Giancarlo Spells- can you tell me about a typical day

Joseph Frierson- A typical day for me is not really typical at all; it’s never marked in stone what is to be done as it relates to do this first and this next. Usually a day would consist of talking and communicating with different people around Greensboro, the day is branched off different issues that arise in the community.

GS- how did you get started doing this type of work

JF- I actually started at A&T as a political science major and wanted to pursue being an attorney or lawyer. It was when I had my internship in the field when I found out that this profession wasn’t for me. I had talked to my advisor Dr. Claud Barnes and he said that I loved people to much to be an attorney; from there he had brought me to a meeting at the beloved community center were they spoke about a book called “Stolen Lives” which basically was about state and federal governments wrongfully executing citizens, and I thought to myself who was responsible who took the blame. From then on I knew that community organizing was what I wanted to do.

GS- What is your favorite part of your job

J F- I get an opportunity to engage in social contra that has really brought about a continued mindset of separation, oppression, segregation, and marginalization. Not everybody has a job were they can do that, and I’m free to do it, free to be able to speak freely about a wrong that I see.

GS- What surprised you the most when you started working in the field

JF- What surprised me the most when I started working in this field was the amount of work that is needed to be done on a regular basis not just a 9-5 but randomly throughout the week. Also the anti-market that goes against what we do at the beloved community center and the way they speak about individuals who do positive things and how they put a negative twist on different community issues that we deal with

GS- What Advise would you give someone who wants to get started in PR

JF - the advise I would give someone is to get started now, whether you are in high school or an undergrad however you can get into the field early to catch on to how it works and what is needed out of individuals.

GS- What are employers typically looking for in