Nov. 18, 2025 The video below is an excerpt from the Forum's Nov. 18 meeting. Facilitator Steve Johnston shared the work under way to ensure the continuation of communications and livestreaming elements of Forum meetings. No changes in the Forum's structure or leadership are involved. "As I ... Continue Reading →
Hospitality will take a new form
Nov. 13, 2025 By Steve Johnston In my Sept. 26 comments, I focused on changes that may make it easier to keep the Forum's website up to date. Those changes will affect almost no one. The following, however, will be instantly noticed by Forum regulars – and they may be delighted with the ... Continue Reading →
Small design changes on Forum website
Sept. 26, 2025 By Steve Johnston The "look" of the Forum website has begun to change. Not that I like some of the changes. But they are designed to address the reality that, at 837 or whatever age I am, things are now taking twice as long as they used to. The changes follow my announcement ... Continue Reading →
Facilitators convene to assess the Forum’s future
Sept. 9, 2025 The Belmont Center conference room was eerily quiet for a Tuesday morning. It was primary election day, one of the few Tuesdays when the Forum's facilitators could sleep in or jog off to a quiet park. But coffee was brewing, and an agenda was on the table. As facilitators trickled ... Continue Reading →
Facilitators comment on Forum, their roles & Sarah Stevenson
Jan. 21, 2025 Forum facilitators this morning sat down at the presenters' table. and offered their reflections on why they volunteer reliably at the Forum, what their particular focus is in sustaining the group, and what it means to them. Some have been at the forum only a few years. One has been ... Continue Reading →
Sarah Belle Mingo Stevenson, 1925-2023
Page initiated Sept. 26, 2023 Sarah Belle Mingo Stevenson was born Oct. 26, 1925. She died Sept. 26, 2023. A Charlotte Observer remembrance is here. Other media reports included those from WFAE, the Charlotte Post, WSOC-TV, WCNC-TV, WBTV, Queen City News and QCityMetro, More on Stevenson’s life ... Continue Reading →
A note from Steve Johnston
May 17, 2020 To the Forum: I have decided that my future with the Forum will need to be digital-only until there is a COVID-19 vaccine in 2021 or whenever. What I think that will look like is that I will continue to do the Announcements, continue to update and pay for the Forum website and ... Continue Reading →
Forum regulars spotlighted in ‘Thank You’ series
Dec. 30, 2016 The Observer editorial board’s annual “Thank You” feature spotlighted two Forum regulars: Supportive Housing Communities’ Pam Jefsen for her work to end homelessness, and Steve Johnston for his volunteer work with the Forum. The two-page spread focused on eight “heroes among us who ... Continue Reading →
A surprise for the guy behind the camera
March 29, 2016 Participants in the Tuesday Morning Breakfast Forum pulled off a total surprise for the guy usually behind the camera as they celebrated Steve Johnston's 69th birthday. Referred to occasionally during the celebration as a person of few words, the record should show that the scribe ... Continue Reading →