The community is invited to participate in an event Saturday that organizers hope will empower men and their families.
One Thousand Men Marching will start at 10 a.m. at Fairview Heights Missionary Baptist Church, 704 Old Concord Road, Salisbury, and will end at Shady Grove Baptist Church, 600 S. Long St., East Spencer.
The walk will be just more than 3 miles, said one event organizer, Andrew Davis.
There will be water checkpoints along the route and transportation provided for those who aren’t able to make the entire march, Davis said.
Once the walk has been completed, there will be activities at Shady Grove Baptist, including a health fair and a booth to help formerly incarcerated people find jobs.
“We hope to inspire men to step up to various roles in the community,” Davis said.
He said although the event is geared toward men, women are invited to participate.
There will be messages by the Rev. Clarence E. Marlin, pastor of Fairview Heights, and the Rev. Timothy Bridges Sr., pastor of Shady Grove.
Bridges will provide information about his program that helps formerly incarcerated men adapt to life after jail, find jobs and fill out job applications.
James Locke of Church of God of Prophecy will have a booth at the event for housing assistance and opportunities for families to receive food.
Davis said although this is not a political event, there will be a voter registration booth on site.
Some of the groups participating in the event are North Rowan Connection, Fishers of Men from Fairview Heights Missionary Baptist Church, and Men Inspiring Success Through Education Role-modeling (M.I.S.T.E.R.) from Rowan-Cabarrus Community College.
Organizers hope to provide a sense of uniting and caring in the community. Organizers also hope to create a bond between men that will unite in areas of self-help and self-worth to people in the community regardless of race, economic stature, political status or background, Davis said.