Central NC Pagan Pride Days is a chapter of the international Pagan Pride Project, a non-profit organization whose mission is to foster pride in Pagan identity, and to eliminate prejudice and discrimination based on religious beliefs, all through education, activism, charity and community.
Our most important activity is hosting our autumnal celebration, the Central NC Pagan Pride Day Festival. Open to the general public, this festival offers both entertainment and education in the form of a large variety of social, commercial and spiritual activities. Attendees are welcome to join or observe rituals, attend workshops, meet with a variety of local groups, and and much more, all in a festival environment full of vendors, music, and fun.
Staff
Many people have volunteered their time and resources to make this event happen. Here are a few that have taken direct responsibility for key aspects of the festival:
Johnson - Co-Local Coordinator / Web Mystic
I'm Johnson and this year I am co-LC for CNCPPD with Melissa and Daddio. Both deeply spiritual and terribly irreverent, I have followed Pagan paths for about 25 years, which is amazing since I am only 24. Really. Honest.
Born in South Carolina, raised here in North Carolina, I strayed from the promised land for about 10 years, working my way up the east coast, finally settling in Maine where I fell in love and got married. Once we had spent about 5 winters in Maine, we realized it was really cold there. Seven years ago we moved back to NC and will probably stay for a long while.
This will be my third year as a co-LC of this, one of the largest and most successful PPD festivals in the world, and I am excited about doing it again this year, with even more attendees, more food donations, more blood donations, more press coverage, and above all, the most fun we can have with our cloths on.
Melissa - Co-Local Coordinator/Auction & Raffles
My name is Melissa and this year I am serving as one of the Local Coordinators for CNC-PPD.
I'm a Yankee at heart, an original from Pittsburgh, PA and have been in Raleigh almost two and a half years now. As I look back, it occurs to me that I've probably always followed Pagan spirituality, though it was only after moving here that I immersed myself in finding guidance and others like me. My search brought me to Church of the Earth and I've been fortunate to have found incredibly wonderful friends. This is my second year volunteering for CNC-PPD and I currently serve on the board of Church of the Earth.
I'm looking forward to another successful Pagan Pride Days event this year.
Daddio - Co-Local Coordinator/Technical Director
My name is Daddio Mangum. I'm one of the Co-Local Coordinators and the Technical Director for this year's event. This is my first year as a Co-LC, the second year as an "official staff member" (Technical Director) and my 5th year doing sound for this wonderful project.
I'm a native of Raleigh making Ric and myself members of an "elite" group. I'm a member of the Church of the Earth, a member of the Ancient Order of Druids in America (AODA) and a member of the Order of the Yew..
Outside of PPD, I do Lighting, Audio, Video, Computer Graphics and Design and A/V for the Entertainment/Edutainment Industry specializing in live events. I look forward to meeting everyone and helping create a successful and memorable event for all.
Ric - First and Only Entertainment Program Director - 5 Years Running And for 2011 The Rituals Grand PoobahI was born and raised in Raleigh, making me one of the few natives of Raleigh around. I've been interested in Witchcraft since the sixties, but it was only after going into the military and ending up in Virginia in the early eighties, and living with a Witch that I really got to start exploring it. We lived next door to a church, which was a little amusing.
I ended up getting the Celtic Witchcraft correspondence course from The Church and School Of Wicca, at that time it was in New Bern, which in itself I found to be rather novel. I studied up until the time that I got married for the first time and had to give it up for thirteen years. After which I was able to start again, and being fortunate enough to get involved with the group Kindred Gathering, I was finally able to start my path in earnest.
Since then I've been involved with a number of different groups, from Eclectic Paganism to Shadow Tradition Witchcraft, in the area. I consider myself to be a Traditional Witch. Sadly I've seen a number groups disappear in the recent years. But new ones have formed from the ashes, and thru it all The Church of the Earth has weathered all the storms to be the most enduring group in the area, a testament to the spiritual dedication of Steve and Anitra Stone. But wait, this was supposed to be my bio and not a place for me to shamelessly plug COTE.
Currently I run the Raleigh Goddess, Pagans, and Witches Meetup Groups, two Witchcraft related Yahoo Groups, am on the Board of Church of the Earth, as well as being the Entertainment and Ritual Coordinator for the Central NC Pagan Pride Day. And don't worry; I'm not going to be part of the entertainment, no matter how funny I think I am.
Lastly I'm enjoying a second chance at happiness with a wonderful second wife and a house full of wonderful animals. I used to enjoy Mutual of Omaha's Wild Kingdom as a child, now I'm living in it.
