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NC Coalition for Alternatives to the Death Penalty

Committed to ending the death penalty and creating a new vision of justice

  • Who We Are
    • Mission & History
    • Our Values
    • People Most Proximate
    • Coalition Members
    • Staff, Board, & Advisory Council
    • Our Funders
  • What We Do
  • Why End the Death Penalty?
    • Column 1
      • Racism
      • Innocence
      • Intellectual Disability & Mental Illness
    • Column 2
      • Public Safety
      • High Cost of Death
      • Waning Support
    • Column 3
      • Lethal Injection
      • Antiquated Sentences
      • Unfair Trials
  • Events
  • The Pledge
  • Blog
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Search NC Coalition for Alternatives to the Death Penalty

Lynda Simmons: Collage

Learn more: People Most Proximate: Our Creativity

The message for me is that life and loss changes us most profoundly from the inside out. Grief is not something we get over; it’s not a one and done. Grief becomes a part of who we are and we can never go back to who we were. Grief is indeed a monster at times but it’s also a friend, a teacher, a liberator… It’s a lifelong journey, and as time passes we are gifted with the beauty that comes from the ashes. We have to be mindful as we travel the often hard path of transformation, learning to appreciate the process and knowing there is grace sufficient for the journey. May we live peacefully, love freely and forgive faithfully… as we move forward into the years.

lynda simmons

On July 25, 2004, Lynda Simmons’ son, Brian Eddie Colletti, was murdered, which began for Lynda a life-altering journey that continues to this day. Within a firm spiritual foundation, Lynda reaches out to others, shares her own experiences, advocates for Restorative Justice, and assists crime victims in their own healing process. She works with those citizens who are, or have been, incarcerated, with the hope of transforming our communities into a more tolerant and safe space for all.

Filed Under: Creative Expressions, People Most Proximate

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Contact

NCCADP Alternate Logo
NCCADP
3326 Durham-Chapel Hill Blvd.
Building D, Suite 201
Durham, NC 27707
noel@nccadp.org
919-404-7409

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🔔 DATE CHANGE 🔔 Next week's Racist Roots Screenin 🔔 DATE CHANGE 🔔

Next week's Racist Roots Screening & Panel Discussion at UNC has been moved to Wednesday, April 8, 7–8:30 PM. We hope you can join us! Details below 👇

You're warmly invited to a screening of Racist Roots, a 25-minute film that uncovers the deep entanglement between white supremacy, racial terror lynching, and NC's death penalty. 

After the film, hear from Ed Chapman, who was exonerated in 2008 after spending nearly 14 years wrongfully convicted on NC's death row. This conversation will be moderated by NCCADP's executive director, Noel Nickle, and will include time for Q&A. 

Sponsored by the UNC Wrongful Convictions Club and Carolina Justice Initiative, this event is free and open to the public. Light refreshments will be provided.

📍  Murray Hall, Room G202, 121 South Rd, Chapel Hill, NC 27514
📆  Wednesday, April 8, 7–8:30 PM
🔗  RSVP at bit.ly/UNCRacistRoots2026

Racist Roots is a project of the Center for Death Penalty Litigation.
Join us in Durham on April 6 for a film screening Join us in Durham on April 6 for a film screening & discussion with Ed Chapman, a death row exoneree 🎞️

You're invited to a screening of "Racist Roots," a 25-minute documentary that uncovers the deep entanglement between white supremacy, racial terror lynching, and NC's death penalty. 

After the film, hear from Ed Chapman, who was exonerated in 2008 after spending 14 years wrongfully convicted on NC's death row. This conversation will be moderated by NCCADP's director, Noel Nickle, and will include time for Q&A.

Sponsored by Duke Partnership for Service (@duke.dps) and the Duke Human Rights Center (@dukehumanrightscenter), this event is free and open to the public. Light refreshments will be provided.

📍  East Duke Building, Rm 204B, 1304 Campus Dr, Durham, NC
📆  Monday, April 6, 7–8:30 PM
🔗  RSVP at bit.ly/DukeRR2026

"Racist Roots" is a project of The Center for Death Penalty Litigation.
Join us on April 7 for a film screening & discussi Join us on April 7 for a film screening & discussion about NC's death penalty 🎥

You're warmly invited to a screening of Racist Roots, a 25-minute film that uncovers the deep entanglement between white supremacy, racial terror lynching, and NC's death penalty. 

After the film, hear from Ed Chapman, who was exonerated in 2008 after spending nearly 14 years wrongfully convicted on NC's death row. This conversation will be moderated by NCCADP's executive director, Noel Nickle, and will include time for Q&A. 

Sponsored by the UNC Wrongful Convictions Club (@wccunc) and Carolina Justice Initiative, this event is free and open to the public. Light refreshments will be provided.

📍Murray Hall, Room G202, 121 South Rd, Chapel Hill, NC 27514
📆 Tuesday, April 7, 6:30–8 PM
🔗 Register at bit.ly/UNCRacistRoots2026 or at the link in our bio

Racist Roots is a project of the Center for Death Penalty Litigation (@centerfordeathpenaltylit).
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