“Who would dare despise this day of small beginnings?”

Dr.  Carl Ellis Jr., a member of The Gloucester Institute’s Board of Directors, quoted from the book of Zechariah as he reflected on Saturday’s gathering of college students—an equal number from both The Gloucester Institute’s Emerging Leaders Program and The Heritage Foundation’s Young Leaders Program—to have a frank discussion about race.

“This sounds like a very good beginning here,” Ellis said, urging the students from the two groups to remain in touch.

“If this country has any chance of surviving, it’s through folks like you,” he said. “Don’t waste any time. Don’t lollygag. Just do what the Lord needs you to do.”

The student leaders, representing diverse backgrounds, were brought together to consider the problems and challenges of race at Holly Knoll, the historic home of Dr. Robert Russa Moton on the banks of the Yor...