Our young men and women, especially those of color, are at war…They’re at war amongst themselves. They’re at war with the media. They’re at war with law enforcement. They’re at war with their families. They’re at war at school. They’re at war among their social peers. —Darrell Gregory Darrell ... Continue Reading →
Sept. 12-13 Indaba at Johnson C. Smith focuses on parent engagement
Malcolm Graham, director for community engagement and government affairs for the Center for Applied Research at Johnson C. Smith University, offered an invitation to all to attend the free event on Sept. 12-13. Details of a center study on parental engagement at area schools will be presented. ... Continue Reading →
Gyasi Foluke offers a theory on community change
Dr. Gyasi Foluke rose from the audience today to give a short lecture on his theory on how to implement community change in the African-American community. He focused on a "system of communication" that turns out people to pressure community leaders to pursue a shared community agenda. "Once ... Continue Reading →
Making Change Happen for the African-American Community
A note about this coverage On May 20, 2014, an Open Forum occurred that requires some change from the way material from the Forum is regularly reported here. At some open Forums, individuals report on specific issues. Often, videos of those presentations are made and treated just as they would ... Continue Reading →
Reflections of Some Who Lived Black History
When the Forum gathered at the Wallace Pruitt Rec Center for the "Highlighting African-American Achievers" exhibit, participants saw reminders of the inventive genius of African-Americans, and saw a riviting skit about the Underground Railroad. When the skit concluded, they met in a room and ... Continue Reading →
Breaking barriers: Anna Hood, Fannie Flono
Two African-American trailblazers addressed the Forum: Anna Hood was among the first African-Americans hired by the Social Security Administration in the Charlotte area in the 1960s. Fannie Flono was among the first African-Americans promoted to editing positions at the Charlotte Observer in ... Continue Reading →
Henry Rock: Background
Henry Rock says he arrived in Charlotte last summer. Before leaving New York City after a career spanning television, real estate and then print, outdoor and radio advertising sales and marketing, Rock says he started a nonprofit to encourage African American males to prepare themselves for ... Continue Reading →
Minority inclusion: 3 perspectives
Yana Symone Smith, left, serves as vice president for Teach for America in Charlotte. Her message of how the organization is changing to better train and retain its young mentees for longer and more effective service in the classroom was laced with straight talk about reforming an internal culture ... Continue Reading →
Meetings begin on Northwest Corridor
A team of people from Johnson C. Smith University made a presentation at the Forum this morning, then listened as audience members gave their feedback on the wording of a planned survey on the needs of the Northwest Corridor. Dr. Byron Patterson and Dr. Laurie Porter made introductory comments. ... Continue Reading →
Beatties Ford Road widening
April 23, 2013 City Council District 2 member James Mitchell addressed the Forum on April 24 about the widening of Beatties Ford Road. Property owner Paul Holmes, who had addressed the Forum earlier, added a comment. ... Continue Reading →