCACDC), brings a wealth of experience, having served as the former Assistant Secretary for Community Development in the NC Department of Commerce. Recognized for her significant contributions, she received awards such as the Lifetime Champion of Justice from the NC Justice Center in 2019 and the Abdul SM Rasheed Economic Justice award in 2022. In 2023, Ms. Cole was honored with the Dr. Vivian Burke Community Leadership award from the North Carolina Black Elected Municipal Officials.
Those Who Built The Bridge
Meet our dedicated team of professionals, each bringing a unique blend of expertise to the table. From legal advocacy and community development to education and economic justice, our diverse backgrounds converge to drive positive change and empowerment. Together, we are committed to making a lasting impact on the communities we serve.
Legacy Bridge has expanded its vision to embrace housing, entrepreneurship and other initiatives vital to at- risk North Carolina communities and continues to seek capacity building and other financial opportunities to support its vision.
Seeking
Forward Thinking Grantors And Investors
