Enlarge Simple headstones mark slave cemetery near Long Creek Presbyterian. Photo: Charlotte Observer.

Posted: April 11th, 2012 Lee Howard

When Dee Liss became pastor of the 232-year-old Long Creek Presbyterian Church in Bessemer City last summer, she was able to land a $10,000 grant from the David Cannon Belk Foundation. The money was aimed at digging up information about an historic cemetery near the church grounds. The effort uncovered more than 90 unmarked headstones now known as “the slave cemetery."

A rally for slain Florida boy Trayvon Martin was held Saturday, April 7, in the Our Children's Memorial in Frazier Park in Charlotte. The rally was organized by the group, Help Outlaw Outrageous Discriminative Injustices Everywhere, or H.O.O.D.I.E. The rally aims to not only to only honor Trayvon but also other teens that have been lost in the community due to racial profiling.

Workers this week drove pilings deep into the ground at Charlotte Douglas International Aiport’s new, $160-million hourly parking deck. That project, scheduled for completion in 2014, is part of the $1 billion expansion program Airport Director Jerry Orr plans for the next seven years, including an eight-lane entrance road, a fifth runway, an expanded main terminal, and a freestanding international terminal where the rental car facility currently stands.

Finalists for the superintendent’s seat of Charlotte-Mecklenburg schools are scheduled to meet with the Board of Education, CMS staff and community members April 11 – 12, 2012. Names of the three finalists will be disclosed Monday, April 9, 2012. On Wednesday, April 11 the candidates will meet with principals and staff, and participate in school tours. Public meetings are scheduled for Wednesday afternoon at sites throughout Mecklenburg County with a final meeting at Northwest School of the Arts for parents, students and staff.

Despite a tough economy, the U.S. Census bureau reports Charlotte saw record growth of nearly 65% from 2000 to 2010. Analysts say bank jobs are a large contributor to that. Two other cities in the Carolinas made the top 10 list. Raleigh came in No. 2 with more than 63% growth. And Greenville, S.C., snagged the No. 9 spot.

Posted: March 29th, 2012 Lee Howard

The Rev. Cassandra Jones stood in the pulpit at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, a guest pastor with a message of grace and salvation through humility.

Jones, an African-American who on most Sundays may be found serving as associate pastor at Friendship Missionary Baptist Church, spoke to the largely white audience at The Plaza’s Holy Trinity on Sunday, March 25.

Her theme focused on a difficult passage from John 12: 20-23, in which Jesus humbles himself by riding into Jerusalem on a donkey. He at once is ridiculed.

Yet Jesus’ reputation had already intrigued a pilgrimage of Greeks, who wished to meet him in person. “They didn’t just want a third-party message,” she said.

Jones explained that Greeks were an uncommon race in Jerusalem and yet they had journeyed there to join his flock.

Jones was participating in a series of ongoing Xchange Sermons being sponsored by Mecklenburg Ministries and Crossroads Charlotte.

In addition to her work at Friendship Missionary Baptist, Jones serves as an adjunct faculty member at Shaw Divinity School and recently joined the faculty at New Life Theological Seminary as a professor of Christian education.

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Posted: March 27th, 2012 Ken Garfield

A different sort of collaboration is broadening Xchange Sermons.

More than 60 pastors, imams and rabbis last year and dozens more this year have swapped pulpits – affirming by their words and presence the importance of reconciliation. Now, the Rev. Nancy Ellett Allison and Rabbi Jonathan Freirich hope that two upcoming gatherings foster even more understanding in this often divided world.

Allison, spiritual leader of Holy Covenant United Church of Christ in the University City area, will speak at 6:30 p.m. Monday, April 2, at Temple Beth El in Shalom Park in south Charlotte. The gathering will mark the first anniversary of the marriage of same-sex couples in Washington, D.C., a ceremony officiated by Allison, Rabbi Judy Schindler of Temple Beth El and Rev. Robin Tanner of Piedmont Unitarian Universalist Church.

Besides lifting up marriage equality, Allison hopes the gathering lifts up another principle: That this is a pluralistic nation whose diversity should stir connections, not anxiety.

Freirich, associate rabbi at Temple Beth El, will lead a Model Seder dinner at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, April 5, at Holy Covenant. That’s the night before Passover begins, marking the Jewish people’s exodus from slavery in Egypt. Describing the dinner as “Seder 101,” Freirich says he’ll share the customs and essence of Passover. This being a celebration of freedom, people of all faiths will join voices to sing “Let My People Go.”

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Posted: March 26th, 2012 Liz Bertrand

Acclaimed children's book author Kimberly P. Johnson's unique professional and educational background were put to good use when she guest read to groups of preschool aged kids at Thompson Child Development Center on Wednesday, March 21.

The North Carolina native and author of 14 books charmed a room full of eager four-year-olds as part of Thompson Child & Family Focus 16th annual “March Madness for Reading” initiative, a month-long quest to encourage kids to read and discover other literacy activities. Her lively and engaging presentation also attested to her background in Early Childhood Education, Youth Development and Leadership, as well as her 18 years of experience managing boisterous groups as a flight attendant with US Airways.

By mid-March, nearly 9,000 books had been read at school or home during the month of March to the diverse group of 140 kids who attend the Center. The school's ultimate goal is to complete 25,000 books by the end of the month with the aid of volunteer readers. This cheerfully decorated, state-of-the-art facility serves children birth to age 5, including a significant population of children with fragile backgrounds (some of whom have been exposed to domestic violence, substance abuse or poverty) and special learning needs.

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