[hupso_hide][hupso title=”Spirits high as @CIW rolls into the #NC — good morning, @Publix!” url=”https://ciw-online.org/?post=18403″]

Fair Food Program partner Compass Group rolls out the welcome wagon for the tour crew in its home town of Charlotte… 

Welcome to Charlotte @ciw! #NowIsTheTime

— Compass Group USA (@compassgroupusa) March 6, 2014

We bring you a dispatch from Day Two of the Now Is the Time Tour!  This is just a quick and dirty postcard from the road, with much more to come tomorrow, including a full photo report and video from today’s actions…

After leaving Immokalee yesterday at dawn, the tour crew arrived in Charlotte, North Carolina late last night, where we were met with a very warm welcome by the members of the Dilworth United Methodist Church.  The church provided lodging for the night after yesterday’s long day of driving, and the Dilworth United Methodists stand ready to join the CIW in telling newcomer Publix that North Carolinians care about human rights, and that any expansion into the Tarheel State should include an expansion of farmworker justice in Publix’s supply chain!

Later this morning, the tour crew hit the streets for the first protest of the “Now Is the Time” Tour in front of Charlotte’s brand new Publix on Providence Rd…

… after which we were hosted for a delicious lunch at Charlotte’s cozy Triple C Brewery by one of the Fair Food Program’s most active corporate partners, foodservice leader Compass Group.  As always, Compass’ VP of Communications, Cheryl Queen (pictured below, left), greeted the crew with the joy and enthusiasm that she brings to every CIW/Compass get together…

And that’s just a little taste of the action. Stay tuned tomorrow morning for a full report from Charlotte — and for the first video from the “Now Is The Time” Tour!