“If black lives matter they got to matter to black folk.”

— The Rev. Dr. Clary Phelps,  pastor, at the Gethsemane Baptist Church funeral for 7-year-old A’yanna Allen, shot as she slept in her bed

“Ten years later, we still have work to do in Salisbury.”

— Donnie Jefferson, comparing A’yanna’s death to that of Treasure Feamster, 13, killed in gang crossfire 10 years ago

“If you want to see a better Salisbury, be the change.”

— The Rev. Pat Jones, pastor, New Zion Missionary Baptist, at prayer vigil

“I have perfect attendance almost every single Thursday, because they’re not going to miss violin day.”

— Sally Schultz, fifth-grade teacher, Hanford Dole Elementary, on the popularity of a strings program operated in conjunction with
the Salisbury Symphony

“I saw those same kids and I saw myself in them, and I knew what was going to happen to them. … And I guess the rest is history.”

— Anthony Johnson, local and regional Teacher of the Year, on deciding to become a teacher after he saw students fall through the cracks, as he did when he failed four grades