Reverend Willard Bass was born and raised in Fayetteville, NC, the son of a career soldier. Growing up in the Jim Crow South he was exposed from early on to the daily pain of racism, which ultimately led down the road to his decision to become a pastor. Bass received his B.S. in chemistry from Fayetteville State University, and had a strong career as a chemist, working for the State of North Carolina as well as the American Can Co. and RJ. Reynolds Tobacco Co. in Winston-Salem, NC. After a successful stint as a building contractor, Willard found himself increasingly drawn to the ministry and with the mentorship of Reverend Mendez (also interviewed for this Project) made the decision to apply to divinity schools. In 1999 Wake Forest University accepted Willard into its divinity program. He found his calling, but also was confronted with a racist culture within the department, which he challenged by creating in 2004 the Institute for Dismantling Racism. This organization has worked tirelessly to educate and to provide dialogue on the key issue of cultural and institutional racism. In 2013 Reverend Bass joined fellow ministers and lay people with his participation in the Moral Monday Movement led by Reverend Barber. This key movement has been and continues to be a critical force for social good not only in North Carolina but the nation. The following year saw Bass found the Truth and Reconciliation Project of Forsyth County. This project seeks to provide healing and reparation for the centuries of racism and trauma endured by African-American and other minorities in Forsyth County. Reverend Bass sees community-building as the center of his ministry. He helps build communities while engaging people in world-changing dialogue. For the last several years Bass has directed the Share Cooperative and Harvest Market. This project seeks to change the fact that Winston-Salem is the fifth-largest food desert in the U.S. In 2021 the Market opened, and the Co-operative now has over 500 members. Bass plans to make this a national project, with plans in the works for markets in Baltimore and Fayetteville which will provide not only good food but jobs with livable wages. Reverend Bass sees his life as a march of faith. Every day he seeks to make the world a better place. He is an inspiration to us all!