Announcements February 2007
ANNOUNCEMENTS from Feb. 6, 2007:
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Next week at the Forum: Andrea L. Harris, president of the N.C. Institute of
Black Economic Development.
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Comments on economic development from Tuesday's Forum by Lew Myers will be
posted by Wednesday morning at www.tueforumclt.org
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Rodney Moore and Valerie Woodard announced that NAACP branches are planning
"Historic K(Thousands) On Jones Street" march in Raleigh this Saturday, Feb.
10 at the Legislative Building in Raleigh, to present legislators with the
NAACP's 14-point program to deal with disparities across the state. More
info: www.naacp.ubernc.com
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County Commissioner Valerie Woodard commented that she and City Council
member Nancy Carter sit on a panel exploring alternative sources of revenue.
"I don't know how far we will get with it. We all know the politics that go
with that." But governments need more revenue for schools and roads, she
said. She also explained that Ryan White federal dollars would begin flowing
through the county to Meckenburg and other counties, and she would like to
funnel more money to help teach adolescents about HIV/Aids risks, and to
test and treat all people entering jails. She also supported a special court
for the DWI caseload that now "floods the misdemeanor court."
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City Council member Nancy Carter urged citizens to turn the Mayor's Caravan
to Raleigh into a People's Caravan to Raleigh. The Caravan, scheduled for
next Tuesday, Feb. 13 from 6:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., is to lobby legislators
for criminal justice funding, a new crackdown on gangs, and law changes to
allow schools to share information with police about underage felons.
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Martha Hall asked for male volunteers to be mentors during a Black History
program at Hidden Valley Elementary on Feb. 21 at 9 a.m.
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Richard McElrath encouraged attendance at a series of community forums on
the school system's Strategic Plan 2010. The meetings are: tonight, Feb. 6
at West Meck High, 6-7:30 p.m.; Thursday, Feb. 15 at Mint Hill Middle,
7-8:30 p.m.; Tuesday, Feb. 20 at Myers Park High, 7-8:30 p.m.; Tuesday,
March 6 at First Ward Elementary, 6-7:30 p.m.; Monday, March 12, Eastway
Middle, 6:30-8 p.m.; and Monday, March 19 at North Meck High, 6:30-8 p.m.
"There's a lot of things that are not going to happen in inner-city
neighborhoods unless you speak up," McElrath said.
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Mary Williams wrote that she gave the wrong number last week for the Family
Credit Counseling Corp's Financial Literacy Education class reservation
number. The correct number is 800-449-0065.
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John Williams sent in an announcement of the 9th Annual Charlotte Black
Heritage Toursm and Pilgrimage 2007, continuing on Saturdays during
February. Ticket prices and other information at www.queencitytours.com.
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Forum messages reach 344 addressees. To be removed from this list, send a
reply message with your request.
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The Forum opens at 8 a.m. at the West Charlotte Recreation Center, 2400
Kendall Drive, just down the hill from West Charlotte High School. The phone
number is 704-393-1560.
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ANNOUNCEMENTS from Feb. 13, 2007:
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Next week at the Forum: Male "Firsts": Harvey Gantt, Charlie Dannelly and
Ron Leeper.
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Pam Grundy urged people to attend tonight's school board meeting to protest
the apparent move from a standard of "equity" for all schools to one of
"adequacy." She passed out a sheet prepared by Carol Sawyer based on the
February 2007 CMS Equity Report Card listing the percentage of Focus
(high-poverty) schools meeting elementary, middle and high school teacher
quality benchmarks. The benchmarks are based on average scores in each
category posted by the district's Schools of Distinction and Schools of
Excellence. The Focus schools' results:
Elem Middle High
Clear licensure
88% 20%
50%
Advanced degrees 91%
13% 0%
New to teaching
66% 25%
0%
Avg. experience
25% 7%
0%
Board-certified
31% 0%
0%
5+yrs. experience 34%
20% 0%
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Pam Grundy invited attendance at panel discussion followed by a reception
and book-signing this Sunday, Feb. 18 from 3-5 p.m. at ImaginOn, 300 E. 7th
St., to mark publication of "Thriving in the Shadow: The Black Experience in
Charlotte and Mecklenburg County" edited by Fannie Flono. Panel includes
book contributors Vermelle Diamond Ely, Daisy Spears Stroud and Price Davis.
RSVP to Novello Festival Press voicemail 704-432-0153.
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Pam Meister sent in an invitation to Saturday's free breakfast and event at
Charlotte Museum of History, "hosted by the Crossroads Charlotte project of
the Community Building Initiative. The event... includes breakfast and early
bird tours of
the Brooklyn to Biddleville and Crossroads Charlotte exhibits, then an
interactive session on the Crossroads Charlotte process of visioning the
future of our community from 10-noon." Reservations required by Friday, Feb.
16 by calling 704-973-4564 or emailing
[email protected].
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Correction: Last week's announcements misidentified the purpose of an
ongoing series of CMC community forums. The forums deal with "'Strategic
Plan 2010: Educating Students to Compete Locally, Nationally and
Internationally,' facilities and parent issues," according to a CMS release.
The forums continue Thursday, Feb. 15 at Mint Hill Middle, 7-8:30 p.m.;
Tuesday, Feb. 20 at Myers Park High, 7-8:30 p.m.; Tuesday, March 6 at First
Ward Elementary, 6-7:30 p.m.; Monday, March 12, Eastway Middle, 6:30-8 p.m.;
and Monday, March 19 at North Meck High, 6:30-8 p.m.
--
Forum messages reach 352 addressees. To be removed from this list, send a
reply message with your request.
--
The Forum opens at 8 a.m. at the West Charlotte Recreation Center, 2400
Kendall Drive, just down the hill from West Charlotte High School. The phone
number is 704-393-1560.
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ANNOUNCEMENTS from Feb. 20, 2007:
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Malachi Greene asked that Forum members remember Sarah Stevenson in their
prayers. [Stevenson, in pain from a knee that needs replacement, was cheered
Tuesday morning by an account of Ron Leeper's Tuesday visit at the Forum.
Excerpts from Leeper's comments will be posted by Wednesday morning at
www.tueforumclt.org.]
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Pam Grundy thanked Forum members for support in last week's effort to
protest changing an annual CMS report from a focus on "equity" to use of the
word "adequacy." (Announcements, Feb. 13) "Dr. Gorman read those e-mail
announcements and realized, I think, the breadth of concern that people had,
particularly about the switch from equity to adequacy. He called me before
the meeting and told me they were pulling the report.... We hope we'll see
your support as we push to get a truly useful and meaningful equity report."
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Charlotte City Council member Susan Burgess said more people could be
accommodated at Thursday's forum on affordable housing, but that people
should contact her promptly. Burgess is at [email protected] or 704-333-2874.
"Housing Charlotte 2007 - A Community Forum on Affordable Housing" will be
held 7:30 a.m.-7 p.m. at the Convention Center on Thursday, Feb. 22. Added
Housing Authority CEO Charles Woodyard, "If you believe that... one of the
central issues to school equity is housing development and housing
development patterns, then this will give you an opportunity to discuss ways
to impact housing development patterns and housing equity patterns around
the city. This is your best chance to discuss that.... Every time we have a
discussion like this, an idea or institution comes out of it.... Who knows
what's going to happen this time -- maybe inclusionary zoning, I don't
know."
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Michael Sexton sent in an announcement that the free March 6 "Lunch and
Learn" program at St. Peter's Catholic Church, 507 S. Tryon St., would focus
on the "Address Confidentiality Program."
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Forum messages reach 349 addressees. To be removed from this list, send a
reply message with your request.
--
The Forum opens at 8 a.m. at the West Charlotte Recreation Center, 2400
Kendall Drive, just down the hill from West Charlotte High School. The phone
number is 704-393-1560.
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ANNOUNCEMENTS from Feb. 27, 2007:
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Next week at the Forum: Female "Firsts:" Ella Scarborough, first
African-American woman elected to the Charlotte City Council; Valerie
Woodard, first African-American woman elected to Board of County
Commissioners; Beverly Earle, first African-American woman to represent a
Mecklenburg district in the N.C. House; and Sarah Stevenson, first
African-American woman elected to public office in Mecklenburg County when
she was elected to the school board in 1980.
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Excerpts from Tuesday's presentation on the tactics used by the Eastside
Council on Civic Affairs in ending racial barriers to employment in early
1960s Charlotte will be posted by Thursday morning at www.tueforumclt.org.
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James Ross announced "From Brooklyn to Biddleville" at the Charlotte Museum
of History on Saturday, March 10 at 10 a.m.
Enjoy a panel discussion involving "memory-keepers" and bring photos and
articles to add to the project archives.
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Gyasi Foluke said he has a new Invacare M91 motorized wheelchair for sale.
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Mary Williams announced that the nonprofit Family Credit Counseling Corp.,
7516 E. Independence Blvd. Ste 110, has free MoneySmart financial literacy
classes running on Thursdays at 6:30 p.m. and CreditSmart classes on
Tuesdays. All classes are free, but call first for registration.
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Tammy Johnson announced the "I Stand With Magic" Town Hall Meeting for
Wednesday, Feb. 28, at 6 p.m. at Little Rock AME Zion Church, 401 N.
McDowell St., part of Magic Johnson's initiative to cut new HIV infections
among African-Americans by half in five years.
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Floyd Davis announced free tax assistance at 13 sites, the largest being
Friendship Missionary Baptist Church. Seniors and families making less than
$39,000 are served free. Info: 704-943-9633.
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Blanche Penn passed out invitations from Stay Focus Chronicles Winners Plus
Agency to "Students Together Against Recklessness," written and directed by
Petronila Clark, to be performed at 3 and 7 p.m. on Sunday, May 20 at West
Charlotte High School. Information: 704-340-4057.
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Michael Sexton sent in an announcement of the Run for Peace on Saturday, May
6 at McAlpine Park. Proceeds benefit United Family Services Domestic
Violence Program. Brochure at www.charlotterunforpeace.com.
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Thomas Moore sent in an announcement of "If This Hat Could Talk," with
performances March 5, 6, 7, 14 and 15 at Halton Theater, CPCC. More
information on the civil rights musical hit: www.vanjoproductions.com/ht_dates.php
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Forum messages reach 352 addressees. To be removed from this list, send a
reply message with your request.
--
The Forum opens at 8 a.m. at the West Charlotte Recreation Center, 2400
Kendall Drive, just down the hill from West Charlotte High School. The phone
number is 704-393-1560.
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The Forum welcomes all persons to its meetings
beginning at 8 a.m. most Tuesdays of the year
at the West Charlotte Recreation Center, 2222 Kendall Drive, Charlotte, NC
down the hill from West Charlotte High School.