Feb. 1, 2023 “Black history is a lifetime. It is not a month. Stop letting other people control the narrative.” – Forum participant Gary Marion Jan. 24, 2023 Perhaps there is no middle way between the stout defenders of Black History Month and Gary Marion's ... Continue Reading →
‘Let no one stop you from voting’
By Dr. Blanche Penn Vote. Vote. I will. Vote. It is important. Let no one stop you from voting. Dr. Blanche Penn has focused much of her life on what the late John Lewis called “good trouble.” She is a regular presence at local government meetings. She’s advocated for ... Continue Reading →
Open Forum draws commentary, calls for action
April 30, 2019 Neighborhoods that are hurting. Avenues for supporting others. Strategies for uniting for change and against violence. Working to keep the Forum's discussions relevant The topics brought up this morning ranged widely. And as with discussions over the years, the point was not ... Continue Reading →
Election 2018: Blanche Penn
– Page initiated March 6, 2018 Blanche Penn is a candidate for N.C. House representing District 106. Below are video or audio files of statements made by the candidate or surrogates at the Forum during the 2018 election cycle. To start a video, click on it. March 20, 2018 March ... Continue Reading →
Post-election comments from 3 candidates
Nov. 14, 2017 Three candidates in the Nov. 7 election made comments at the Forum this morning. Vi Lyles was elected mayor. Larken Egleston was elected to the City Council District 1 seat. Blanche Penn was defeated in a bid for the CMS Board of Education from District 3. Below are their ... Continue Reading →
School board candidates, District 1 & District 3
Oct. 3, 2017 Eight candidates. Two district seats on the school board up for grabs. Lots of passion. In the video below, candidates gave short presentations, beginning at minute 7:30, then fielded questions beginning at minute 33:50. ... Continue Reading →
Open Forum: Dance, KIPP, voc ed, Council, housing for all
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 ... Continue Reading →
News on summer camps
June 6, 2017 Four items came up today about summer camps about to occur for area youth. A rundown: • • • YMCA 'Summer of Opportunity' City Council member Greg Phipps brought up the project to open three YMCA facilities for use exclusively by teens on Friday and Saturday nights between June 23 ... Continue Reading →
Blanche Penn: ‘I’m a freedom fighter’
March 8, 2016 Longtime Forum participant Blanche Penn offered this presentation today on her life work. ... Continue Reading →
Summer 2015: Sacré-Cœur Basilica, Paris
One in a series of reports from our far-flung correspondents. Send text and photos of your wanderings this summer here. By Blanche Penn The view of Paris from the basilica steps "Now you know I had to get a painting of me in Paris" ... Continue Reading →