Recently at the Forum
Announcements
Education & Health
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.
Read Charlotte report shows signs of hope for reading interventions to improve pandemic-dampened literacy skills.
Alexandra Arrington outlined how Digital Navigators help mend the digital divide, one person at a time.
Dr. Ricky Woods, left, and Dr. Dennis Williams outlined how their Faith Alliance is not getting answers from CMS about efforts to help struggling schoolchildren.
C.W. Williams Community Health Center has relocated medical services to Old Pineville Road while Wilkinson Boulevard building is replaced.
Dr. Kendra Jason, left, and Dr. Julian Montoro-Rodriguez outlined the support available from a UNCC program aimed at both paid and volunteer caregivers.
Thomas Osha from Baltimore developer Wexford helped Atrium Health’s Gene Woods explain to county officials their plans for an innovation district on urban renewal land north of Dilworth.
Supt. Earnest Winston outlined plans under way to help children catch up from pandemic learning loss.
Stephanie Sneed led a Black Political Caucus Q&A with Supt. Earnest Winston and other CMS officials.
Read Charlotte’s Munro Richardson leads a discussion on how organizations are collaborating to address reading achievement gaps.
A “massive community response” is needed to rescue young readers from effects of pandemic, Read Charlotte says.
Officials from Atrium Health and their real estate development partner, Wexford Science & Technology, shared some initial information about the Wake Forest/Atrium medical school project.
Land under the future med school was once home to some of the maids and orderlies, pressers and yardmen who helped build the City of Charlotte and nurture the medical colossus named Atrium.
CMS Board Chair Elyse Dashew and other school board members fielded questions about the upcoming startup of CMS schools.
Improving middle grade education should focus on the adults, not the schoolhouse grade structures, report says.
Housing, Work, Community
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.
Ginny Harper led a group presentation about assistance programs available to low-income residents.
CEO Teddy McDaniel, left, and COO Dr. Fahnie Shaw discuss how the Urban League is targeting economic gaps and employment opportunities.
Sherri Chisholm explained how Leading on Opportunity focused on a community response to easing barriers to social mobility will fit into the picture.
Chris Dennis says he listens to the community, hires off the street and in doing so is revitalizing the Beatties Ford Road corridor.
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.
Dr. Shanté Williams described her work as an angel investor and as head of the Charlotte Mecklenburg Black Chamber of Commerce.
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.
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.
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.
Susan Woods offered tips on how to create a federally recognized nonprofit, and then how to seek funding.
Winston Robinson, left, and Tera Long led discussion about westside equity and ambulance charges.
Brandon Lunsford shared Johnson C. Smith University’s interest in becoming an archive for West End Charlotte historical documents.
Commentary
Two Charlotte leaders share their disappointments over the work to move Dr. King’s dream toward reality.
DonnaMarie Woodson continues her series, ‘Incredible Black Women You Should Know About,” with an essay on Claudette Colvin, above.
The Rev. Fletcher Harper has a short list of resolutions to help reduce your personal carbon footprint.
Veteran principal Ken Simmons says he’s ready to help CMS, if only the system would let him do so.
Self-taught artist Charlie Lucas continues to work from his visions and dreams to link future generations to his ancestors.
DonnaMarie Woodson continues her series, ‘Incredible Black Women You Should Know About,” with an essay on Maggie Lena Walker, above.
Ann McColl offers an “historical account of calls for racial justice in North Carolina, and the almost immediate pushback.”
DonnaMarie Woodson continues her series, ‘Incredible Black Women You Should Know About,” with an essay on nurse Mary Eliza Mahoney, above.
DonnaMarie Woodson continues her series, ‘Incredible Black Women You Should Know About,” with an essay on educator Mary Jane Patterson.
Arthur Griffin displays the pandemic’s role in a longtime erosion of reading skills and asks, where’s the outrage?
DonnaMarie Woodson opens her series, ‘Incredible Black Women You Should Know About,” with an essay on poet Phillis Wheatley.
Thelma McKoy taught history to students in schools, and to her Charlotte community through early devotion to Juneteenth celebrations.
Keith Rivers, left, addressed the Forum about protests following the April 21 death of Andrew Brown Jr. in Elizabeth City.
In the run-up to a contentious election, the Rt. Rev. Michael Curry called on Americans to hold on to hope.
June 25, 2020 A statement to Bishops of the Episcopal Church by Presiding Bishop Michael Curry, June 13, 2020.
Commentary on the protests following the death in police custody of George Floyd in Minneapolis.
Dr. Debra C. Smith recounts the development of a publishing project telling the stories of women who served Charlotte during the civil rights era.
Government & Politics
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.
Dr. Rebecca Tippett, left, presented material on the 2020 Census, and what information will be released in August.
District Attorney Spencer Merriweather outlines the challenges faced by the local judicial system during Covid.
Robert Dawkins, left, described how knocking on doors boosted Census accuracy, and how Action NC uses the same tools to influence decisions by government.
Sheriff Garry McFadden, left, on Covid crisis, Elizabeth City, and how Mecklenburg citizens can support residents returning from custody.
U.S. Rep. Alma Adams, left, discussed the American Rescue Plan, American Jobs Plan and the Ignite HBCU Excellence Act.
CMPD Chief Johnny Jenning’s statement following the verdict in the Derek Chauvin trial in the death of George Floyd.
CMPD Chief Johnny Jennings, left, and Jonathan Chow discussed policing and safety in Charlotte.
City Council member Malcolm Graham, left and Corridors of Opportunity Project Manager Cherie Smith give an update on Beatties Ford Road corridor projects.
Charlotte Mayor Vi Lyles, left, and County Board Chair George Dunlap addressed homeless, Covid-19 issues and answered questions.
James Mitchell says he will resign from Charlotte City Council due to his upcoming part ownership of Leeper Construction.
Government & Politics
Candidates & Ballots
NC Supreme Court delays March primary to May to give lower courts time to settle constitutional challenges to districting maps.
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)
Inside the Forum
The Forum will remain virtual until further notice as Charlotte and the U.S. prepare for COVID-19 Omicron.
Sarah Stevenson is among portraits on Abel Jackson’s mural at West End Seafood on Beatties Ford Road.
For 40-plus years, the Forum met face-to-face. Then came COVID-19. An update on the path forward.
Sarah Stevenson update: Visitations are now severely limited by virus outbreak, Elloree Erwin reports.
Well-wishers took a 95th birthday celebration to Sarah Stevenson via a drive-thru in University City.
Elloree Erwin offers driving instructions for the Oct. 26 birthday drive-by for Sarah Stevenson.
Dr. Gyasi Foluke, an outspoken advocate for African-Americans and longtime student of African history, has died.
