<div dir="ltr"><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:small"><br></div><br><div class="gmail_quote"><div dir="ltr" class="gmail_attr"><br></div><br><br><div dir="ltr"><br><div class="gmail_quote"><div dir="ltr"><span id="m_-5697672972520438961m_5053473837610189125gmail-docs-internal-guid-6c622cac-7fff-666b-9df9-57e18b5f116e" style="color:rgb(0,0,0)"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;font-variant-ligatures:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Hello,</span></p><br><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;font-variant-ligatures:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">I’m Leroi, the newest member of the Hacking Into History project team. As the Volunteer Coordinator and Event Planner, I am excited to work on something meaningful with such a brilliant and balanced team.</span></p><br><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;font-variant-ligatures:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Through this work, I will reach out to fellow Durhammites, like you in the hopes of connecting and sustaining an engaged, anti-racist community.</span></p><br><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;font-variant-ligatures:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Transcribing racially-restrictive deeds, part of our work has had a profound impact on me. The deed to my property randomly came up, forbidding residence to anyone of African descent, except servants of white people. This changed the narrative I had created about my house.</span></p><br><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;font-variant-ligatures:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Aware of the past, I look around at all the changes in Durham and wonder what is happening. I am concerned about the changing landscape, lack of affordable housing, and our future. The racist language may no longer be written on current deeds, but unjust practices still exist. Please participate with us as we take action to improve racial equity.</span></p><br><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(26,26,26);font-variant-ligatures:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">I personally invite you to our next Reckoning With Racial Covenants meetup on </span><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(26,26,26);font-weight:700;font-variant-ligatures:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Monday, May 23rd from 7:00-8:00 pm</span><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(26,26,26);font-variant-ligatures:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"> </p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(26,26,26);font-variant-ligatures:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Our monthly gatherings give us the opportunity to grow our inclusive community by transcribing deeds and participating in a focused discussion, led by Tia Hall of Yinsome Group LLC. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"> </p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(26,26,26);font-weight:700;font-variant-ligatures:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Please register here</span><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(26,26,26);font-variant-ligatures:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">: </span><a href="https://www.eventbrite.com/e/reckoning-wracial-covenants-monthly-meetup-tickets-338296252197" style="text-decoration:none" target="_blank"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;font-variant-ligatures:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;text-decoration:underline;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">https://www.eventbrite.com/e/reckoning-wracial-covenants-monthly-meetup-tickets-338296252197</span></a></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"> </p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(26,26,26);font-variant-ligatures:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Keep in mind that our monthly meetups are open to anyone who has previously attended one of our 2-hour, public Hacking Into History workshops. If you have not yet attended one, save the date - our next one is July 14th. It is free and open to Durham residents.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"> </p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(26,26,26);font-variant-ligatures:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Thank you,</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"> </p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(26,26,26);font-variant-ligatures:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Leroi DeRubertis</span></p></span><br style="color:rgb(0,0,0)"><br style="color:rgb(0,0,0)"></div>
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