A New Deal for North Carolina: Interactive presentation on Civilian Conservation Corps, tonight

CONCORD — The New Deal brought a federal works program to North Carolina and Cabarrus County. Of the program’s 45 camps, Cabarrus’ Crispus Attucks Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) service camp was one of three CCC camps in North Carolina designated for African-American veterans of World War I.

For nine years beginning in 1933, CCC workers planted millions of trees, built hundreds of bridges and dams and created 1,000 miles of roads in our state. The camps also combated the enormous problem of farmland soil erosion.

Tonight, the Cabarrus County Public Library in Concord invites the community to learn about these men in a special interactive presentation with music and storytelling by author Bill Jamerson. The program, cosponsored by the Cabarrus Genealogy Society and Concord Friends of the Library, is free to the public.

The program starts at 6 p.m. at 27 Union St. N.

At 5:30 p.m., Concord will host a parade along Union Street to honor the Jay M. Robinson HS basketball team. Library parking is accessible through the deck from Cabarrus Avenue East.

Jamerson’s program includes stories about the CCC through excerpts from his book, video clips from his PBS film and original songs that Jamerson plays on his guitar. It’s a nostalgic program with laughter and heartfelt stories.

Jamerson takes his program to CCC reunions around the country and to dozens of CCC-built national and state parks. His presentation is about ordinary and extraordinary people, with stories of strength, wit and charm.