Soil Toil and Basement-to-Attic Justice Discussion Series

Exploring Environmental and Spatial Justice with Legacy Bridge NC

Welcome to Legacy Bridge NC’s newest storytelling blog spaces – Soil Toil and Basement-to-Attic Justice.

These two blog series invite you to explore how land, faith, and community come together to shape a more just and regenerative East Winston. Each month, we will share reflections, essays, and voices from the ground that center environmental and spatial justice – especially as they connect to the Brownfields land development on 32+ acres in East Winston.

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Soil Toil: Grounded Conversations

The Soil Toil series digs deeply into community-rooted and movement-centered reflections. These pieces capture the pulse of East Winston through storytelling, dialogue, and lived experiences – what we are calling a 'voices from the ground' approach. Here, you will hear from residents, organizers, and community partners who are shaping the land, nurturing the soil, and reclaiming power in East Winston.

Mr. Mohommed said, "The Children......"

Mr. Mohommed sits while enjoying one of his favorite pastimes -- reading.....

Yesterday, a voice rose from Da Island soil and spoke to me -- I had the honor of sitting with Mr. Mohommed Herb, owner of Herb's Bargains, to hear him speak soiled tales! For over an hour, Mr. Mohommed blessed my ears with his insights on, "What it means for him to seed from the soil in terms of helping Black owned and Black focused businesses in East Winston rise from the dust of economic disinvestment."

When you are the owner of a space once held by a "slave owner," that is some heavy seeding. With over 44 years living in his East Winston community, Mr. Mohommed had a lot to say about his views on his journey with his business in a Winston-Salem geography that has experienced intentional economic disinvestment. But still like dust....

My interview with Mr. Mohommed is being done in two phases, with the first phase taking place yesterday. But before I could really get started, Mr. Mohommed threw a question at me: "How can we influence our Black children towards business?" So we are going to wrap this discussion piece around that question because it sounds like Mr. Mohommed is saying, seeding from the soil cannot be done without the children of East Winston....

But we will pause here and I will pick up on this discussion piece after I take my second trip to Herb's Bargains to listen to Mr. Mohommed speak some more soiled tales....

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Basement-to-Attic Justice: Elevated Reflections

Our Basement-to-Attic Justice essays rise from lived experience (the Basement) toward spiritual and theological connections and insights (the Attic). These writings explore how faith, organizing, and imagination come together to build just and sustainable communities. We will reflect on the sacred work of land stewardship, participatory planning, and the moral call to environmental justice – all through the lens of East Winston’s transformation.

Developing Discussion Themes:

• Communities-as-Congregations – (Click here for the prologue introducing this themed discussion)

• Environmental and Spatial Justice in East Winston

• Theologically Based Practices in Ecological Sufficiency

• [Re]Modeling Land Ownership and Stewardship – resisting extractive capitalism

• Community Organizing and Participatory Planning – the Voices of Solidarity model

• Food, Housing, and Health Justice – who nourishes East Winston?

• Voices from the Ground – interviews and reflections from community members

• The Theology of Land Liberation – 32 Acres and a Mule

• Wholeness, Authenticity, and Justice – as sacred acts of neighborly kindness

• The Economics of Soul & Soil – Preaching While Eating

• Jesus, Justice, and the Politics of Resource Distribution

• Regenerative Futures and Spiritual Solidarity Ecology

Join the Conversation

As these writings unfold, we invite you to read, reflect, and respond. Whether you are a community member, faith leader, activist, or ally, your perspective matters in the ongoing story of East Winston’s renewal.