Save “NSU Rally” Nets $14,000 For Scholarship Aid

Rev. Geoffrey Guns

NORFOLK/New Journal and Guide

Churches and citizens raised more than $14,000 at Second Calvary Baptist Church on November 18 during a “Save NSU” rally called by the Norfolk Pastors’ Coalition, (NPC). The money is earmarked for the Norfolk State University Foundation for scholarship aid to NSU students.

     The Norfolk Pastors’ Coalition (NPC), Norfolk NAACP and other concerned Black leaders hosted the  “Save the NSU” forum and rally to show support for the HBCU and help define a path toward resolving the enrollment and fiscal issues it is facing.

        A near capacity crowd  attended the event where Rev. Geoffrey Guns, the Senior Pastor of Second Calvary, said the rally’s purpose was to “galvanize the community of Hampton Roads to increase the level of support for Norfolk State University.”

         “The Pastors who form the Norfolk Pastors’ Coalition are motivated to do all that we can to make sure that Norfolk State University remains a viable part of our community,” he said.

  The  NPC was formed two years ago, according to Guns, who is the group’s chair.

        He said NPC was “formed to address issues that are specific to the African American community in Norfolk and allow Black  pastors to speak out on those issues.

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         The NPC  has about 26 members, who are mostly senior pastors of Norfolk’s Baptist Church community.  He said that in the coming months the groups hopes to include pastors from other Christian denominations.

         He said the NPC has sponsored a job fair which was attended by over 500 people.

       Guns sat on a panel of four  that included Executive Director of the State Council of Higher Education (SCHEV) Peter Blake, Norfolk NAACP President Joe Dillard and  Norfolk Businessman Ulysses Turner.

Attendees submitted questions on note cards that were collected to be delivered by the Coalition to the NSU leadership for their consideration.

        Guns said that NPC members would continue their activities including meeting with NSU Interim President Eddie Moore who has agreed to meet with the group.

See Full Story In The New Journal and Guide, November 26, 2015 Edition.

Rev. Anthony Paige

New Journal and Guide Publisher Brenda H. Andrews, Chief Reporter Leonard E. Colvin talk with Rev. Guns

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(L-R) Rev. Geoffrey Guns at the podium, Dr. Peter Blake, Norfolk NAACP President Joe Dillard, Jr. and Mr. Ulysses Turner

 All Photos by Ernest Lowery