Enlarge Lane McKinney, Frances Thompson and Tommy Norman. Photo: Lee Howard

Posted: March 5th, 2012 Lee Howard

At the offices of Norcom Development near Uptown, Lane McKinney answers the door. Through his closely cropped hair is a noticeable patchwork of fresh scars on the top of his head. In tie and slacks, he could be just another real estate broker with a bad haircut. But he’s not.

McKinney served four tours of duty in the Army’s Special Forces in Afghanistan. He’s been stateside about a year, working with returning vets who need help making the transition.

About 6,000 have already made the trip back from the Middle East to Mecklenburg County. An undetermined, but no-doubt larger number are on their way.

And their biggest challenge? Finding a job, says McKinney, 31, who is still on active duty but working as a liaison between returning service people and Charlotte-based Norcom on a project called Charlotte Bridge Home.

The nonprofit formed to help military people acclimate to civilian life. Many vets find getting employment, medical assistance, housing and support services a difficult path to navigate.

The nonprofit just won a $50,000 grant from the Foundation for the Carolinas. Norcom’s President Tommy Norman launched the effort almost 1 ½ years ago, and it has since caught the attention of other sponsors, including Wells Fargo and Goodrich. The goal eventually is to raise $1 million for local vet assistance.

“Many of these (veterans) are so young, they’ve been through so much, and you can only imagine what they’re going up against now that they’re home,” says Norman, who served in Vietnam in the Army’s Special Forces from 1966-71.

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Posted: March 1st, 2012 Crystal Dempsey

Post and Photo by STACEY ROSE

As a child, I remember being awestruck by the story of Pandora’s box. I was terrified by the idea that she in her carelessness and endless curiosity had let loose evil upon the world, and mystified by the one thing left being hope. On Feb. 24 at Expressions of HeART facilitated by The Institute of Life Leadership and Coaching (ILC) hosted by the Hindu Center, I felt safely contained in hope.

The event was the brain child of Cindy Ballaro, an ILC facilitator, who received a Front Porch Grant from the Charlotte Mecklenburg Community Foundation in order to produce this event and a second event that will occur in April.

The evening kicked off with an inspired talk by Chris Saade, the founder of ILC, who roused the audience with quotes from Mahatma Ghandi and poet Khalil Gibran who like Saade, is from Beruit. Saade spoke of it being a “new time” in history that calls for human beings to build bridges. “We’re either going to make it together or not make it together”, he said. His powerful speech was followed up by an activity for adults called “SoulCollage” led by Ballaro and volunteers from the ILC.

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Posted: February 29th, 2012 Lee Howard

The recent deaths of two children last week increased concern about the lack of sidewalks in Charlotte neighborhoods. However, the city's budget currently doesn't inlcude funding for new sidewalks.

Regional AIDS Interfaith Network (RAIN) works with local churches and groups to help prevent the spread of HIV/Aids. On March 5, the group will co-host a prayer service for individuals with the virus. The service will start at 6:45 p.m. at The Park Church’s west Charlotte campus at 6029 Beatties Ford Road.

The sale of humans for profit is chillingly portrayed in "Cash Crop," on view at the Harvey B. Gantt Center for African-American Arts + Culture. The project by Atlanta-based artist Stephen Hayes extends from American history to overseas sweatshop labor.

The Rev. Vernon Tyson is a key figure in the memoir "Blood Done Sign My Name," written by his son, Duke University professor Timothy Tyson. It's the true story of the racially motivated killing of a 23-year-old black Vietnam-era veteran in Oxford, N.C., in 1970 and the racial unrest that followed. On Sunday, Tyson, 82, of Raleigh, led a Q&A at Gaston College after a showing of the 2009 movie version of the book.

Opera Carolina performer Maurio Hines sang "Quando M'en Vo" from La Boheme at the restaurant at IKEA during a Random Act of Culture last week. Random Act of Culture brings performances from traditional arts venues to non-traditional settings across the Charlotte-Mecklenburg area.

Posted: February 27th, 2012 Brant Aycock

An idea that was first conceived in 2009 is finally becoming a reality!  When Crossroads Charlotte began conversations with local immigrants, refugees, asylees and internationals (IRAIs) here in Charlotte - one of the most consistent needs that came up was for a directory of resources for this growing community.  Three years later that need is finally being met with The Mecklenburg Access Portal (or The MAP, for short). 

In partnership with Mecklenburg Area Partnership for Primary Care Research (MAPPR), Community Building Initiative, and the Community Relations Committee, Crossroads Charlotte has developed an online resource directory.  This exciting tool will help members of the IRAI community as well as others easily find resources and services available to them in Charlotte-Mecklenburg.

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