Southern Coalition for Social Justice

Partnering with communities of color and economically disadvantaged communities in the south to defend and advance their political, social and economic rights through the combination of legal advocacy, research, organizing and communications.

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New Bern, N.C. — Community Organizer Baqir Mujahid was recently recognized for his reentry and employment work at Wash Away Unemployment’s RESTORE: Second Chance Gala on Saturday, October 7. The late SCSJ Community Organizer, Umar Muhammad, was also posthumously recognized for all that he did for people directly impacted by racial and social injustice.
Corey Purdie, founder of Wash Away Unemployment and organizer of the gala, said Mr. Mujahid has been always focused on the communities most at need, noting: “Baquir was chosen because of his diligence and his authenticity of the work involving individuals directly impacted by the criminal justice system. In preparation to assist SCSJ for Greenville expungement Clinic I had an opportunity to meet Baquir for lunch but he asked me to meet him at a certain location; when I arrived, I observed Baquir in regular clothes with an

Baqir Mujahid, far right, accepts his recognition alongside the late Umar Muhammad’s jacket. Both were recognized for their organizing work.
SCSJ t-shirt on in the middle of some would called “The Hood” speaking to brothers and sisters on behalf of the expungement clinic and talking to them on that level to help them move forward and clean up their criminal history and tapping into other resources. This, of course, was not the first time that I met Baquir, but this is first time observed him demonstrating what it’s truly about to be an advocate for Criminal Justice Reform.”
Purdie also mentioned the impact of the late Umar Muhammad, a community organizer for SCSJ who was awarded posthumously: “Umar was what I would call a legend and one who has set an example for many of us to follow, from moving in the community to moving in the Legislative Office to moving from state to state, fighting for the rights of directly impacting individuals returning from the criminal justice system.”
The Restore: A Second Chance Gala honored several other community leaders who had provided a second chance to others, especially those impacted by the criminal justice system and who they themselves have used their own second chance to do good for their community.
Congratulations to Mr. Baqir Mujahid and all the incredible work you do for the community.