In Sympathy: Mr. Vi Tran
Mr. Vi Tran, spouse of Rev. Brian Gilbert of the Northern Illinois Conference, passed away on Tuesday, November 11, 2025, at the age of 37.
Posted: August 27 2025 at 02:03 PM
Author: Lisa Smith, NIC Communication Specialist
This September, communities across Northern Illinois will have a unique opportunity to view A Binding Truth, a powerful new documentary exploring race, memory, and reconciliation.
Collective Action to Build Community (CA2BC), a partnership of more than 15 faith-based institutions, libraries, Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary, and community organizations has planned free screenings of A Binding Truth, which will take place from Sept. 10-16 at multiple locations and times as well as online for registered individuals.
CA2BC is a continuation of group's 2024 Film Club, which showed the movie Origin around the Chicago area, Ottawa, and Rockford to almost 600 people.
The 90-minute film tells the story of Jimmie, who in 1965 became the first Black football star at an affluent Charlotte, N.C., high school. His arrival on the team placed him at the center of one of North Carolina’s most volatile civil-rights battles. De, a fellow student at the time, observed those events closely and later reflected on them in a college essay. Decades later, an unexpected discovery in church records uncovered hidden connections between Jimmie and De, revealing long-buried truths about their families, their city, and the nation’s history. A Binding Truth follows their journey of uncovering these intertwined stories, linking their personal experiences to America’s broader legacy of slavery, racial division, and the difficult work of healing.
Northern Illinois audiences will have the privilege of seeing the premiere of this full-length version of the film before a shortened edit airs on North Carolina PBS on Oct. 1. To deepen engagement, CA2BC will also host a live Zoom interview on Sept. 28 at 3 p.m. with Jimmie, De and filmmaker Louise Woehrle.
Register here for both in-person and online screenings. Those choosing the online option will receive a secure link for the film, which will be available between Sept. 10 and 16.
CA2BC invites the community to watch this film, reflect, and join in building a more just and connected future.