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Posted: May 6th, 2012 Liz Bertrand

It seemed appropriate that Historian Karl Campbell (Appalachian State University, pictured top right) was the last of seven panelists to speak at “Moving Forward Together,” a public discussion on the implications of Amendment One presented by Foundation For The Carolinas* on May 2. He gave context to the upcoming May 8 vote – a constitutional amendment to define marriage between one man and one woman as the only legally recognized form of domestic union in North Carolina – by comparing it to other key democratic moments in North Carolina history that have pitted traditionalists versus modernists. While he expressed doubt that this vote would put an end to the debate on the issue, he urged both sides to fight hard, fight fair and not forget the humanness of this battle.

In fact, Wednesday night's discussion proved to be an excellent example of what a civil debate could look like, even when some participants have diametrically opposed viewpoints. Each panelist focused on a specific aspect of the proposed amendment – ranging from the legislative context of the amendment and its legal ramifications to its potential economic impact on local businesses.

While some speakers presented a neutral perspective, like Chief District Court Judge Lisa Bell, who concluded that it is impossible to say for sure what the legal ramifications of a passed amendment would be on domestic violence cases and child custody battles until such a time when the supreme court would have an opportunity to make a ruling, others were quite specific in their assessments.

"In a devilish stroke of irony -- this is impartial – ” said Russell Robinson, Esq., a caveat that drew laughter from the crowd of 100+ in McGlohon Theatre, “on its main purpose of protecting marriage,"  a passed amendment would expose it to an intense federal legal battle.

Dan Bishop, Esq., however, argued that there was no precedent that indicated that the proposed legislation would be more susceptible to federal legislation than in other states which have passed similar amendments.

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Posted: April 18th, 2012 Lee Howard

• N.C. Gov. Bev Perdue is urging voters to shoot down Amendment One, the proposal that would ban LGBT marriage and legal recognition for all unmarried couples and strip protections and benefits from families. Perdue, speaking at a women’s conference at UNC-Charlotte last week, announced her opposition to the May 8 referendum that would amend the state constitution. Perdue, a Democrat, is not running for re-election.
• Meanwhile, the City of Charlotte is considering offering benefits to same-sex partners of its employees, City Manager Curt Walton said during a budget meeting last week. Walton said the city is studying the issue, and expects it would cost $150,000 annually. The city spends about $40 million on health benefits a year. Mayor Anthony Foxx, a Democrat, said he’ll support the change.
• The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Utility Department says it needs to raise water and sewer rates by about 6 percent for the average customer to keep up with rising gas and electricity prices. Residential customers who use large amounts of water for irrigation will see a rate hike of 9 percent.  A CMUD official says revenues from rates aren't keeping up with costs.
• A record crowd turned out on the first day of “Rise Above,” the exhibit about the Tuskegee Airmen, which features a P-51 Mustang like the ones flown by the famed African-American World War II flying unit. More than 500 people attended the exhibition Wednesday, Carolinas Aviation Museum officials said. It was the largest one-day attendance for any exhibit in the museum’s history. The program ran through Saturday.
• Charlotte’s Mint Museum plans to launch a research center based on North Carolina pottery as part of a major renovation of its Randolph Road campus. With 2,200 objects, some dating to the 1700s, the Mint has the largest and most comprehensive collection of North Carolina pottery in the nation. Mint officials says the pottery research center would underscore the state’s already high profile in the world of ceramics.

Posted: April 16th, 2012 Brant Aycock

The public voted this month, and Crossroads Charlotte is excited to announce the latest round of winners for A.C.T. (Achieving Community Today) Projects. A.C.T. Projects are designed to fund small initiatives that will connect people across lines of difference.  Members of the community submit ideas, and the public decides which will get funding by voting on Facebook. The winners receive up to $500 to implement their projects.  This cycle there were three winning projects:

Winner #1: 10 Artists in 5 Days:  A View of Charlotte Through the Arts by Aisha Alexander

This will be an innovative way to allow people to see the world through the eyes of another. People will be able to learn what’s special, but also what is universal in their identity, relationships and communities. During 5 “pop-up” conversations, with diverse audiences, attendees will all be asked: “What makes you, you?” and "What makes Charlotte, Charlotte?”. At each event, 2 local artists will paint a visual of the stories – live. At each event people will be exposed to diverse opinions and given a visual of the stories.

Winner #2:  Graham Heights Spring Festival by Joe Howarth

The Spring Festival will be a cookout, organized by Graham Heights residents partnered with UNCC students. The event will be a venue so that Graham Heights residents and families can meet each other and enjoy fellowship in an informal environment over great food.

Winner #3:  Projective Eye - Art in the House by Crista Cammoroto

Art-in-the-House would offer hands-on artistic experiences such as painting, drawing, screen-printing, dance and music facilitated by faculty and staff of the College of Arts and Architecture at UNC Charlotte. Faculty will guide participants through the process of creating a piece of art, learning a dance, or playing a musical instrument or composition.   Participants will then get to produce a piece of their own!

Congratulations to all of our winners!  This is the final round of A.C.T. Projects.  Since the first cycle of awards was given in December 2010, Crossroads Charlotte A.C.T. (Achieving Community Today) Projects have enabled 19 individuals to make a difference in their communities by funding their ideas.

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.