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2A##0 NEWS/tEbe Cbariorte ^ost Thursday, April 26, 2007 Initiatives aim to improve access, equity Continued from page 1A Mecklenburg Community Relations Committee Johnson C. Smith University, and Microsoft Corporation. "This brings into play one of the important aspects of Crossroads. Organizations. are doing work important to the organizations, but they are doing it in a collabora tion with other organiza tions, which brings a sort of mutual accountability," English said. “What we’re hoping in this learning net work is that these organiza tions will encourage and challenge each other." As they announced their initiative, each person car ried or wore a sigh asking, "What can YOU do?” "I was at a conference last week, where they said a community is shaped and defined by the questions it asks itself," English said. "These stories and process es are intended to incite responses and actions. What that does is set the stage for going out into the larger community and engaging networks, or neighborhoods, or groups and smaller organizations. Working within your sphere of influence and finding out what you can do." What the 15 groups decided on range from increasing access to cultural programs to inspiring peo ple to use their position to advocate for economic jus tice. The Arts & Science Council of Charlotte-Mecklenburg pledged to increase pro gramming through an investment strategy in cul tural institutions, programs and creative individuals. The initial efforts will focus on racially/ethnically diverse communities, low- income neighborhoods, artists and emerging cultur al organizations across the county. Two such creative talents are Douglas Turner Ward, and Quentin Talley, writer and director of “A day of Absence," at the Afro American Cultural Center beginning May 10. The Asian Chamber of Commerce will try to bridge Eastern and Western cul tures vwth events like its Dragon Boat Festival. Microsoft partnered with Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools teachers and stu dents to increase computer competency at middle schools. In addition they’ve been working in Southwest Middle School assisting stu dents on site since January. Bank of America is also partnering with CMS with two initiatives aimed at ensuring, "students of CMS today are more prepared to contribute to Charlotte’s success tomorrow.” Also focused on students, are Central Piedmont Community College and the Public Library of Charlotte and Mecklenburg County which have. combined forces to increase literacy levels throughout the County. “Research shows that 75 percent of all chil dren who cannot read by the end of first grade never catch up with their peers. In Charlotte- Mecklenburg, 1 in 5 adults are considered functionally illiterate,” said Patrice Ebert of the Public Library. “By coordinating lit eracy programs, we will move the community toward a more positive future as we address inequalities in economic and social status.” CRC worked with a group of community volunteers to create Community Theater/ Theater about Community, a production that premieres May 16 at 8 p.m. at CPCC’s Pease Auditorium. Crisis Assistance Ministry will focus on increasing awareness of challenges facing the poor, and encour aging community solutions. Levine Museum of the New South, funded by Bank of America, will host a long term exhibition of the exhibit "Courage: The Carolina Story that Changed America," which tells the story of the citizens of Clarendon County, S.C. who brought the^irsv lawsuit against segrejjj^^ in pub lic schools. "^Hsise later evolved into Bro» v. Board of Education, \^ich out lawed school segregation in 1954. Mecklenburg Ministries launched Friday Friends, an initiative to identify 500 people of different ethnic and religious backgrounds U.S. businesses keep food from Africans Continued from page 1A ”We are stressing the need to improve both the efficiency and effectiveness of food aid.” Zambia in particular is in an emergency situation, as over half a million people are on the verge of starvation if the U.N. World Food Program runs out of its already dwindling food, rations. If U.S. aid dollars could buy food directly from Zambiais food reserves, it would boost the local economy and save time and money in the process of delivering food to people. Rising shipping, transportation and logistical costs have been taking an ever larger share out of the $2 billion in annu al spending on food aid in recent years, contributing to a 43 percent decline in the amount of food delivered over the past five years, the G.A.O. found. As a result, the United States is feeding about 70 million people a year instead of the more than 90 million it fed five years ago. Arkansas Senator Blanche Lincoln, at a recent hearing, defended the U.S. current practice. "If you want to see safe, affordable and abundant food supply in the United States, somebody's got to stand up for our growers.” » D.C. moves closer to voting representative WASHINGTON - The U.S. House has voted 241 -177 to pass the D.C. Voting Rights Act, a bill that would give Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton or her successor a vote in the House for the first time in history. The vote came last week after more than 5,000 marched on the Nation’s Capitol on the District’s Emancipation • Day, demanding democracy for the city, which pays taxes and sends people to war. Norton can only sit in full congressional sessions, she can vote in committee, but not on the House floor. The passage by the House is the closest the Voting Rights bill has gotten to passage since the 1970s. Members of the House to commit to becoming lunch partners. The min istry has already signed 340 people. "They agree to eat lunch once a month for six months to get to know each other on a deeper level, as people, not as categories. Friday Friends invites peo ple to cross the road and build a friendship together," said Maria Hanlin. UNC Charlotte launched a Crossroads Charlotte-cen tered curriculum as part of their general education pro gram, and has plans to expand courses offered within the specialized pro gram. Wachovia is assisting through its MoneySmart and BorrowSmart programs to increase home and business ownership support and community development. WTVl’s “Hometown Stories" builds race and community relations with a series of documentaries about the history and life of ethnic communities in the area. WTVI also partnered with the Charlotte Mecklenburg African American Agenda, videotap ing its final report on public policy and community ini tiatives for broadcast. YWCA Central Carolinas is launching Adopt-A-Site, where youth development centers serving at risk 5-15 year olds enter into a formal partnership to provide human and financial resources, beginning with two Mecklenburg County sites in late spring/early summer. Once fully imple mented, all 12 YWCA sites will be adopted. Johnson C. Smith University will expand its Saturday Academy program and introduce prograrhs for middle school students and the Talented Males initia tive. "We started in 1999, specifically for Thomasboro Elementary,” said Angela Jeter, director of the Crossroads Program at JCSU. The program also includes Merry Oaks, Bruns Avenue, Hickory Grove and Paw Creek Elementary. "We offer tutoring in reading writing and math [for at-risk students in grades 3-5].” The Talented Males pro gram will also work with students in these schools and grades, but targeting those who are performing at or above grade level. “As we look at access, even though we are an HBCU, sometimes we are viewed as the tower behind the gate,” Jeter said. “By bringing these kids and par ents, onto campus, we expose them. For some of these parents this is the very first time they’ve ever stepped foot on a college campus." Crossroads Charlotte includes more than 35 orga nizations, with 20 organiza tions still to announce their initiatives. On the Net: www.crossroadschar- lotte.org. SPRING IS HERE... Free Estimates • Certified Collision Repair Insurance Assists • No Appointment Needed PowerPak Paint Special:' Reg, $499.95 NOW $250' Includes: Imperial Paint Service Extra Prep & Full Clear Coat 2 yr warranty ’*=With this ad, some vehicles may be slightly more. Offer expires 5-31 -07 5625 N. Sharon Amity Rd. • 704.535.6015 Judiciary Committee that initially examined the bill and passed it to the House floor had predicted fairly easily passage in the House. But, a battle is expected in the Senate and President Bush has indicated he might veto. Even if it passes - muster with the Senate and vyhite House, some believe it will end up in court because the Constitution calls for states to have a vote in Congress. Nevertheless, the battle in the 57 percent black District is a fight of princi ple, says voting advocates. "The United States is the only representative democ racy that does not afford the citizens of its capital voting representation,’ says House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, ‘ You multi-task. Shouldn't your business checking? Finally, everything you need from a business checking account — for freef Introducing Integrated Business Checking, only from SunTrust. 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