Recently at the Forum
Announcements
Education & Health
Alumni of Mecklenburg’s Black schools gathered to share with younger generations why they think they thrived, despite the racism and inequities that surrounded them.
Mic Alexander trains work groups and individuals on how to read the room and respond appropriately even as stress mounts.
Daisha Wall presented the work of CleanAIRENC to gather the data that can pressure polluters to help make westside neighborhoods healthier places to live.
A longtime observer of North Carolina public policy comments on the key role of public education in action to “alleviate poverty and propel upward mobility.”
The N.C. Supreme Court handed down a decision outlining a path toward ordering new state financing to ensure a sound basic education for all children.
Dr. Victor Mack led a discussion of pre-college programs for youth supported both by UNCC and the 100 Black Men of Greater Charlotte organization.
Raymond ‘Raki’ McGregor is among Charlotte Executive Leadership Council members working inside CMS to improve student outcomes.
Aug. 1 opens application period for annual applications for free- and reduced-price lunches for some CMS families.
CMS is seeking advice on redrawing attendance boundaries for more than a dozen schools effective in fall 2023.
Jared Keaton, CEO of Alliance Center for Education, outlined how the former Bethlehem Center is shaping Charlotte’s future.
CMS CTE Director Susan Gann-Carroll outlined successes and challenges in offering all teens a way to find a niche for their skills and interests in the post-secondary world.
Shamaiye Haynes, left, and Men Tchaas Ari presented the Community Learning Centers concept being pursued by their respective organizations.
Forum participants discuss the future of CMS, in light of school board’s decision to fire Supt. Earnest Winston.
A permanent program to subsidize Internet access fees is now available to low-income households.
Bea Thompson led a discussion of health and wellness challenges affecting Black women in particular, and how to address them.
Barbara Ledford, former West Charlotte High principal and inspiration to many of her students, died Dec. 30.
Jennifer De La Jara, left, and Betty Howell Gray led a discussion of challenges facing the community’s children, their teachers and CMS.
Charlotte-based Profound Gentlemen issued an annual report on its educator support efforts.
Dr. Raynard Washington, incoming health director, reports on Omicron variant and projects under way at the Mecklenburg Health Department.
Community & Housing
Alesha Brown has hustled into existence a nonprofit focused on meeting seniors’ needs where they are, thereby shoring up fragile minority neighborhoods.
Kathryn Firmin-Sellers led a presentation from United Way about efforts to redirect diminished resources to emerging community needs through emerging community organizations.
Tara Vannoy, left, Ginny Harper and Carlo Battle presented material on financial aid available to families struggling with housing, utility and weatherization costs.
Valaida Fullwood recounted 15 years of the New Generation of African American Philanthropists and listed events planned to mark August’s Black Philanthropy Month.
Long before social media and GoFundMe, Laura McClettie and friends brought their community together through financial support of its endangered institutions.
LaToya Faustin, left, and Marion Pulse outlined a vision of bringing awareness of the trades to young children, when they begin matching their interests with the world of work.
Curt Peters, left, led four other Charlotte media people in looking at the past, present and future of coverage of the Black community.
Charis Blackmon explained the efforts by West Side Charlotte Land Trust to make homes affordabe in west side neighborhoods for the people who have long lived there are but face gentrification pressures.
Ginny Harper led a group presentation about assistance programs available to low-income residents.
Sherri Chisholm explained how Leading on Opportunity focused on a community response to easing barriers to social mobility will fit into the picture.
Mayor Vi Lyles’ Racial Equity Initiative took a $250 million turn Monday. A listing of media coverage.
Center City Partners and Historic West End are trying to mesh their planning visions for overcoming the split caused by I-77 in the 1970s.
Mecklenburg is making $340 grants available to qualified applicants to help them stay in their homes.
JCSU Archivist Brandon Lunsford outlined what’s ahead for a long-term project on Black Charlotte neighborhoods.
Keith Rivers, left, addressed the Forum about protests following the April 21 death of Andrew Brown Jr. in Elizabeth City.
Marcus Bass, left, from NC Black Alliance and Stephanie Sneed from the Black Political Caucus review efforts to activate black voters and create multi-ethnic political action.
Serita Russell, left, was lead plaintiff in the successful lawsuit over landlord malfeasance at Lake Arbor Apartments.
April Benson, left, and Patricia Campbell described the upcoming Charlotte Black Film Festival; Paula Riddick collected surveys about hiring a new police chief.
Emiene Wright, left, and Katrina Louis discussed Westside Connect, a startup media project aimed at westside neighborhoods.
Growing Business
Traletta Banks, left, was one of four entrepreneurial minds in different economic sectors explaining their challenges, and seeing opportunities to work together.
Frances Hall recounts her struggle to bring training in the construction trades to young people who turn their new skills into gainful employment.
Cheryse Terry shared the story of how life events led her to the successful creation of a new Black-owned coffee shop and gathering place on Beatties Ford Road.
An overview of the Growing Business category.
Book review by Daniel Souleles , left, may offer a routine-stopping opportunity to think about how systems can hurt people.
John McDonald created at LaSalle and Beatties Ford a community meeting spot. The building’s new owner is seeking historic status for the site.
Steven Coker was among City of Charlotte staffers describing efforts to include minority-owned firms in city contracting.
Kevin Price, left, led the Durham-based National Institute of Minority Economic Development in a review of their work in a five-state area.
Rachelle Latimer, left, has pursued an entrepreneurial path to success. Her words may be inspiring to those who are committed, driven and hungry.
CEO Teddy McDaniel, left, and COO Dr. Fahnie Shaw discuss how the Urban League is targeting economic gaps and employment opportunities.
Chris Dennis says he listens to the community, hires off the street and in doing so is revitalizing the Beatties Ford Road corridor.
Dr. Shanté Williams described her work as an angel investor and as head of the Charlotte Mecklenburg Black Chamber of Commerce.
Ralphine Caldwell reviews the initial months in the Charlotte work of Local Initiatives Support Corp.
Najah Roberts, chief visionary officer for Crypto Blockchain Plug, believes cryptocurrency will affect everyone, whether or not they invest in Bitcoin or other digital products.
Marvin Kelly described Goodwill Industries’ training and other missions and answered questions.
Michael Norman is using his electrical contractor business to give young people a chance for a steady job.
Derek Webber recounted his efforts to keep his company’s Battle of the Bands in Charlotte, only to leave for Houston.
Ervin Bryson introduced his Carolina Energy arena football team and invited the public to attend games and get to know the team better.
Government & Politics
Kristie Puckett-Williams told her story, and the story of hundreds of women incarcerated in North Carolina, who do not receive appropriate care when pregnant.
Faith Triggs, a volunteer with the Vote Yes for City Bonds Committee, led off a discussion of what’s in the Nov. 8 city bond referendum package.
Congresswoman Alma Adams gave an update on work that Congress has been doing, and her efforts to bring factions together to serve the American people.
Community Relations held a virtual session on its Americans With Disabilities Act Transition Plan.
County Tax Assessor Ken Joyner explained how NC law limits action to protect homeowners in gentrifying neighborhoods from crushing tax bills.
City Manager Marcus Jones, left, and Mayor Vi Lyles fielded questions from constituents impatient for conditions to improve in underserved westside neighborhoods.
A report from library staff runs down ways in which racist attitudes and policies have shaped Mecklenburg County.
Alysia Osborne, left, and Interim Planning Director Alyson Craig gave an update on the city’s 2040 Plan.
Court of Superior Court Elisa Chinn-Gary says she has reconsidered, and will file for re-election.
District Court Judge Rickye McKoy-Mitchell announced her retirement effective next September.
Elisa Chinn-Gary, a 20-year veteran of the Mecklenburg courts, won’t seek re-election as Clerk of Superior Court.
Sen. Natasha Marcus, head of the Mecklenburg legislative delegation, reviewed successes and challenges in Raleigh.
Hannah Terrell, left, led a discussion of how the library system stays open to serve its users in the community – and nation.
Chief Public Defender Kevin Tully outlined the work of 60 lawyers and support staff defending Mecklenburg citizens in court.
County Manager Dena Diorio gave an update on COVID, the county’s new budget, the struggle to properly shelter and support people evicted from a tent encampment, and the recasting of all county programs to support equity and justice.
Government & Politics
Candidates & Ballots
Three candidates for N.C. House seats concluded Forum presentations on the Nov. 8 election.
Six Democrats, five of them incumbents, explained their efforts to advocate for change in the GOP-controlled N.C. House
Susan Rodriguez-McDowell, D-6, Laura Meier, D-5, and Mark Jerrell, D-4, addressed county challenges ahead.
Carolyn Thompson has served as a judge halfway across North Carolina, but is on the Mecklenburg ballot Nov. 8. Judge candidates and Soil & Water board candidates addressed participants.
Candidates for at-large and two district seats on the Board of County Commissioners addressed participants.
Six candidates running for CMS Board of Education seats to represent Districts 2, 4 and 6 answered questions.
Seven candidates running for CMS Board of Education seats to represent Districts 1, 3 and 5 answered questions.
Five at-large City Council candidates focused on ways the Council can tend to unfinished business, particularly on making the city work for people already living here.
Stephanie De Sarachaga-Bilbao, Republican candidate for Charlotte Mayor, addressed Forum and fielded questions.
Candidates made last-week pitches for support from area voters as early voting continues and Primary Day looms May 17.
New ideas for prompting higher voter turnout were few and far between. Older methods were mentioned amid slow early voting.
Six hopefuls are on the May 17 Democratic primary ballot for three contested District Court seats.
Four of fiive Republicans seeking the nod in the GOP May 17 primary for Charlotte City Council At-Large seats answered questions.
The six Democrats in the May 17 primary for City Council at-large seats addressed the Forum and answered questions.
Forum & Commentary
The Forum’s website marked Black History Month 2023 with this collection honoring local African Americans who have helped shape that history.
Facilitator WInston Robinson led participants in a discussion of how the Forum might help the community focus on the issues it faces.
Who will lead efforts to solve key community issues instead of just kicking them down the road?
These windows on the 2022 holidays were published in the “Recently at the Forum” space on the front of this website during the Forum’s winter holiday.
Mary Klenz offered a remembrance of educator and mixed-income housing advocate Richard McElrath.
Ceretha Sherrill shared personal reflections on the occasion of the upcoming Juneteenth celebration.
DonnaMarie Woodson continues her series, ‘Incredible Black Women You Should Know About,” with Hollywood actress Frederika “Fredi” Washington, who refused to ‘pass’ in 1930s Hollywood.
Clips from May 31 Forum video focus on issues raised by initial use of Quad camera in Cisco Web Kit.
The room where the Forum has met in person since 2016 has had an upgrade since the pandemic lockdown.
DonnaMarie Woodson continues her series, ‘Incredible Black Women You Should Know About,” with an essay on NASA astronaut Mae Jemison.
DonnaMarie Woodson continues her series, ‘Incredible Black Women You Should Know About,” with an essay on Nobel laureate Wangari Maathai.
Facilitators met at Belmont Center, agreed that in-person meetings would resume after the May 17 primary election.
DonnaMarie Woodson continues her series, ‘Incredible Black Women You Should Know About,” with an essay on Olympic gold medalist and civil rights activist Wilma Rudolph.
DonnaMarie Woodson continues her series, ‘Incredible Black Women You Should Know About,” with an essay on White House Correspondent Alice Allison Dunnigan, shown above with President Harry Truman.