Clockwise from top left: Blanche Penn’s grandchildren J’ Nair and Yariah; KIPP Charlotte Principal Elizabeth Simpson; Damiko Faulkner; J.R. and Dr. Trasha Black; Pat Cotham; LaWana Mayfield.

July 25, 2017

Today’s Open Forum did what Open Forums nearly always do. It put out on the public table for discussion a number of issues that get little attention otherwise.

Families living in unsanitary conditions. The glacial change in reinstituting vocational education, hopefully without the racial and socioeconomic tracking of the past. A charter with spaces for new applicants.

In the video below, music and lyrics to which the children danced has been removed to honor copyright laws. But that’s OK, right? What’s important is watching and appreciating the skills these two children are mastering. You will know the point at which the older folks in the crowd gasped at what the young people could do.