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THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS AND ADVERTISERS
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BRONZE SPONSORS
MEDIA PARTNERS
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Cleveland County Business Development Center Crowder Consulting Company n Environmental Defense Fund U.S. Congressman David Price
STUDENT SCHOLARSHIPS
Durham Committee on the Affairs of Black People PTE Financial Services n F.O.R. Powell and Associates 3 | 2022 NC BLACK SUMMIT
ABOUT THE NC BLACK SUMMIT Black elected officials, public policy advocates and grassroots organizations from around the state will convene for the 16th Annual NC Black Summit – The Virtual Experience on Thursday, April 28 and Friday, April 29. The 2022 Summit, appropriately themed “Building Black Power in Uncertain Times,” will be vital as we continue to advance our agenda for creating systemic change in North Carolina. This signature event of the North Carolina Black Alliance has grown to become one of the most important and well attended conferences in the state to discuss issues of importance in communities of color. This convening is used to provide critical information that fosters the development of proactive solutions and informed advocacy. The virtual experience will prove to deliver the same level of excellence and quality content as years past.
www.ncblacksummit.org
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MISSION STATEMENT The North Carolina Black Alliance addresses policy and economic issues to enhance black communities by developing and promoting systemic policy change as well as youth and leadership development. We also seek to collaborate with strategic partners to advance the work of those organizations and to enhance intentional collaboration with black constituencies.
MEMBER ORGANIZATIONS • • • •
North Carolina Association of Black County Officials North Carolina Black Elected Municipal Officials North Carolina Caucus of Black School Board Members North Carolina Legislative Black Caucus Foundation
BOARD MEMBERS • NC Senator Valerie Foushee, Chair North Carolina Senate District 23 • Keith Sutton, Vice Chair Warren County Public Schools Super • Viola Harris, Treasurer Edgecombe County Commissioner • Charles Evans Cumberland County Commissioner
• Richard Hooker Cleveland County Board of Education • Valerie Jones Mayor Pro Tem, Town of Sedalia • Renee Price Orange County Commissioner • Fred Yates Mayor, Town of Winfall
AREAS OF COMMITMENT • • • • •
Access to Healthcare and Environmental Justice Crime and Justice Economic Empowerment Education Political Effectiveness and Personal Responsibility
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AGENDA - D A Y O N E
THURSDAY, APRIL 28
Mistress of Ceremonies, The Honorable Valerie Foushee North Carolina Senate District 23 Chair, North Carolina Black Alliance
VOICES OF THE HISTORY MAKERS
4:00 p.m.
OPENING PLENARY
•
WELCOME & GREETINGS
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Presented by NRDC
• • •
The Honorable Valerie Foushee North Carolina Senate District 23 Chair, North Carolina Black Alliance The Honorable Roy Cooper Governor, The State of North Carolina NCBA Member Organizations • North Carolina Association of Black County Officials • North Carolina Black Elected Municipal Officials • North Carolina Caucus of Black School Board Members • North Carolina Legislative Black Caucus Foundation
NC BLACK ALLIANCE COMMITMENT STATEMENTS
• •
The Honorable Valerie Foushee (Moderator) North Carolina District 23 Chair, North Carolina Black Alliance Congressman G.K. Butterfield North Carolina Congressional District 1 The Honorable Eva Clayton Former Representative, North Carolina Congressional District 1 The Honorable Melvin Watt Former Representative, North Carolina Congressional District 12
CONFERENCE BREAK RESUME AT 5:30 P.M.
NC Black Summit Message
Presented by Reynolds America, Inc. •
The Honorable Steven Benjamin President and CEO, The Benjamin Firm, LLC
Save the Date
WEDNESDAY,
05.11.22
NC LEGISLATIVE DAY More information to follow. For questions, email ncdivinenine@gmail.com.
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AGENDA - D AY TWO
FRIDAY, APRIL 29
Master of Ceremonies, Mr. Courtney Crowder Executive Director, North Carolina Black Alliance
9:00 a.m.
SPECIAL GREETINGS Presented by Spectrum •
The Honorable Cheri Beasley Former Chief Justice, North Carolina Supreme Court
COFFEE AND CONVERSATION Presented by Dominion Energy • •
Ms. Kristi Jones Chief of Staff, Office of the Governor Mr. Courtney A. Crowder Executive Director, North Carolina Black Alliance
SESSION II: REIMAGINE WHAT’S POSSIBLE: DEEP DIVE IN THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN (ARPA) • • • •
SESSION III: LEGISLATIVE UPDATE •
BREAKOUT POLICY SESSIONS
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SESSION I: THE IMPACT OF A FRAGILE DEMOCRACY ON THE BLACK COMMUNITY
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•
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Mr. Marcus Bass (Moderator) Deputy Director, North Carolina Black Alliance Executive Director, Advance Carolina Dr. Jarvis Hall Associate Professor, Department of Political Science, North Carolina Central University Mr. Irving Joyner, JD Professor, School of Law, North Carolina Central University Dr. Robert Kortad Professor Emeritus, Sandford School of Public Policy, Duke University Mr. Conen Morgan Managing Partner and Co-Founder, Longleaf Agency
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Ms. Deandrea Newsome (Moderator) North Carolina Chapter Manager, Local Progress The Honorable Barbara Foushee Carrboro Town Council The Honorable Brian Rowland Mayor of Prairie View, Texas Ms. LiJia Gong Policy and Legal Director, Local Progress
Senator Valerie Foushee (Moderator) North Carolina Senate District 23 Representative Brandon Lofton North Carolina House District 104 Senator Sydney Batch North Carolina Senate District 17
CONFERENCE BREAK RESUME AT 11:15 A.M.
ACCESS TO HEALTHCARE UPDATE •
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Mr. Marcus Bass Deputy Director, North Carolina Black Alliance Executive Director, Advance Carolina Ms. Karida Giddings Program Coordinator, Access to Healthcare, North Carolina Black Alliance
2022 TRAILBLAZER AWARDS Presented by Smithfield Foods 2022 TRAILBLAZERS
• Congressman G.K. Butterfield North Carolina Congressional District 1 • The Honorable Mel Watt Former Representative, North Carolina Congressional District 12 • The Honorable Carolyn Q. Coleman Former Guilford County Commissioner Torriane & Genesis Coleman (On behalf of The Honorable Carolyn Q. Coleman
JEANNE H. LUCAS LUNCHEON CONFERENCE MESSAGE
Mr. Marcus Bass Deputy Director, North Carolina Black Alliance Executive Director, Advance Carolina Ms. La’Meshia Whittington Deputy Director of Programs, North Carolina Black Alliance Deputy Director, Advance Carolina
INTRODUCTION OF ENTERTAINMENT
• The Honorable Viola Harris Edgecombe County Commissioner Board Member, North Carolina Black Alliance
featured entertainment
DASAN AHANU
STAY TUNED FOR MORE INFORMATION
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FEATURED SPEAKERS
The Honorable Steve Benjamin
President & CEO of The Benjamin Firm, LLC Steve Benjamin was elected Mayor of Columbia, South Carolina in April of 2010 with a vision of transforming South Carolina’s capital city into a talented, educated & entrepreneurial city of the New South. He served as Mayor until December of 2021. He currently serves as President & CEO of The Benjamin Firm, LLC. Prior to his service as mayor, Benjamin served in South Carolina Governor Jim Hodges’ Cabinet as the Chief Executive of a $43 million, 950 employee state agency. Benjamin has served as President of the U.S. Conference of Mayors (2018-2019). As President of the U.S. Conference of Mayors, Mayor Benjamin established the Mayors Leadership Institute on Smart Cities at the Robert F. Wagner Graduate School of Public Service at NYU. Benjamin is a graduate of the University of South Carolina and the University of South Carolina School of Law, where he served as President of Student Government and as President of the Student Bar Association. Mayor Benjamin served as the Spring 2022 Richard L. and Ronay A. Menschel Senior Leadership Fellow at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. He has served as an Adjunct Professor at the University of South Carolina’s top ranked Honors College teaching a course titled “Columbia, South Carolina: Building a Great City” and is a member of Kappa Alpha Psi and Sigma Pi Phi fraternities. He is married to the Honorable DeAndrea Gist Benjamin, a Judge in South Carolina’s Fifth Judicial Circuit. The Benjamins are the proud parents of two daughters and are members of the Saint John Baptist Church in Columbia, South Carolina.
The Honorable Cheri Beasley
Former Chief Justice, NC Supreme Court Former Chief Justice, NC Supreme Court Cheri Beasley has devoted her life to public service and to the people of North Carolina. From a young age, she was taught that no door should be closed to her, and that with hard work and faith, she could accomplish anything. In 2008, Beasley was elected to the North Carolina Court of Appeals, winning by a commanding 15-point margin of victory – her first of two successful statewide elections. In 2014, Beasley was elected Associate Justice of the state Supreme Court, overcoming a Republican wave that flipped Democratic-held seats in North Carolina and states across the country. In 2019, Beasley made history by becoming the first African American woman to serve as Chief Justice of the North Carolina Supreme Court. Her leadership of the courts was celebrated with one newspaper editorial board applauding her “deep commitment to serving the public and upholding justice.” 9 | 2022 NC BLACK SUMMIT
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FEATURED SPEAKERS Kristi Jones
Chief of Staff, Office of the Governor Kristi Jones is proud to call Wilson, North Carolina home. She knows it was her family and her community’s investment in her that led her on this journey. From Sunday School teachers to public school teachers to the numerous mentors who encouraged her, she credits others for her success. Looking back, she is pleased she chose to attend a Historically Black College and University, North Carolina Central University. It has proven to be the foundation she needed. Upon graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, she attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill where also earned a Juris Doctor of Law. Both esteemed North Carolina public universities prepared her professionally. She values and continues the many friendships and professional relationships from those early days. She started her career at Opportunities Industrialization Center of Wilson, a nonprofit, where she gained an appreciation for the gap nonprofits fill in needed services. Jones continues to support the work of nonprofits. Her public service started under Governor James B. Hunt, Jr. as the Executive Director of the North Carolina Initiative on Race. This innovative initiative had a goal of improving race relations in North Carolina by fostering collaborative relationships between business and community leaders. In 2001, she joined Roy Cooper who had just been elected NC Attorney General and later became his Chief of Staff. In addition to helping Cooper accomplish his mission of fighting crime and protecting NC consumers, she was responsible for oversight of agency administration including personnel, budget, and general operations. In 2017, after being elected Governor, Roy Cooper appointed Kristi as Chief of Staff for the Office of Governor, making her the first African American female to serve in this role in North Carolina and one of very few in the nation. Kristi has the responsibility of implementing the Governor’s agenda and goals by working with cabinet secretaries, agencies, staff, communities, and corporations to improve the quality of life for all North Carolinians. She is honored to work with Governor Cooper and attributes her career’s trajectory to the opportunity he gave her early on. Kristi is humbled by all the blessings that have been bestowed upon her and every day tries to give back more than she receives. She is especially grateful for the love and support from her husband, Muye Akinkuotu, and her parents and family in Wilson.
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HISTORY MAKER + TRAILBLAZER Congressman G.K. Butterfield
North Carolina Congressional District 1 Congressman G. K. Butterfield is a life-long resident of eastern North Carolina. Raised in Wilson, Congressman Butterfield spent his formative years attending Charles H. Darden High School and worked tirelessly in the Civil Rights Movement as a young adult. His parents were Dr. & Mrs. G. K. Butterfield, Sr. His father practiced dentistry for 50 years and served as one of North Carolina’s first black elected officials since Reconstruction. His mother was a classroom teacher for 48 years. Congressman Butterfield graduated from college and law school at North Carolina Central University in Durham, North Carolina. After earning his law degree, Congressman Butterfield founded a law practice in Wilson and served the community in that capacity for 13 years. He is best known for his successful litigation of voting rights cases that resulted in the election of African American elected officials throughout eastern North Carolina. In 1988, Congressman Butterfield was elected as Resident Superior Court Judge. In this role, he presided over civil and criminal court in 46 counties of North Carolina. For two years, he served on the North Carolina Supreme Court by appointment of the governor. Butterfield retired from the judiciary after 15 years of service and successfully ran for Congress. He was elected to serve the First District of North Carolina in the U.S. House of Representatives in a special election on July 20, 2004, where he continues to serve today. In Congress, Butterfield is a champion of affordable health care, education, investments in rural communities, veterans, renewable energies, and federal programs that support low-income and middle-class Americans. Butterfield serves in the Democratic leadership as Chief Deputy Whip and is a past Chair of the Congressional Black Caucus (114th Congress). He sits on the influential Committee on Energy & Commerce where he serves as the Vice Chair of the Subcommittee on Health. In addition, he serves as a member of the Subcommittees of Communications and Technology and Energy. In the 116th Congress, Congressman Butterfield also sits on the Committee on House Administration where he serves as a member of the Subcommittee on Elections. Congressman Butterfield is a life-long member of Jackson Chapel First Missionary Baptist Church. He is a veteran of the U.S. Army and a proud father and grandfather.
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HISTORY MAKER
The Honorable Eva Clayton
Former Representative, North Carolina Congressional District 1 Eva M. Clayton, the first African-American woman to represent North Carolina in Congress, the first woman to be elected from the State (earlier a woman was appointed), and she became the state’s first black Representative since 1901. Prior to Congress, she served on the Warren County Board of Commissioners, Assistant Secretary to the NC Department of Natural & Community Development, and Director of the Soul City Foundation. In Congress, Clayton was a recognized leader; elected the president of her Democratic freshman class; served on the Agriculture Committee, and was the Ranking Member of the Sub-Committee - Nutrition and Operations. Eva Clayton fought for Black farmers. She was influential in writing and passage of the 2002 Farm Bill, which provided additional assistance to Small Farmers, increased resources for SNAP (Food Stamps), and expanded the school lunch programs across the country. Congresswoman helped secure federal resources for various communities in her District. Upon leaving Congress, Clayton accepted a three-year assignment as Assistant Director-General with the United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organization FAO (2003-2006) in Rome, Italy. She headed up the International Alliance Against Hunger (IAAH), composed of the four UN agencies related to agriculture and food, to create National Alliances that express the will to end hunger and malnutrition. While at FAO, she and her team organized Partnership / Alliances to fight against hunger and malnutrition. in 24 different counties, including the United States. Her husband, Attorney Theaoseus T. Clayton (TT), a distinguished lawyer in Eastern North Carolina, died in 2019. She has four adult children and six grandchildren. Eva Clayton in retirement remains committed to ending hunger and malnutrition and advocates for rural communities; she encourages young persons to be engaged and she serves on a few boards dedicated to those missions.
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TRAILBLAZER
The Honorable Carolyn Q. Coleman Former Guilford County Commissioner
Carolyn Quilloin Coleman grew up in the Jim Crow South, where the practice of separate but equal was the law of the land. At an early age, Carolyn realized the power of her voice as an influencer of change. On March 16, 1960, in Savannah, Georgia, she and two other students --Joan Tyson Hall and Ernest Robinson -- entered a local segregated diner, the Azalea Room. Not only were they denied service, but they were arrested. This act of civil unrest marked the beginning of Carolyn’s lifelong commitment to activism and improving the plight of people of color. Carolyn went on to earn a Bachelor of Science from Savannah State College (now Savannah State University), pursue additional study at Memphis Theological Seminary, and receive a Master of Science degree in adult education from North Carolina Agricultural and Technical University. Carolyn’s professional career began as an organizer for the NAACP in Alabama. She worked in different capacities for the NAACP throughout her career, including field organizer in Atlanta and Memphis and Executive Director for the North Carolina State Conference of Branches, among other positions. Under her leadership, she strengthened local NAACP branches, registered countless numbers of voters, organized numerous protests, and was party to dozens of lawsuits challenging unjust state and local government policies. Carolyn’s years of employment with the NAACP left an indelible impact on communities throughout North Carolina and the South. Among her many achievements, she increased the number of minorities in senior-level jobs throughout state government; ensured Historically Underutilized Businesses had access to and received government contracts; fostered better relationships between community leaders, stakeholders, and influencers with government officials. Because of her service and impact, Governor Jim Hunt awarded her with the state’s highest honor, the Order of the Long Leaf Pine. In 2002, Carolyn was elected to serve District 7 on the Guildford County Board of Commissions. In 2005, she became the first African American woman to serve as Chair of the Guilford County Board of Commissioners. Through more than 20 years of service as a Commissioner, Carolyn served as a liaison on several Boards. Throughout her life’s work, it was clear that her calling was to serve as a dedicated NAACP member, which resulted in her election to serve on the National Board of Directors of the NAACP. While serving on the NAACP National Board, Carolyn remained actively involved in the NC State Conference of the NAACP, serving as First Vice-President and Executive Committee Member of the Greensboro NAACP. In 2018, Carolyn was one of three named complainants in a lawsuit by the North Carolina State Conference of the NAACP and other local chapters against the state, challenging a law that would hurt voting rights by requiring voters to provide IDs. Carolyn was also a proud and devoted member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated. Carolyn Quilloin Coleman was a trailblazer in so many respects. She enriched the lives of many, especially those who knew, worked with, and loved her the most. Her legacy leaves an indelible imprint on the lives she touched, the communities she lived and represented, and the organizations she served.
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HISTORY MAKER + TRAILBLAZER The Honorable Melvin “Mel” Watt
Former Representative, North Carolina Congressional District 12 A lawyer from Charlotte, North Carolina, The Honorable Melvin “Mel” Watt served one term as a NC State Senator and the campaign manager for Charlotte mayor Harvey Gantt. As a former member of the United States House of Representative for North Carolina’s 12th congressional district, he served on from 1993 to 2014. During his 11 year term in the US Congress, he served as a vocal advocate for civil liberties and sought to build ties to business interests from a prominent seat on the Financial Services Committee. Born into poverty, Watt brought a unique perspective to a district known for its banking industry. “People look at you in a suit as a member of Congress, and they think you’ve always been in a suit and always been a member of Congress,” he once said. “I came out of a different kind of history.” While in Congress he received an appointment to the Banking, Finance, and Urban Affairs Committee (later renamed Financial Services). He also serves as chair of its Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations and the Subcommittee on Domestic Monetary Policy and Technology. He was also assigned to the Judiciary Committee. Watt served on both panels throughout his House career, and from 2005–2007 he served as Ranking Member of the Judiciary Committee’s Subcommittee on Commercial and Administrative Law and from 1993-1995, he served on the Post Office and Civil Service Committee. In addition, Watt served on the Joint Economic Committee 2001–2005. Watt was unanimously elected chairman of the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) from 2005-2007. In Congress, Representative Watt established a reputation as an independently-minded liberal. On May 1, 2013, President Barack Obama nominated Watt to lead the Federal Housing Finance Agency, which, among other agencies, administers or has oversight for the FHA, Fannie Mae, and Freddie Mac. The U.S. Senate confirmed Watt on December 10, 2013, and he resigned from the House on January 6, 2014. He served as director until 2019. Watt lives in Charlotte with his wife Eulada Paysour Watt. Their two sons, Brian and Jason, are both graduates of Yale University. Watt is a member of the Mt. Olive Presbyterian Church as well as the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), Sigma Pi Phi fraternity, and is involved in numerous professional, community, and civic boards and organizations.
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B IOGRAP H IES » SPEAKERS + PRESENTERS Mr. Marcus Bass Deputy Director, North Carolina Black Alliance Executive Director, Advance Carolina Marcus Bass is the Executive Director of the political strategy and advocacy group Advance Carolina providing infrastructure support for local organizing and electoral strategy among black-led groups and underrepresented communities across the State. The work of Advance Carolina in the 2018 midterm election, aided in a record number of Black Sheriffs and District Attorney’s elected across North Carolina. Marcus came to Advance Carolina in 2017 after serving as Statewide Campaign Director for voting rights advocacy group Democracy North Carolina, where he led their long-term redistricting effort, coordinated millennial and faith-based voter engagement and served as a key messenger for the organization. Prior to that Marcus worked for the North Carolina Association of Educators. Marcus is the former Board Chair of Common Cause North Carolina and is currently the vice-chair of the NC State Voices affiliate Blueprint North Carolina. Marcus has spent the past decade organizing issue-based campaigns and leading citizens to harness their own power to create change. A native of Eastern NC, while at NC A&T, as Student Body President, Marcus led several grassroots efforts including Greensboro’s largest student march to the polls. After graduation Marcus served as Campus Outreach Coordinator for Common Cause North Carolina working with HBCUs on ways to engage college students in civic participation. He has been featured on various media outlets and publications providing insight on southern and college voter engagement. Marcus is a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc., and is the is also the founder and Co-Director of Camp Lead Up, a summer leadership institute focused on facilitating the transition for minority middle school students to high school through academic support, cultural enrichment, leadership development, civic engagement and community service.
NC Senator Sydney Batch North Carolina Senate District 17 Senator Sydney Batch is a family law attorney, child welfare advocate, and social worker. She has made it her life’s work to support North Carolina families in need and extend opportunities to all. She was elected to the NC House representing Wake County in 2018 and was later appointed to fill a seat in the NC Senate in 2021. During her time in the legislature, Sen. Batch has continuously served as an advocate for families and small businesses. Senator Batch is the founder of a family law firm where she practices with her husband. She resides in Wake County with her husband and two sons.
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Courtney A. Crowder Executive Director, North Carolina Black Alliance A native of Southeast Raleigh, Courtney Crowder has over 20 years of experience in public affairs, government relations and strategy. Courtney honed his skills in a range of public affairs and government relations positions. As of November 2019, he is the Raleigh Managing Director for APCO Worldwide, an independent global public affairs and strategic communications consultancy. He served as the Legislative Liaison for the North Carolina Department of Insurance and Special Assistant to Commissioner James E. “Jim” Long and was on the campaign and congressional staff for Congressman Bob Etheridge. Additionally, Courtney has been played an active role in a host of campaigns at every level - presidential, statewide, congressional and local. Deeply involved in the community, Courtney rolls up his sleeves for a wide range of causes, including education, public safety, affordable housing, the arts, and the state’s election system. Currently, he serves on the Boards of UNC Rex Healthcare, Delta Dental, and Advance Carolina. He is a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Incorporated and currently serves as well as the executive director of the North Carolina Black Alliance. Courtney holds degrees in English literature and French from North Carolina Central University and an M.A. in liberal studies from Duke University. He also studied at Oxford University in Oxford, England where he completed the Program of History, Politics and Society at Exeter College. Courtney is married to Byinna A. Crowder and they have two daughters, Courtney Amaya and Camille Ayana.
The Honorable Barbara Foushee Carrboro Town Council Barbara M. Foushee is a Senior Technologist in a Molecular Oncology Laboratory in Research Triangle Park; she has spent her entire career working in clinical laboratory sciences. Barbara grew up in eastern North Carolina and graduated from Historic Saint Augustine’s College (now University) with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Medical Technology. Barbara is passionate about community service and engagement and serves with the Chapel Hill-Carrboro NAACP (silver life member), Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc., Eta Phi Zeta Grad Chapter (Basileus) and co-chairs the Community Awareness and Political Action Ministry at First Baptist Church of Chapel Hill to name a few. She lends her voice wherever it is needed in the community and truly leads a service-centered life. Barbara was elected to the then Carrboro Board of Aldermen in the November 2017 municipal election and was recently re-elected to another term on the Carrboro Town Council during the 2021 municipal election cycle. Barbara also served as the Mayor Pro Tem for the town from 2019-2021. Barbara is also the recipient of the 2017 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Service Award that is given annually by the Chapel Hill-Carrboro NAACP. She is married to Mr. Braxton D. Foushee and is a member of First Baptist Church in Chapel Hill, NC. 16 | 2022 NC BLACK SUMMIT
NC Senator Valerie Foushee North Carolina District 23 Chair, North Carolina Black Alliance Senator Foushee first joined the legislature after her 2012 House campaign in District 50. She began her tenure in the Senate following Senator Ellie Kinnaird’s retirement from District 23 and now serves Orange and Chatham Counties. In the Senate, Valerie has advocated for bipartisan reform of education-funding policy to ensure transparency and appropriate funding for all school districts. She was elected to the Board of Education for the Chapel Hill–Carrboro City Schools in 1997 and re-elected to a second term in 2001. She served as Chair from 2001-2003. In November 2004, Valerie was one of eight School Board members selected to the All-State School Board by the North Carolina School Boards Association. In November of 2004, she became the first African-American female elected to the Orange County Board of Commissioners. She was re-elected in November of 2008 and served as Chair from 2008 – 2010. Senator Foushee is a life-long resident of Orange County and a 1974 graduate of Chapel Hill High School. She is a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where she received Bachelor of Arts degrees in Political Science and African and Afro-American Studies. She is also a 2005 Leadership Triangle Goodman Fellow. She is married to Stan Foushee, retired Fire Marshal for the Town of Carrboro and a Deacon at First Baptist Church. They have two sons.
Ms. Karida Giddings Program Coordinator - Access to Healthcare, North Carolina Black Alliance Karida Giddings is a native of Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Karida’s interest in racial justice and human rights was heightened through her work as an AmeriCorps member for Blue Ribbon Mentor-Advocate in Chapel Hill, NC, where she worked to increase access to educational and enrichment opportunities for high school students of color. Karida brings legislative experience on a national and state level, as a former Congressional Black Caucus intern and intern for NC State Senator Gladys A. Robinson. Karida holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Communication Studies from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Karida is also a graduate of New York University where she received a Master of Science in Global Affairs and completed her graduate thesis on Violence and Voter Suppression as Barriers to an Inclusive Democracy in Brazil and the United States. In her current role as NC Black Alliance’s Access to Healthcare Program Coordinator, Karida is working to elevate the voices of community members that are not reached by the traditional healthcare system and connecting these perspectives to elected officials to deepen their understanding of race and health equity.
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Ms. LiJia Gong Policy and Legal Director, Local Progress LiJia is the Policy and Legal Director at Local Progress. She leads the development of Local Progress’ policy and research capacity to support members and drives the development and growth of national program areas. LiJia is an attorney with over a decade of experience in policy, litigation, and political strategy. Prior to joining Local Progress, she served as Counsel at Public Rights Project, an organization that empowers local and state governments to advance civil rights, worker and consumer rights, and environmental justice. At Public Rights Project, she launched a partnership with Local Solutions Support Center to fight abusive state preemption of local policymaking. LiJia has worked on the 2018 campaign to re-elect Senator Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts and served as a law clerk for Judge Kiyo Matsumoto of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York. Prior to becoming a lawyer, LiJia worked as a research assistant at the Federal Reserve Board of Governors. LiJia earned her J.D. from Georgetown University Law Center and her B.S.F.S. from Georgetown University. She immigrated to the United States from China at age 5, grew up in Maryland, and currently resides in Brooklyn, NY with her husband (Andrew) and cat (Wilma).
Dr. Jarvis A. Hall Associate Professor - Department of Political Science, North Carolina Central University Dr. Jarvis A. Hall is originally from Clinton, North Carolina. He graduated from North Carolina A & T State University with a BA degree in Political Science. Hall received a Master of Public Policy degree from the University of Michigan, and a Ph. D. in Political Science from Duke University. He has taught at North Carolina A & T State University in Greensboro, St. Lawrence University in Canton, New York, and Washington and Lee University in Lexington, Virginia. Since 1995, he has been a member of the political science faculty at North Carolina Central University (NCCU) in Durham. Also, he served as Chair of the Department of Political Science from 1998-2005. From 2006 to 2008, Hall was Director of NCCU’s Academic Community Service Learning Program. Also, from 2006 to 2015, he was the Director of the Institute for Civic Engagement and Social Change, which he founded at NCCU. Currently, he co-chairs the University’s Civic Engagement Working Group. Hall’s research and teaching interests include black politics, public policy, social movements, and grassroots politics. He has written several articles and papers and made numerous presentations on these topics. Moreover, he has been a frequent commentator in newspapers, and he has appeared on several radio and television programs to discuss politics and public policy. He has been a member of several boards, including the National Civic League, the North Carolina Center for Voter Education, the North Carolina ACLU, and the Carolina Justice Policy Center. From 2006 to 2008 he served as chair of the Political Action Committee of the North Carolina-National Association for the Advancement of Colored People under the leadership of Rev. William Barber. He has received several awards including Spectacular Magazine Man of the Year Award for Civil and Human Rights, the Fannie Lou Hamer Award from the National Conference of Black Political Scientists, and the Charles McLean Award from the N. C. NAACP. Hall is married to Dr. Rosalind R. Fuse-Hall. They have a daughter, Toya, who works in New York City.
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Mr. Irving Joyner, J.D. Professor, North Carolina Central University School of Law Irving L. Joyner has worked as a Professor at North Carolina Central University (NCCU) School of Law since 1982. From 1984 to 1992, Joyner served as the Associate Dean of NCCU School of Law. He regularly teaches courses in Criminal Law; Criminal Procedure; Civil Rights; Race and the Law; Professional Responsibility; and Trial Practice. As a member of the faculty, Professor Joyner serves on a number of Law School and University committees. Professor Joyner has written three editions of his book, Criminal Procedure in North Carolina which is published by LexisNexis Publishing Company. He regularly prepares annual supplements to that publication. The first edition was published in 1989, the second in 1999 and the third was published in 2006. Additionally, Professor Joyner has written a number of articles and manuscripts for continuing legal education programs. He speaks and lectures regularly at legal education, civil rights, political empowerment and educational advancement programs. Professor Joyner provides pro bono legal counsel to several political, religious and community organizations and to needy individuals in civil rights and criminal appeals cases. He serves on several State study commissions and agencies and in leadership roles with a variety of community groups and organizations. This service includes a five year term as the Vice-Chairperson of the 1898 Wilmington Race Riot Commission. He is also a regular legal commentator for local, state and national media primarily in the areas of law, politics, civil rights and racial justice. For the past ten years, he has co-hosted the highly acclaimed “Legal Eagle Review” which is dedicated to a discussion of current local and national legal issues and is heard each Saturday morning on WNCU 90.7 FM. In 2004, Professor Joyner was honored as the Lawyer of the Year by the George H. White Bar Association, an organization of African-American Lawyers in Durham County and is a past recipient of the Lawyer of the Year Award by the North Carolina Association of Black Lawyers. In 2006, he was honored by NCCU Law School students as Professor of the Year. Professor Joyner and his family are members of the Ebenezer Missionary Baptist Church in LaGrange, N.C., the church in which he was raised and now serves as legal counsel and advisor.
Dr. Robert Korstad Professor Emeritus, Sandford School of Public Policy, Duke University Robert Korstad is Emeritus Professor of Public Policy and History at Duke University. He received his B.A. and PhD from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. His research interests include twentieth century U. S. history, labor history, African American history, and contemporary social policy. His publications include: Fragile Democracy: The Struggle Over Race and Voting Rights in North Carolina (coauthor, University of North Carolina Press, 2020); To Right These Wrongs: The North Carolina Fund and the Battle to End Poverty and Inequality in 1960s America (coauthor, University of North Carolina Press, 2010); Civil Rights Unionism: Tobacco Workers and the Struggle for Democracy in the Mid-Twentieth-Century South (University of North Carolina Press, 2003); Remembering Jim Crow: African Americans Talk About Life in the Segregated South (coeditor, The New Press, 2001); Like a Family: The Making of a Southern Cotton Mill World (coauthor, University of North Carolina Press, revised edition, 2000).
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Representative Brandon Lofton North Carolina House District 104 Representative Brandon Lofton represents House District 104 in the North Carolina General Assembly. Prior to serving Charlotte in the state house, Representative Lofton served on the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Housing Advisory Board, chaired the board for the Council for Children’s Rights, chaired the city of Charlotte’s Disparity Study Advisory Committee and helped revise the city’s small business program. His leadership and service has been recognized with the North Carolina Bar Association Citizen Lawyer Award, the Charlotte Business Journal 40 Under 40 Award, the Charlotte Chamber’s Young Professionals Business Leader for small to mid-sized companies and Uptown Charlotte Magazine Community Catalyst Award. He attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where he graduated with highest honors and met his wife. He earned his law degree from New York University School of Law, where he was a RootTilden-Kern Scholar and a Dean’s Scholar. Representative Lofton is a partner with the law firm Robinson Bradshaw, where he focuses his practice in the area of public finance. He advises and represents cities, counties, hospitals, universities and nonprofits financing capital improvements that benefit the public. He began his legal career practicing with the civil rights law firm Ferguson Stein Chambers.
Mr. Conen Morgan Managing Parter and Co-Founder, Longleaf Agency Conen Morgan is the managing partner and co-founder of Longleaf Agency, a full-service campaign, non-profit, and technical services firm based in Raleigh, NC. Conen is a graduate of North Carolina State University with a BS in Computer Science. He has worked on the digital launch of major pharmaceutical product campaigns during his technical career and performed big data analysis for local, state, and federal governments. Early during his career in politics, Conen served as a 2-Term President of the Young Democrats of North Carolina. Over the last decade, he has worked to elect a President, elevate the work of several non-profits and advocacy organizations, and helped dozens of individuals start and grow their public servant careers. Conen is also a member of the Truman National Security Program and a New Leaders Council Fellow.
Ms. Deandrea Newsome North Carolina Chapter Manager, Local Progress Deandrea Newsome has spent most of her professional career working in the community and advocating for equity in North Carolina policy. As a Fayetteville native, she volunteered in the Cumberland County Teen Court System, advocated for comprehensive sexual education with Planned Parenthood, Inc., worked as a fellow in the North Carolina General Assembly, organized in rural North Carolina as the Organizing Director for Advance Carolina, an organization that builds economic and political power in the black community. Currently, she is the NC Chapter Manager for Local Progress, a network for progressive local elected officials. She earned her master’s degree at the Sanford School of Public Policy at Duke University in 2020 and is a proud graduate of North Carolina A&T State University. Her areas of expertise are NC politics, education policy, and data privacy. She currently serves Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. as a National Social Action Commissioner and is a member of Raleigh Alumnae Chapter, where she is the Collegiate Connection Cochair. 20 | 2022 NC BLACK SUMMIT
The Honorable Brian Rowland Mayor, Town of Prairie View, TX Dr. Brian Rowland is the 11th Mayor of Prairie View, Texas, and has served 11 years on Prairie View City Council, Position #1. He is the Managing Principal for Visionary Leadership, LLC, a consulting company specializing in business development and organizational leadership, providing organizational training on cultural competency, equity and inclusion, and leadership development strategies. He has been in the financial services industry for 15 years and is a registered representative with Voya Financial Advisors Inc. and Rowland Financial. Mayor Rowland brings more than 20 years of experience in community organizing, social justice advocacy, and leadership solutions in the public, private, and non-profit sectors. He has a state, regional and national reputation for outstanding leadership and community involvement. He was an instrumental force in the successful restoration of the Prairie View A&M students’ right to vote, a nationally recognized court case. Mayor Rowland has received local and national recognition/awards for his work on social justice and advocacy including the Young Champions of Justice Award from the Lawyers’ Committee on Civil Rights, Texas NAACP State Conference Torchbearer Award, and the YMCA of Greater Houston Minority Achiever’s Award. Rowland works through numerous community affiliations throughout the state of Texas and nationally such as the, Texas State Conference for NAACP Branches, Texas State Association of African American Chamber of Commerce, Texas Association of Black City Council Members, Texas Municipal Language, Boy Scouts of America Troop 1906, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.-Epsilon Tau Lambda, Prairie View Chamber of Commerce, and Prairie View Volunteer Fire Department. Mayor Rowland received a Bachelor’s of Science in Business Administration from Tarleton State University, a Masters of Community Development (M.CD), a Masters of Business Administration (MBA), and a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Educational Leadership from Prairie View A&M University.
La’Meshia Whittington Deputy Director of Programs, North Carolina Black Alliance Deputy Direcotor, Advance Carolina La’Meshia Whittington serves as the Deputy Director of Programs for NC Black Alliance and Deputy Director for Advance Carolina. La’Meshia is the coconvener of the NC Black & Brown Policy Network, former National Democracy Campaigner for Friends of the Earth, former Chairwoman of the FRENC Fund Administration, Founding member of Democracy Green, member of the Burke Women’s Fund in Western NC, member of the Board of Directors for Cape Fear River Watch, the former N.C. spokesperson on fair courts for The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, and a community liaison for the National Academies of Science, Engineering & Medicine for the Guidance on PFAS Testing and Health Outcomes national study. Professor Whittington leads work on intersectional democracy and environmental justice. La’Meshia serves as an adjunct professor in the Division of Sociology at Meredith College and a Lecturer of Diversity and Environmental Justice in the College of Natural Resources at N.C. State University. Her work has been seen on PBS NC, CSPAN, Bloomberg, Bloomberg Law, and a host of other publications. She is a petitioner in two active petitions to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, challenging major contaminants PFAS and 1,4 Dioxane (PFAS and 1,4 Dioxane). She is an Afro-Indigenous woman from North Carolina, a royal descendant of the former Afro-Indigenous settlement: The Kingdom of the Happy Land. 21 | 2022 NC BLACK SUMMIT
Proud Sponsor of the 2022 NC Black Summit We share your dedication to improving the health of our community. Carolina Complete Health is a provider-led health plan offering Medicaid Managed Care in North Carolina. www.carolinacompletehealth.com
California
Florida
Georgia
Illinois
North Carolina
Texas
South Carolina
Virginia
Washington, D.C.
We are proud to sponsor the North Carolina Black Alliance Summit.
MWC North Carolina: Johnny Tillett Senior Vice President
Franklin Freeman Kerri Burke Jeff Barnhart Bo Heath Sarah DuBose
Tommy Sevier April Neumann Dylan Reel Harry Kaplan Dylan Frick
5 300 NEW JOBS FOR NC
And more to come. Duke Energy is proud to partner with N.C. policymakers to help create new jobs in North Carolina. In 2021 alone, Duke Energy helped create 5,300 new jobs, leading to $2.4 billion in new investments in our state.
LEARN MORE AT DUKE-ENERGY.COM
Dreams move us forward. A dream has the power to do anything. It can change a life or our entire way of living. At the North Carolina Education Lottery, we strive to create a world of possibility not only for winners and students, but also for minority businesses. When we dream together, we grow together and create the partnerships that let our communities thrive.
Minority Business and Community Affairs Manager Annette.Taylor@lotterync.net
Visit NCLottery.com to learn more. MUST BE 18 TO PLAY. Problem Gambling Helpline: 877-718-5543.
T
hrough progressive research and advocacy,
the North Carolina Justice Center works to eliminate poverty in our state by ensuring every household in the state has access to the resources, services and fair treatment it needs to achieve economic security.
www.ncjustice.org
North Carolina League of Conservation Voters Foundation works to turn environmental values into North Carolina priorities. We work to protect, preserve, and enhance the quality of life in our state by advocating for strong environmental protections, organizing communities to speak up about their environmental values, and engaging people in the democratic process.
Join PowerUP nC to ignite PeoPle Power.
PowerUp NC is project of NCLCV Foundation. We have offices in Raleigh, Fayetteville, and Winston-Salem. Get connected with us:
United, we can win good-paying green jobs; lower energy bills; more affordable homes; and cleaner air and water. together, we can improve our quality of life and ensure equal opportunity for all.
nclcvf.org/PowerUpNC Email: PowerUpNC@nclcvf.org Phone: (919) 792-8918 Facebook: /NCLCVFPowerUpNC Twitter: @PowerUpNC Instagram: @PowerUpNC
PO Box 12671
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Raleigh, NC
You understand the strengths and assets of this community. if we’re going to be successful, we need you. will you join our team of organizers, leaders, and community members?
27605
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919.839.0006
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www.nclcvf.org
RECRUIT, TRAIN, RETAIN AND GROW
NCDOT is a proud sponsor of the NC Black Summit
WORK WITH US! The North Carolina Department of Transportation’s Office of Civil Rights’ mission is to level the playing field and help remove barriers for minority-owned businesses to participate in NCDOT contracts.
GET ACCESS TO: EDUCATION TRAINING TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE
Visit
NCDOT.GOV Search...
Civil Rights
N.C. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Office of Civil Rights
bowd@ncdot.gov • 984-236-1234
Grace Federal Solutions is a professional services company that provides healthcare and Information technology consulting solutions and services to government agencies, healthcare organizations and Universities. A recognized leader in healthcare and digital transformation focused on delivering projects and services that include a wide range of strategies, with a high touch, lowcost methodology, that results in a high level of customer satisfaction.
Grace Federal Solutions delivers sustainable value, superior service, and client-focused results to help organizations achieve their mission. Our team of highly driven experts provide strategies and support solutions, in the following sectors, Healthcare/Clinical Research, Talent Management, Operations & Administrative support, Project Management, Quality & Compliance Services, IT & Data Management Support and Services.
To provide high-quality, customized, and cost-effective solutions to our clients
To deliver a wide range of strategies and methodologies that support front line clinicians in the healthcare industry, which ultimately impact patient care to millions of people across the country. • • •
Treating our customers, employees and colleagues with respect and dignity Building strong and long-lasting customer relationships Promoting ongoing opportunities for our staff
Iris Phillips is the CEO and founder of Grace Federal Solutions, specializes in providing quality staff and support services to our Federal, State, and Local government, as well as the private and commercial sector. • • • •
Selected as a Member of the VA Women’s Owned Cohort Program Member of the highly selective Women Presidents’ Organization Featured as a success for Women-Owned Businesses in Forbes Magazine Member of the Management Council Board of Defense Alliance of North Carolina
CONTACT INFORMATION Office Phone: 919.977.0841 Fax: 984.285.7179 Email: info@gracefederalsolutions.com Company Website: https://www.gracefederalsolutions.com/
#NCBlackSummit
“ anything
With the right strategy, is possible.”
LEADS TO INNOVATION. At AT&T, we believe diverse perspectives lead to the best ideas. That’s why we embed diversity into all our business planning processes, allowing a wide range of viewpoints to be heard and considered. AT&T is proud to support the North Carolina Black Summit.
The Power of Diversity is in every watt of energy we create.
At Dominion Energy, we know diversity isn’t just good— it’s also good for business. At Dominion Energy, diversity isn’t just something we strive for, it’s something we insist on. The bottom line is that diversity is good business—having a workforce and group of suppliers who come from different backgrounds and who have had different sets of experiences helps us generate a broader range of better ideas. As a result, our company is strengthened, our communities prosper and, most important, our customers benefit. To learn more about Dominion Energy, our dedication to diversity, and how we help power the communities that power our business, please visit us at DominionEnergy.com.
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Embracing Diversity At Reynolds diversity is a key element of our ethos. Diversity encourages innovation, creativity and different ways of thinking; it creates a fascinating place to work, with opportunities to collaborate with a wide range of people with different perspectives.
CROWDER CONSULTING CONGRATULATES THE
NC Black Summit 2022 Trailblazers Representative G.K. Butterfield The Honorable Carolyn Q. Coleman
North Carolina Congressional District 1
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Former Guilford County Commissioner
The Honorable Mel Watt
Former Representative, North Carolina Congressional District 12
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STATE EMPLOYEES ASSOCIATION OF NORTH CAROLINA SEANC, SEIU Local 2008 salutes the Alliance of North Carolina Black Elected Officials
Thank you for making sure public employees are appreciated, and for all you do to make North Carolina great! www.SEANC.org facebook.com/seanc.local2008 Twitter: @SEANC
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Find Out More!
SEANC Central Office 1621 Midtown Place Raleigh, N.C. 27609 Phone: 919-833-6436 Email: members@seanc.org
Our Commitment to Diversity Continues to Grow Smithfield Foods is dedicated to creating a more inclusive company culture and contributing to a more equitable and just society outside of our four walls. We believe that now is a time for action. We believe companies thrive through the people they employ. That’s why we have formed a dedicated career development program to help us create a robust pipeline of diverse candidates to fill management positions. We believe that access to a quality education promotes equal opportunity for all people. That’s why we have committed $5 million to support education programs for communities of color. We believe that the farms of the future should be as diverse as the growing world population that we feed. That’s why we have dedicated $10 million to support America’s minority farmers to create a more inclusive agricultural future.
smithfieldfoods.com/diversity
BUILDING VIBRANT RURAL COMMUNITIES LEADERSHIP ENGAGEMENT ADVOCACY LENDING FAITH
ncruralcenter.org | @ncruralcenter
Proud to join the ground-breakers. The obstacle-tacklers. The paradigm shifters. Spectrum is proud to be a part of the 2022 North Carolina Black Summit.
ENGINEERING BUSINESS SOLUTIONS A Strategic Partner to Complement Your Existing Team DCL Management Group pairs professional experience, with a targeted approach, to elevate your business to next-level success. Engaging with a tailored strategy, we use best practices gained from our successes in: PROJECT MANAGEMENT
BUSINESS OPERATIONS
BRAND DEVELOPMENT
FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT
EVENT COORDINATION
PERSONNEL SUPPORT
ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES Whatever stage your business is in, DCL is the strategic partner you want on your team to accelerate your business forward.
LET'S CONNECT 919-604-0895
dlester@dclmanagementgroup.com www.dclmanagementgroup.com
E C N E M M CO E T O V O T
Calling all 2022 Graduates to the Polls to Vote! 1. Go to your designated polling location 2. Cast your ballot and get your sticker 3. Head outside of the polling location and snap picture in your graduation cap 4. Post the picture to Instagram and tag your school + #CommenceToVote.
YOUR VOTE. YOUR VOICE. #COMMENCETOVOTE IS A NORTH CAROLINA BLACK ALLIANCE PROJECT
WRSV 92.1 FM
e l i f o r P n o i t Sta Format: Mainstream Adult Urban Appeal: Ages 18-54; 60% Female, 40% Male Reach: WRSV reaches 42,700 listeners each and every week. Signal: Covers Raleigh, Rocky Mount, Clayton,Cary, Knightdale, Wilson, Garner, Wendell, Apex & Morrisville. Features: Home of the nationally syndicated "The Breakfast Club" Online: Stream Live at iLoveChoiceFM.com ;15k + fans on Facebook/Instagram and growing.
Choice FM gives listeners variety. MUSIC, NEWS & ENTERTAINMENT.
WRSV
92.1 FM
97% of listeners are reached away from home 36% of WRSV's audience earns a HH income of $50k-$75k; 23% makes $75+ Each listener spends 3 hours each week with WRSV 39.4% Employed Full Time 14% own their own home 52% have 2 or more children under 12 in HH
COVERAGE AREA More information, contact Ricco Johnson 252.258.6818
Email Premier9210@outlook.com
WWW.ILOVECHOICEFM.COM
We are honored to align our commitment to providing expert and compassionate care with efforts to change lives for the better. UNC Health is a proud sponsor of the North Carolina Black Alliance Summit. Together, we’re working to make a difference in our community, for all of our community.
UNC Health is an integrated health care system owned by the state of North Carolina and based in Chapel Hill. It exists to further the teaching mission of the University of North Carolina and to provide state-of-the-art patient care.
UNCHealth.org
NRDC works to safeguard the earth—its people, its plants and animals, and the natural systems on which all life depends. CLIMATE CHANGE | COMMUNITIES | ENERGY FOOD|HEALTH | OCEANS | WATER | THE WILD
LEARN MORE » www.nrdc.org