‘I am voting because…’
Announcements
Community Matters
Commentary on the protests following the death in police custody of George Floyd in Minneapolis.
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.
Winston Robinson, left, and Tera Long led discussion about westside equity and ambulance charges.
Funeral for Dwayne Collins, who died Sunday after a battle with multiple myeloma, will be Friday, Aug. 30, with viewing at 11 a.m. and service at noon, at Greenville Memorial AME Zion Church, 6116 Monteith Dr.
Brandon Lunsford shared Johnson C. Smith University’s interest in becoming an archive for West End Charlotte historical documents.
Dr. Debra C. Smith recounts the development of a publishing project telling the stories of women who served Charlotte during the civil rights era.
DeAlva Wilson, left, presented at a session on redevelopment plans for the demolished Eastland Mall site.
Jessica Davis, left, and James Mitchell helped guide a Forum discussion of the future of the Historic Excelsior Club on Beatties Ford Road.
The decision to forgive the man who took his brother’s life set John C Barnett on a course of advocacy.
Malcolm Graham, left, led a panel discussing ways to move public opinion toward giving all people more protection from gun violence.
Derek Webber recounted his efforts to keep his company’s Battle of the Bands in Charlotte, only to leave for Houston.
Lucille Puckett, left, and others raised community issues for discussion at Tuesday’s Forum.
Mayor Vi Lyles, left, City Manager Marcus Jones and CMPD Police Chief Kerr Putney answer questions about release of video of police shooting.
Ervin Bryson introduced his Carolina Energy arena football team and invited the public to attend games and get to know the team better.
Debbie Giibbs, left, and Tonya Rivens comment on the early days of local television news broadcasting.
Jan Valder, left, Martha Alexander, Sara Spencer and Mary Klenz described their efforts to move causes forward, and to support one another.
Keysha Walker Taylor outlined the investments being made by the African American Community Foundation in Charlotte’s black community.
Ken Lemon, left, Brittney Johnson and Dedrick Russell explain the work of the Charlotte Area Association of Black Journalists.
Inside the Forum
In a proclamation signed by Chairman George Dunlap, the Mecklenburg Board of County Commissioners declared ‘Ms. Sarah Mingo Stevenson Day.’
At year’s end for some years, the Forum has set aside all things serious and gathered for breakfast, fellowship and games.
Friends gather to mark Tommie Robinson’s completion of murals for the Second Ward High School Gym site.
Ken Koontz reports on his national holiday, proving that even levity at the Forum may be aimed at a good cause.
Sarah Stevenson announced she might not be present at every Forum, and said her “daughters” would continue on.
Bring your unwrapped toys to the Forum and Natheley and Ben will deliver your donations to Toys for Tots.
On this Tuesday close to the real date, the Forum wished co-founder Sarah Stevenson a happy birthday.
About 130 affordable housing apartments officially opened Wednesday, named for Sarah Stevenson.
Government & Politics
CATS has provided maps for proposed alternate routes for construction of the Silver Line light rail line from Gaston County to Matthews with a possible extension into Union County.
Taiwo Jaiyeoba described his efforts to reorient multiple streams of planning documents into a single comprehensive plan to guide the future of Charlotte’s growth.
George Grandy and Robert Dawkins focused on how the formal U.S. Census process and grassroots efforts are linking up to encourage participation.
Veteran Democratic strategist Sam Spencer explained his opposition to the ballot referendum on increasing the Mecklenburg sales tax to fund arts, parks and education.
Commissioners Chair George Dunlap makes his case for voter support of a ballot proposal to raise the sales tax.
Zhivi Williams, left, and Dr. Yolanda Holmes reported on efforts to overcome lack of diversity and resources on the Women’s Advisory Board to fulfill a role of advising Mecklenburg County Commissioners.
County Manager reviewed major planks of her proposed budget on which Commissioners will begin taking straw votes next week.
During his Feb. 19 Forum presentation, Sheriff McFadden made a specific suggestion of how congregations could help support people leaving detention.
Jean Leier and Warren Cooksey offered an update on the I-77 express lanes and other toll roads in North Carolina.
Fire Chief Reginald Johnson, left, joined Mayor Vi Lyles and Community Relations Director Willie Ratchford in discussing the city’s response to Hurricane Florence. Forum members made suggestions for additional improvements in emergency response.
Stacey Carless, left, and Adam Sotak reviewed how the results of the 2020 Census will affect the funding for government programs.
CMPD’s Shawn Ward helped Forum participants wrestle with a few of the issues facing police officers as they serve the community.
Kareem Puranda suggests that all police officers go through mental health training, in the name of a better, more sensitized police force.
Lisa Crawford presented the details of how turning your driver’s license into a federally approved REAL ID will save time at airports in 2020.
City staff brought to the Forum by Council member Greg Phipps faced a range of questions about city’s budget.
At-large Charlotte City Council member James Mitchell offered an update on a variet\y of city programs, mostly turning on economic development.
Six women serving as judges on the Mecklenburg bench discuss their roles, their joy in their work, and how they cope with the stresses of that work.
Government & Politics
Housing & Workplace
Susan Woods offered tips on how to create a federally recognized nonprofit, and then how to seek funding.
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.
Karen Kovach, left, and Juanita Miller explained Changed Choices’ work with women returning from jail or prison.
Dr. Tonnia Thomas has a nonprofit ready to train people to work in hazardous waste and environmental cleanup projects.
David Sharp, left, joined Patrick Cannon in a discussion of how Sharp’s firms are funneling capital to entrepreneurs who are building businesses.
Three women shared their approaches to success in nonprofit and for-profit businesses in Charlotte.
LaWana Mayfield and Pam Wideman describe some of the tools available to the city to ensure that more Charlotte residents are in safe housing they can pay for.
“Chatty Hattie” Leeper, trailblazing black woman in Charlotte radio, remembers days at WGIV radio.
Dr. Madeline McClenney-Sadler explains Exodus Foundation’s mentoring work with former inmates.
Sherrell Dorsey closed out Women’s History Month, sharing her story of combining her many different interests and skills to blaze a trail for African-Americans in technology.
Rachelle Latimer describes highway contracting work as a difficult business that can be daunting for newcomers.
Patrick Graham, new CEO of Charlotte Works, and his team outlined work of the local workforce development board.
Leaders from Goodwill and Urban Ministry Center explain their work to help people move toward job success, better health, secure housing.
Fulton Meachem and Ken Szymanski, representing two powerful housing interests, discuss affordable housing opportunities in Charlotte.
Jason (Jet) Jones brought his teacher (Maria Macon), his singing, his videos and his enthusiasm for an entrepreneurial approach to the world.
Bonita Caldwell, president of Beatties Ford Memorial Gardens, shared approaches to business leadership.
Juanita Miller, left, Carolyn Logan and Ken Koontz discussed making their way in organizations once closed to African-Americans.
Housing & Workplace
Education & Health
COVID-19 updates were from the NC Dept. of Health & Human Services and the Mecklenburg County Manager.
Monika Rhue makes a plea that people let others in the community know all the good that people are doing during this coronavirus pandemic.
A large medical practice shared this information about the caronavirus pandemic with its Meckenburg patients today.
Dr. Tuwanda Williamson, left, will help open the first Oak Street Health clinic catering to adults on Medicare.
A large crowd, including longtime educator Ceretha Sherrill, left, contributed to a discussion of issues still to be dealt with after the resignation of CMS Supt. Clayton Wilcox.
CMS Board Vice Chair Elyse Dashew read a lawyer vetted statement about the suspension of CMS Supt. Clayton Wilcox.
Greg Schermberg sent in a video about his company’s efforts to support family nights at two nearby schools.
Crystal Rountree introduces herself, and a more diverse Teach For America corps now operating in CMS schools.
Janet Harmon and Cory Pharr outlined Smart Start early childhood initiatives, and the new Meck Basics program aimed at growing brains aged 0-3.
Monika Rhue shared plans for a Johnson C. Smith University exhibit on the history of the Beatties Ford Road corridor now undergoing substantial change.
Sonja Chisolm, left, Avice Pretty and Dr. Trasha Black are helping their clients rebuild their lives.
Robin Tolliver-Ayotunde offered a primer on basic insurance concepts, and promoted looking at options annually.
Three speakers added their perspectives on how to wrap children in what they need to thrive
Clarence D. Armbrister, recently named president of Johnson C. Smith University, set out his goals for the HBCU.
Candidates & Ballots
Preliminary results from the March 3, 2020 party primaries for offices in which Mecklenburg votes.
Democrat Cynthia Wallace addressed the Forum on her primary contest for the 9th District Congress seat.
Cal Cunningham, left, and Trevor Fuller offered comments on the five-way Democratic primary contest March 3 for the U.S. Senate seat held by Thom Tillis.
George Dunlap, left, and three other candidates in the March 3 primary discussed county and court issues.
Rev. Brenda Stevenson (pictured), N.C. Sen. Mujtaba Mohammed and N.C. Rep. Becky Carney discussed mostly legislative challenges facing the state.
Seven of the eight Democrats in the March 3 primary for 3 county commissioner slots on the November ballot spoke.
Laura Anthony, left, and Jonathan Peebles are running for legislative seats in the March primary.
A challenge to Darrell Bonapart’s candidacy in the N.C. Senate 39 Democratic primary was upheld by the Mecklenburg Board of Elections
Vi Lyles explained her candidacy for re-election as Charlotte mayor, and spoke of a number of things she’s learned in her first term.
Republican Joshua Richardson, left, and incumbent Democrats Dimple Ajmera, Julie Eiselt, James Mitchell and Braxton Winston addressed the Forum.
Brandon Pierce, left, and other candidates for City Council Districts 2, 4 and 6 presented.
Annette Albright, left and Elyse Dashew presented at the second Forum on CMS Board of Education candidates.
Who will guide the education of these children? First of two sessions with CMS school board candidates. (CMS photo)
Caleb Theodros, left, and Terry Brown discussed District 3 issues at a Forum focused on the Sept. 10 primary.
Sean Thompson, left, and other candidates in the District 4 City Council primary answered questions.
Mark Vincent, left, and others involved in the City Council primaries in District 5 and 7 made presentations and answered questions.