Home | Tuesday Morning Breakfast Forum

March 2, 2010

Next week: YMCA's Al Austin.

Thomas Moore announced the March 4 annual Red Cross free fund-raising luncheon at the Westin downtown.

Beverly Lawston announced a fund-raiser for her District 2 County Commissioner campaign for March 25 at Claiborne's, 2342 Beatties Ford Rd.

Amad Shakur sent in an announcement that the Center for African Diaspora would host a "We are Haiti" benefit on Saturday, March 27 from 7-10 p.m. at Spirit Square, 345 N. College St. Entertainment includes African dance groups, jazz ensembles, poets, storytellers, a panel discussion on Haitian history and presentation of a humanitarian service award. Further information: Amad Shakur at 704-777-3611.

Tahira Stalberte sent in an announcement of a free CMS Parent University class, "Understanding College Savings Programs," to be held Tuesday, March 9 from 6:30-8 p.m. at Phillip O. Berry High School, 1430 Alleghany St. Registration at the door.

Michael Sexton sent in an announcement that the Domestic Violence Advocacy Council would march at the Square on Thursday, March 11, at 12:15 p.m. to raise awareness of help available to victims of domestic violence, in the wake of a second domestic violence-related death in as many weeks. For more information: http://dvaccharlotte.com.

Maddy Baer sent in an announcement that an application deadline for the Fundamental Aeronautics Program competition has been extended to March 15 for high school student teams and to May 10 for undergraduate and graduate participants. "Students from high school grades through graduate school are invited to research and design an amphibious tilt-rotor vehicle with civilian applications." Information: http://aero.larc.nasa.gov/
competitions.htm.

Michael Sexton sent in an announcement that United Family Services would hold training for volunteers to help as Rape Crisis Companions on March 9, 13, 16, 20, 23 and 27. Tuesday night training sessions will take place from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., and Saturday sessions will take place from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Volunteers "respond to survivors of rape and sexual assault through a 24-hour crisis line and accompaniment at local hospitals to provide emotional support, information, advocacy and education." For further information: United Family Services’ Volunteer Coordinator Joey Honeycutt at 704-367-2734 or jhoneycutt@ufsclt.org.

Michael Sexton sent in a save-the-date announcement of the Crime Victims' Coalition Luncheon for Thursday, April 22 at 11:30 a.m. at Greater Mt. Moriah Primitive Baptist Church, 747 W. Trade St. Keynote speaker: Mecklenburg Sheriff Chipp Bailey.

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The Forum sends out two e-mail messages each week. The first, a short message generally on Sunday nights, announces Tuesday's speaker. The second is sent after Tuesday's Forum and summarizes announcements made during the Forum. (Reports of speakers' presentations and a summary of the Q&A are posted on these pages when available.)

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CMPD Chief Rodney Monroe

March 2, 2010

Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Chief Rodney Monroe addressed the Forum Tuesday. News coverage by QCityMetro.com is here.

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Forum views Reggie Bullock video

Feb. 16, 2010

At the suggestion of Dr. Vernon Herron, the Forum today watched "A War for Your Soul – Birmingham version" which captures the presentation of Reggie Bullock's "A War For Your Soul" to the Birmingham City Council.

Bullock's film was released by Erisea Films over the Internet 11 months ago and has garnered millions of views since then.

More will be posted here about the Forum's discussion later. Below is the Vimeo version of the film.

A War For Your Soul-Birmingham version from Erisai Films on Vimeo.

A second video recommended by Dr. Herron was not shown. It appeared that the parental controls on the West Charlotte Recreation website blocked the video, which is a rendering of "Lift Every Voice And Sing." Below is that YouTube video.

The URL for direct viewing of the video on YouTube is:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MyS3HPInHtI

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Feb. 9, 2010

B.B. DeLaine addressed the Forum Tuesday in a session on the history of desegregation and the unaddressed legacies of discrimination that continue to hobble American society today. DeLaine's father helped organize plaintiffs in Summerton, S.C. in the legal battle for a school bus that ultimately led to the 1954 Brown v Board Supreme Court decision. DeLaine was one of the leaders of the Charlotte lunch-counter sit-ins that sparked the eventual desegregation of restaurants citywide. He was the first African-American teacher allowed to teach at Garinger High School, and later served in the pupil assignment office as CMS implemented Judge McMillan's order to desegregate all public schools in Mecklenburg. DeLaine continues to fight for equity in Summeton, and spoke Tuesday about the need to heal the psychological wounds that remain for all people from the racial discrimination of the past and the ongoing forms of discrimination that remain today.

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Welcome to the Forum website

This site, launched in January 2007, is a communications tool for a community group that for more than a quarter century has played a key role in discussions of community issues in Charlotte-Mecklenburg, NC.

On this page will be the most recent news from the Forum. Elsewhere on the site are all the details of where the group meets, earlier news stories written about its speakers, attendance at each forum since July 2007, and an archive of announcements made at the end of each Forum. Other pages chronicle Forum special events, the people who are instrumental in its operation, and how to contact Forum leaders with your suggestions.

The Forum was founded around 1980 as an all-black offshoot of Charlotte's Black Political Caucus. Forum leaders later opened the doors to all persons. And since then, the Forum has played a critical role as one of the few gatherings where people of all ethnic and economic backgrounds meet together and candidly share perspectives on public affairs.

We hope you will attend and speak up at the Forum. The format is simple: On most Tuesdays, a speaker makes a presentation on some issue of public interest. A question-and-answer period follows and then it's Announcement Time.

On any given Tuesday morning you may find yourself in a room with tradesmen, members of the N.C. legislature, housewives, community group leaders, business owners, City Council members, county commissioners and perhaps a judge or two. With such expertise in the room, the discussion can be exhilirating. And with such a broad spectrum of the community's leadership represented each week, the announcements alone are a unique chronicle of community history.

For decades, the Forum has thrived in spite of not taking a single position, not endorsing a single candidate, not building a single building. It has stuck to its core mission -- fostering discussion of public affairs across the dividing lines of race, class, economic status and power. That's the business of building community. If that interests you, please join us Tuesday morning!

Forum News Archive

Announcements Archive

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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.

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