Oct. 29, 2019 The Forum took time out today to mark the 94th birthday of a woman who co-founded the Forum more than 40 years ago, who helped guide her adopted community through desegregation, and who has inspired generations of Charlotte residents to pick up the mantle of leadership. Sarah Belle ... Continue Reading →
“Legacies”: A new book about Charlotte’s African-American female pioneers
June 25, 2019 Dr. Debra C. Smith is Associate Professor of Africana Studies at UNCC. She detailed the meetings and interviews that produced "Legacies: African-American Female Pioneers" about Charlotte women who led, mostly behind the scenes, during the Civil Rights Movement. Smith said the book ... Continue Reading →
Sarah Stevenson announces she will step back a bit more
April 3, 2018 There have been several occasions this year, the 38th year of the Tuesday Morning Breakfast Fourm, when co-founder Sarah Stevenson had to break her habit of attending the Forum weekly. Much of the programming load had already passed to Laura McClettie, standing to Stevenson's right, ... Continue Reading →
Black women who were ‘firsts’
From left: Vi Lyles, Beverly Earle, Ella Scarborough and Sarah Stevenson. Feb. 6, 2018 A panel of five woman were at Belmont Center this morning as the Forum opened Black History Month with a wide-ranging discussion that focused not so much on celebration of these women's victories and ... Continue Reading →
Stevenson: No candidate forums before May 8 primary
Jan. 30, 2018 Forum co-founder Sarah Stevenson announced today that the Forum would not hold candidate forums before the May 8 primary. Here is her statement. To start the video, click on it. If Stevenson changes her mind, of course, this page will be updated. But even if the ... Continue Reading →
Happy Birthday, Sarah Stevenson!
Oct. 24, 2017 Click on the video to start it. ... Continue Reading →
To Charlotte’s young leaders struggling for the common good
Feb. 16, 2016 Forum co-founder Sarah Stevenson this morning asked Forum participants to honor the memory of MarShawn McCarrel, a 23-year-old Ohio activist who, succumbing to depression, took his own life on Feb. 9. But her message was for the living: "There are young women and men who come in ... Continue Reading →
Four women who went first in elective office
Jan. 26, 2016 Four women who were first to be elected to a local or state office reflected on their experience, the importance of women and specifically African-American women to be at the table, and their assessment of whether public affairs are continuing to move forward or have fallen ... Continue Reading →
Ratchford welcomes Forum to Belmont Regional Center
Jan. 19, 2016 Willie Ratchford, executive director of the City of Charlotte Community Relations department, had invited Sarah Stevenson last summer to bring the Forum to the Belmont Regional Center. The 1975 building has a number of tenants, including nonprofits and city staff departments, ... Continue Reading →
Forum moves to Belmont Regional Center on Jan. 19
Jan. 5, 2016 Sarah Stevenson announced this morning that the Forum will move to Belmont Regional Center, 700 Parkwood Ave., effective Jan. 19. The last meeting at Ivory-Baker Recreation Center will be Jan. 12. In announcing the move, Stevenson cited her longtime association with the city's ... Continue Reading →