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Welcome
to the inaugural Black History Month Social with the African American Caucus of the Mecklenburg County Democratic Party! A big part of our mission for the African American Caucus is to promote political participation and education within the African American community. Many of us do not have a strong grasp on understanding the overall political process - especially when it concerns understanding our judicial system. This year, we are excited to highlight our current Black Women Judges gracing the bench of our North Carolina Court System! We also honor our very own - the Honorable Judge Shirley L. Fulton - who served as our first Black North Carolina Superior Court Judge! This evening we will also learn more about the McKinneyVento Act and the needs of our students falling under this program within the Charlotte-Mecklenburg School System. Our Caucus will have a portion of our proceeds go towards the benefit of these students and their families. Thank you so much for participating with us, have fun and we hope to have you join us in executing our mission throughout Mecklenburg County. 2
Current Board and Committee Chairs for the African American Caucus of the Mecklenburg County Democratic Party President - Collette Alston First Vice President - William Mitchell Second Vice President - Vonnie Brown Third Vice President & Media/Marketing Committee Chair - Brandon Woodward Secretary - Linda Butler Treasurer & Fundraising Committee Chair Richmond Baker Community Engagement/Voter Education Committee Chair - April Benson Membership Chair - Sam Smith
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The International Minority Coalition proudly recognizes Black History Month and thanks the African American Caucus of the Mecklenburg County Democratic Party (AAC-MCDP) for making this event possible. 6
Thank you
to our event sponsors! Tom Steyer for U.S. President Marcus Williams for Congress (NC District 9) Matt Leatherman for NC State Treasurer
African American Caucus of NC Democratic Party President Felita Donnell
NC Senator for District 37 - Jeff Jackson NC Senator for District 38 - Mujtaba Mohammed NC Senator for District 41 - Natasha Marcus International Minority Coalition - led by Willie Fleming Lloyd Scher
Special Thank You To: Stats Restaurant & Bar for sponsoring our venue Tone-X for being our MC and having us as "Community Spotlight" on V101.9 FM
D E M O C R A T
Matt Leatherman Financial Expertise for the Common Good. MattForNC.com
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/Matt4NC
@Matt4NC
Paid for by Matt for NC
LEA1902
The McKinney-Vento Act is a law to protect homeless students and their families, to alleviate barriers that hinder their education. Here is a brief summary of what services we provide under the McKinney-Vento Act. The McKinney-Vento social worker provides direct intensive support to identified McKinney- Vento (MCV) students and families in the form of academic and social emotional services, while building a model service delivery program in collaboration with school staff and community partners. All MCV students will receive the mandated transportation, free breakfast and lunch, and academic support as well as a high level of services depending on needs and circumstances of the individual student and family. Charlotte-Mecklenburg schools served 4,744 McKinney-Vento students for the 20182019 school year. There were a total of 264 homeless students unaccompanied, living without a parent/guardian. CMS has the largest McKinney-Vento student population in the state of North Carolina. We have an MCV point of contact liaison in all CMS schools and 10 MCV social workers in the district. The MCV social workers serve our top highest schools having 88 or more MCV students. Our highest MCV populated school had 142 MCV students this past school year. Our high schools that had an MCV social worker had a graduation rate of 97% for MCV students. The graduation rate for all other high schools was 94% for MCV students. The overall graduation rate for CMS was 85%. There were 208 students who were identified that had been retained at least one time in their school years. We have 82% of all MCV students who are performing below grade level in school. There is a great need for academic tutoring for students. We offer after school/ homework assistance, but not actual tutoring based on student academic needs.
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The MCV program has a high need for: 1. Academic tutoring for students 2. Bus passes for high school students 3. Donations to assist high school seniors with prom tickets, prom apparel, senior 4. pictures, senior activities and apparel. 5. Donations to assist with providing seniors with items needed to attend college, e.g. sheets, towels, comforter, all dorm room essentials, laptops, etc. 6. Hygiene Products - deodorant, soap, toothbrushes, toothpaste, feminine products, detergent, and cleaning products 7. Community Resources for childcare, medical/medicine assistance 8. Emergency/Short term housing such as hotel assistance 9. The 10 highest MCV populated schools in CMS are: Ashley Park (K-8), Garringer High, Governors Village (PreK-8), Harding High, Hidden Valley ES (PreK-5), Myers Park High, Vance High, West Charlotte High, West Meck High, WG Byers (PreK-8)
Program Our Master of Ceremony, the one and only
Tone-X 6p to 7p
Mix & Mingle 7p to 7:15p
McKinney-Vento Act Presentation 7:15p to 8p
Award Presentations 8p to 9p
Celebrate 9
For our 2020 Black History Month Excellence Awards, the African American Caucus of Mecklenburg County Honors the Black Women Judges Currently Serving on the NC Bench
NC Supreme Court Chief Justice Cheri Beasley
NC Court of Appeals -Judge Wanda Bryant
Associate Justice Anita Earls (not pictured)
NC Superior Court 7th Division - Judge
NC Superior Court 7th Division - Judge Carla Archie
NC District 26 Court - Judge Rickye McKoy-Mitchell "Our longest serving District Court Judge"
NC District 26 Court - Judge Kimberly Best
NC District 26 Court - Judge Faith Fickling-Alvarez
NC District 26 Court - Judge Aretha Blake
NC District 26 Court - Judge Karen McCallum
NC District 26 Court Judge Ty Hands
Karen Eady-Williams
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For our 2020 Black History Month Honoree, the African American Caucus Honors our very first Black NC Superior Court Judge – the Honorable Judge
Shirley L. Fulton.
The Honorable Shirley L. Fulton is perhaps the most recognizable figure in the Mecklenburg County Courthouse, having spent over 20 years in the court as Senior Resident Superior Court Judge, Resident Superior Court Judge, District Court Judge and Assistant District Attorney. While on the bench, Shirley led the courts in developing a system-wide strategic plan, successfully campaigned for bonds to build the current Mecklenburg County Courthouse, and developed programs to address the needs of non English speaking court participants. Judge Fulton obtained a Bachelor of Science Degree from North Carolina A&T University, a Masters in Business Administration from Queens University, McColl School of Business, and a Juris Doctorate at Duke University School of Law A well-respected community leader, Shirley has served on the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools Task Force, as Chair of the Board of Advisors for the Charlotte School of Law and as President of the Mecklenburg County Bar. Shirley has continued her lifelong commitment to active leadership in community-based programs as the president of the Wesley Heights Community Association and as the owner of The Wadsworth House, a meeting place for corporate, civic and social events.
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We are humbled to have Judge Fulton as a member of our Caucus and excited to have her as our first honoree for our 2020 Black History Month event!
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