Enlarge Thebaud “T.” Jeffers. (Photo: Charlotte Observer)

Posted: February 7th, 2012 Lee Howard

• Women and minority employees in state government were disproportionately nailed by budget cuts in 2011. Recently released data provided by the state show that 58% of those who lost their jobs in this past budget year were women, while women comprised only 47% of the state workforce. Forty percent of the laid-off workers were minorities, although they only comprised 34% of the state workforce.

• Black History Month: In 1964, Thebaud “T.” Jeffers helped break through the color barrier in North Carolina when he sat down and ate dinner at a Holiday Inn restaurant in Gastonia. Twelve years later in 1976, Jeffers became Gastonia's first black mayor, seven years ahead of Charlotte’s electing Harvey Gantt as the Queen City’s first black mayor. 

• A former junkyard on North Graham Street has been transformed into 85 apartments for the homeless. A four-year effort by the Urban Ministry Center raised $10.5 million for Moore Place

• Some residents of the Elizabeth community, meanwhile, are raising concerns about a proposal to build an 80-unit affordable apartment project in their neighborhood. A public meeting held last week on the project attracted more than 100 area residents, many of whom voiced concern Elizabeth is becoming a haven for the homeless. 

• CMS students spend as many as 20 days a year taking standardized tests. How well students perform is also used to assess a school's performance. A few years from now, how well students perform on standardized tests could be a factor in teacher pay.

• Presbyterian Hospital has been working to improve the health of African Americans and Latinos in the Charlotte region. So far, more than 50 black churches and about an equal number of Latino congregations have joined the effort, dubbed Congregational Health Promoters.

Posted: February 1st, 2012 Lee Howard

• When is a business not a business? When it involves gambling, as far as York County officials are concerned. The Catawba Indian Nation wants to open a full-scale casino on its York reservation, which has irked presumably “pro-business” local officials. 
•  Nolan Hargis of Mint Hill was six months old when he was diagnosed with cancer. Jeff Davis of Matthews was 42. Both are cancer survivors being featured in this year’s survivor calendar published by Presbyterian Buddy Kemp Cancer Support Center. The calendar raises awareness about cancer and brings in money to support the center.
• As anticipated, Charlotte police Monday rousted the Occupy Charlotte encampment at the Old City Courthouse. Seven were arrested. It’s a scene playing itself out at Occupy sites across the country.
• Stagnant sales-tax revenues are prompting the Charlotte Area Transit System to seek its fourth fare increase in as many years for bus and light rail. CATS is proposing to raise the one-way local fare for buses and trains to $2, up from $1.75.
• The former home of George Davis, built in 1895 for Johnson C. Smith University’s first black professor, will be restored. The historic landmark early next year is expected to house the Foster Village Network Center, a support program for teens who’ve aged out of foster care.
• The Human Rights Campaign North Carolina Gala is Feb. 23-26. A multitude of state and national gay rights leaders are expected to attend. The event will be held at the NASCAR Hall of Fame.

Posted: January 30th, 2012 Ken Garfield

The hope of Xchange Sermons is that swapping pulpits is just the beginning of a beautiful friendship.

In this third year of the campaign to inspire reconciliation among people of different beliefs and backgrounds, there is mounting evidence that relationships are flourishing long past the last words of a sermon. Among the 60 participating congregations, Temple Beth El has established an annual, gospel-infused Sabbath service each January honoring Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and the cause of racial harmony. Piedmont Unitarian Universalist and Friendship Missionary Baptist churches are planning a partnership to include worship, fellowship, food and programs on healthy living, including nutrition, yoga and meditation. Click here to learn more about Xchange Sermons and how you can get involved. The program runs through May.

There is no more powerful illustration of an abiding friendship than the one that binds Greater Providence and Mint Hill Baptist churches. The former, on Milton Road, is predominantly African American. The latter, on Matthews-Mint Hill Road, is white. The story of their coming together rises above the racial divide that sparked the relationship.

Back in 1995, after a racially tinged act of violence sparked unrest in that part of Mecklenburg County, Revs. Fred Gibson of Greater Providence Baptist and Lee Proctor of Mint Hill Baptist met at a clergy breakfast meeting. Their conversation went from “Nice to meet you” to “Let’s start working together.” All these years later, the work continues on several fronts.

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Posted: January 25th, 2012 Lee Howard

Dozens of media reps (local, state and national) descended on the Panthers playing field at Bank of America Stadium recently where incumbent President Obama will make his acceptance speech on Sept. 6. The Democratic National Convention itself will be hosted at Time Warner Cable Arena, which more than 500 reporters toured on Jan. 18.

PROACT Search, the firm hired by CMS to help select a new school superintendent, is also currently conducting a search for a new superintendent in Anchorage. General qualifications for the job there sound like something we might benefit from here. CMS hopes to make a decision in March.

County Manager Harry Jones, who is being treated for an undisclosed illness, is urging the Mecklenburg Board of County Commissioners to take a conciliatory approach to handling the public’s business. He says his current health issues have spurred “spiritual growth” which he hopes will rub off on the often rancorous board.

Property crime dropped by about 8 percent last year and violent crime was down by 2 percent, Charlotte Police Chief Rodney Monroe announced last week. We guess that’s good news for the Queen City. Skeptics, however, believe the declines may have something to do with how crimes are now being classified.

The nearly three-hour “The Amen Corner", a play set in Harlem, was written by James Baldwin in 1954. The sprawling production features 32 cast members directed by Ruth E. Sloane. The play is being presented by On Q Productions, which is led by Quentin Talley, Crossroads Charlotte's Artist-in-Residence. It  runs through Saturday, Jan. 28, at Spirit Square's Duke Energy Theater, 345 N. College St. Tickets start at $17.