May 1, 2012

Dorothy Brown Jackson announced that the Black Political Caucus will hold its annual Spring Fund-Raiser on Friday, May 4 from 6-10 p.m. at the Sheraton Airport, 3315 Scott Futrell Dr., with candidates reception at 6 p.m. and program at 7 p.m. Individual tickets are $40. Tickets and table and advertising pages are here. A flier is here.

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Joyce Waddell announced that the Charlotte-Mecklenburg branch of the NAACP would hold its annual Freedom Fund Banquet on Saturday, Aug. 18 at 6 p.m. at the Hilton University Place, 8629 J.M. Keynes Dr. Individual tickets are $100. Info: Stephane Berwald by e-mail or 704-372-7193.

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Zack Hill announced that free computer classes aimed at older adults will be held every Saturday from 1-3:30 p.m. at Ivory Baker Recreation Center, 1920 Stroud Park Court off Oaklawn Avenue.

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Zack Hill encouraged all to attend the 140th Commencement of Johnson C. Smith University, which will be held in the Irwin Belk Stadium Complex at 8 a.m. on Sunday, May 6.

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On the Ford Backyard Stump Speeches will be held Saturday, May 5 from noon to dusk at 1315 Beatties Ford Rd. featuring candidates, hot fish, cold drinks and hot dogs. RSVP by e-mail or 704-562-4002. A flier is here.

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Robert Hillman announced that Men for Change would hold a breakfast at 7 a.m. on May 30 at Panthers Stadium to raise money for the women's shelter under construction on Wilkinson Boulevard. Info: Carol Roth by e-mail or 704-367-2799.

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Beverly Irby sent in an announcement that Alexia Kelley, director of the Center for Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services would tour the C.W. Williams Community Helath Center at 333 Wilkinson Blvd. at 11 a.m. Thursday, May 3, and then make an announcement "about how the health reform law, the Affordable Care Act, expands the footprint of community health centers." The flier here says the event is open only to credentialed members of the media.

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Colette Forrest sent in a list of library polling places open for early voting this week. Hours are 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. through Friday and 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday. The sites:
Beatties Ford Road Library 2412 Beatties Ford Rd., Charlotte
Cornelius Town Hall 21445 Catawba Ave., Cornelius
Hayes Building (Ballantyne) 11405 N. Community House Rd., Charlotte
Independence Regional Library 6000 Conference Dr., Charlotte
Main Branch Library (Downtown) 310 N. Tryon St., Charlotte
Marion Diehl Rec. Center 2219 Tyvola Rd., Charlotte
Matthews Branch Library 230 Matthews Station St., Matthews
Morrison Regional Library 7015 Morrison Blvd., Charlotte
Mountain Island Library 4420 Hoyt Galvin Way, Charlotte
North County Regional Library 16500 Holly Crest Ln., Huntersville
South County Regional Library 5801 Rea Rd., Charlotte
Steele Creek Library 13620 Steele Creek Rd., Charlotte
University City Regional Library 301 E. W.T. Harris Blvd., Charlotte
West Boulevard Library 2157 West Blvd., Charlotte.

The Forum donates in support of Mecklenburg Parks & Recreation.

Total for April 2012: $26.45

Total in 2012: $78.77

Since donations began: $567.10

Details

Forum regulars in the

Vernon Herron

The Forum generally 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 sometime after the Forum and summarizes announcements made during the Forum.

To receive these messages, submit the information below. You will receive a confirmation message at your e-mail address. If you do not respond to that e-mail, you will not be added to the list.

You may also sign up when visiting the Forum. Give your e-mail address to Steve Johnston.

We do not share these addresses with other groups.

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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 during 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. Somewhere along the way is 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 exhilarating. 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!

The Forum welcomes all persons to its meetings beginning at 8:30 a.m. most Tuesdays of the year at the West Charlotte Recreation Center, 2401 Kendall Drive, Charlotte, NC down the hill from West Charlotte High School.