Pride Magazine " Health & Education" Issue 2018

September-October 2018

The Health and Education Issue

Charlotte’s African-American Magazine

Coming Soon

Goodwill Construction Skills Training Center

Discovery Place Education Studio Building the Future of STEM

Melody Makers Program Teaches Kids Violin

Diversity First at Charlotte Country Day School

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America’s Home Grant Program is available for properties in the following counties: North Carolina: Cabarrus, Gaston, Iredell, Lincoln, Mecklenburg, Rowan and Union; South Carolina: Chester, Lancaster and York, and the maximum borrower/co-borrower annual qualifying income limit is $56,560 for properties not located in a low-to-moderate income census tract (LMICT). Qualifying income of $56,560 is 80% of Federal Financial Institutions Examination Council (FFIEC) Area Median Income and is subject to change without notice. For properties in eligible counties and located within a LMICT, the maximum borrower/ co-borrower annual qualifying income limit is $100,000. The home loan must fund with Bank of America. America’s Home Grant Program is only available with conventional, FHA and VA first mortgage loan products. Bank of America may change or discontinue the America’s Home Grant Program or any portion of it without notice. Please ask for additional details.

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LIFE/BETTER CONNECTED, Bank of America and the Bank of America logo are registered trademarks of Bank of America Corporation. Bank of America, N.A., Member FDIC. Equal Housing Lender. ©2018 Bank of America Corporation. ARV87RK9 | 07-2018 | AD-06-18-0261

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OCT 7, 2018 – APRIL 28, 2019 MINT MUSEUM RANDOLPH MINTMUSEUM.ORG

African-Print Fashion Now! is organized by the Fowler Museum at UCLA in association with Vlisco Netherlands B.V. Major funding is provided by the National Endowment for the Arts with the additional support of R.L. Shep, DutchCulture, and the Pasadena Art Alliance. Presented in Charlotte with generous support from Wells Fargo Private Bank.

Vlisco wax print dress by Patricia Waota, Courtesy Uniwax (the Vlisco Group), Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire. Photo: Joshua White/JWPictures.com.

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very day, I have the privilege of seeing firsthand the impact of a Country Day education on students past and present. I know it is an experience that comes as the result of our community’s collective dedication to our mission. I also know that making a lasting impact often requires complex planning and execution to achieve outstanding results over many years.

Seventy-seven years ago, our school was founded by visionaries who believed the time was right for a new type of school. They did their research, rallied forward-thinking families and shaped a new future for many students. While our campus facilities, the ways in which we deliver education and the diversity of our community have evolved since then, the thread that links us all, from 1941 to 2018, is a commitment to our mission and key values. Even back in our earliest years, school literature pledged to provide students with a “balanced education, a variety of learning experiences, self-discipline and desirable attitudes toward community responsibility.”

I am proud to be part of a community that was founded on developing student potential. Building on this foundation with research and experience has led us to hone best practices and deliver better and better results for our increasingly diverse student body over the decades. A continuous spirit of community, collaboration and innovation allows us to increase our effectiveness in preparing students for their future. How we deliver education has evolved, yet the strength in our student and teacher relationships, individualized attention and a nurturing environment remain firmly in place at Country Day.

Come as you are. — First Area School to Develop Affirmation of Community and First Area School to Hire a Full-time Director of Diversity Planning

Brian Wise with students at Country Day’s annual student global experience to South Africa.

Country Day is a place where children are known, loved, challenged and inspired by dedicated teachers, coaches and administrators fully committed to making every student ready to thrive and lead in a fastchanging world. Our students come from different faith, socioeconomic, ethnic and cultural backgrounds, and they all bring their own passions, talents and personalities. In order for ALL of our students to feel valued, they need to feel understood and supported. We believe that students benefit significantly from an education that affirms respect and inclusivity as core values. Our Affirmation of Community guides us daily in sharing our similarities and celebrating our differences. In addition, Country Day’s Office of Diversity Planning was established to ensure that our diverse community is supported with resources, policies and curricula. Our director of diversity planning, Brian Wise, says, “valuing differences and affirming community is something every single one of us can do— and must do, if we are to reach our destination.”

I am grateful and proud to be a part of a community that embraces our collective commitment to our students and our school. Our strong legacy has enabled Country Day to reach beyond its 75-year mark as a leader in independent school education. On behalf of the entire Charlotte Country Day School community, I welcome you to get to know our school as not only a strong, forward-thinking institution where we produce exceptional academic results, and go beyond academics to more completely prepare students for life, but also a welcoming community where all students, families and faculty can thrive.

Mark Reed

Charlotte Country Day School Head of School

September-October 2018 | Pride Magazine

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Remarkable care begins with a remarkable team Doctors. Nurses. Team members.

Doctors and care teams who enjoy their work simply provide better healthcare. That’s why Novant Health works hard to create an environment where all of our team members thrive.

This allows our doctors to put patients first and provide care that is highly advanced and nationally recognized.

Discover what makes Novant Health different.

NovantHealth.org/remarkableteam

September – October 2018

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Departments 12 From the CEO 14 Notable Names 15 By Faith 16 Mindful Parent 17 Family Notes 18 Book Review 50 Scene and Seen 58 Events Calendar

Arts & Culture 45 3

Artist to Watch Inspiring the community

47 M elody

Makers Programs teaches kids violin

Business 51 C oming

Soon Goodwill Construction Skills Training Center

Log on to pridemagazineonline.com for more features including our weekly calendar of events.

57 FYI News & Notes

Features

Health 55 A re

You Taking The Wrong Medication?

Reduce your risk

Correction: In the article, “UPS Store Serves Needs of Growing Small Businesses” on page 24 in the July/August issue, the article misidentifies Jon Prather. It should be Travis Prather.

On the Cover Headmaster Mark Reed of Charlotte Country Day School.

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Foundation for Critical Thinking Preparing for success in our future

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Discovery Place Education Studio New approach to education

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Heart Math Tutoring Helping from the heart

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Putting Students First Q & A with Dr. Denise Spruill

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Private Schools The critical nature of teaching

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Charlotte Sounds Off Thoughts on public education

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Meet the Toppin Family Family enjoys Charlotte Country Day School

September-October 2018 | Pride Magazine

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Charlotte’s African-American Magazine

CEO/Publisher Dee Dixon

Editor-in-Chief

Lashawnda Becoats

Copy Editor Polly Paddock

Lead Writer Angela Lindsay

Design & Production SPARK Publications www.SPARKpublications.com

Creative Director Larry Preslar

Junior Art Director Genna Hardgrove

Distribution Watch Dog Entertainment®

©

Account Executive Nikelle Fesperman

Public Relations Nepherterra Estrada

Subscribe to Pride

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Copyright© 2018 Pride Magazine All rights reserved. Copying or reproduction, in part or in whole, is strictly prohibited.

Pride Magazine reserves the right to deny any advertisement, listing or feature that does not meet Pride Magazine standards or that is outside the scope or mission of our magazine. Pride Magazine assumes no responsibility for information, products, services, or statements made by advertisers or editorial contributors.

Pride Magazine prints with soy ink.

Vol. 26 No. 5 September - October 2018 All rights reserved for PRIDE Communications Inc. Find us on Facebook: Facebook.com/NCPrideMagazine

September-October 2018 | Pride Magazine

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FromTheCEO

By Dee Dixon

Just a Few Things on my Mind

I AM INSPIRED…

I AM DISTURBED...

…to finally have a “living” role model!

Ernestine Shepherd is her name. Even though I’m not particularly fond of the name “Ernestine” (that was my mother’s name), I really like that she calls herself Ernie.

You may have seen this 84-year-old fitness phenom on TV. She has traveled the world, and her story about living a healthy lifestyle and her Christian testimony are very uplifting. I met her in Charlotte in June at a program presented by United HealthCare called “A Better You.” Ernie and I hit it off right away.

…by the fact that I have had NOT ONE juicy-red, succulent, mouth-watering, sweettasting, fully-ripened watermelon this entire summer! All have been half-ripe, whitelooking and not sweet — unlike the good ole days. (Strawberries, too!) In fact, have you noticed fruit just isn’t very sweet anymore?

I AM EXCITED…

I AM DELIGHTED…

photo from www.li.me

…by the decision my seven-year-old grandson (Chase Fesperman) and I made to sponsor a child in need through a wonderful organization called Compassion International. His name is Cristopher and he lives in El Salvador. He and Chase have the exact same birthday! We pray for Cristopher daily, and hope the two can meet up someday.

I DON’T UNDERSTAND… …the proliferation of scooters and bicycles in uptown – all over the sidewalks. I mean, I can barely walk to where I’m going without dodging someone on a bike or scooter. On top of this, it is not uncommon to find scooters and bikes just parked in the middle of the sidewalk – totally abandoned. Of course, people ride these things in the streets, as well – no helmets whatsoever, dodging in and out of traffic.

Isn’t this dangerous? Should there be more regulation?

…about PRIDE AWARDS 2019! We are set for another out-of-the box, exclusive luncheon on THURSDAY, JANUARY 24.

And, guess what? We will meet at a new venue this year – the Ritz-Carlton. Please make plans to join us for a thoughtprovoking, tantalizing and motivational conversation about what perhaps may be the greatest underlying cause of Charlotte’s upward mobility crisis: unconscious bias/ systemic racism. Don’t miss this one. Turn to page 10— to learn about sponsorship and seating, and we’ll see YOU at the Ritz.

I WONDER…. …how many Black and Latino children in Charlotte’s low-income communities got to see “The Lion King”? The tickets were so expensive! Did the tickets have to be THAT expensive? Was there a special day set aside with reasonable pricing so that this beautiful story could be seen by children from all walks of life? And, we talk about upward mobility.

Cristopher

Chase

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Pride Magazine | www.pridemagazineonline.com

When we work together, we grow together.

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wellsfargo.com © 2017 Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. All rights reserved.

Member FDIC. IHA-4449001

NotableNames

By Ryan Kouame

WILLIE GRIFFIN

CHARLES BALDECCHI

DOMINIQUE MILTON

TIFFANI JONES

The Levine Museum of the New South named civil rights scholar and educator Willie Griffin as their new staff historian. Throughout his career, Griffin has worn many hats dedicated to studying and educating individuals about the civil rights movement, as an assistant professor of African American history at the Citadel, teaching fellow in the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill’s department of African American & diaspora studies, and at Duke University’s Center for Documentary Studies.

“I’m thrilled to be coming home to Charlotte and joining the nationally renowned Levine Museum of the New South,” Griffin says. “The museum’s mission of using history to build community is unique. It’s a place that not only wants to educate, but also aims to build understanding and empathy for all people—and ultimately inspire action that leads to positive change.”

Griffin is a Charlotte native and holds a doctorate in U.S. history from UNC, a master’s degree and bachelor’s degrees in history and African American studies from Morgan State University and from Morehouse College. P

Dominique Simpson Milton was named the new president and chief executive officer of the Carolinas-Virginia Minority Supplier Development Council (CVMSDC). The CarolinasVirginia MSDC is a nonprofit corporation that enhances business opportunities for minority-owned businesses, by developing mutually beneficial networking opportunities with corporate members. The council conducts the certification process for minority businesses, and supports corporate members through purchasing, supplier development and supply chain management throughout the Carolinas and Virginia.

“I am honored to serve in this new capacity with CVMSDC. The work we do to support economic growth for minority businesses and partnership with our corporate members is essential, and I welcome the opportunities that lie ahead,” Milton says.

Milton previously served as vice-president of business development for A10 Clinical Solutions, a minority business enterprise and clinical research firm.

She holds a BS in economics from Spelman College, an MBA from Pennsylvania State University. P

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Pride Magazine | www.pridemagazineonline.com

Charles D. Baldecchi was named Charlotte Latin School’s next head of school after the retirement of longtime Headmaster Arch N. McIntosh Jr. Baldecchi is a seasoned independent school leader, coming from the Lexington School in Kentucky, where he served as head of school for 14 years and was instrumental in the strategic planning, execution and development of innovative programs, and in increasing the school’s annual fund and endowment campaigns. “I was initially attracted to Charlotte Latin because of its national reputation for academic excellence, but the reason I fell in love with the school is its strong sense of community,” Baldecchi says.

Baldecchi previously served as the director of admissions at the Asheville School, a coeducational boarding school in Asheville, and is also a Klingenstein Fellow at Columbia University. He received his master of arts in liberal Arts from St. John’s College in Annapolis, MD and his bachelor of arts in economics and English literature at Denton University in Granville, OH. P

Dr. Tiffani Jones is an outstanding OB/GYN at Novant Health-Providence. Originally from Pontiac, MICH, Jones attended Kentucky State University as a student-athlete, where she ran track and graduated summa cum laude with a dual degree in biology and liberal studies. She went on to receive her medical degree from Meharry Medical College in Nashville, graduating with honors and participating in community projects such as sickle disease awareness.

Jones provides care for low and moderate risk obstetrics and gynecology patients of all ages. Her special interests include adolescents, obesity, minimally invasive surgical procedures and office surgical procedures. Her belief that “women’s health is at the center of community health, and a healthier community should be everyone’s ultimate goal” led her to pursue a specialty in obstetrics and gynecology, because she enjoys the complexity of taking care of women and loves the joy of new life.

New to the Queen City, Jones looks forward to joining the medical and social community. She enjoys community outreach, traveling, shopping, running and spending time with her husband, Thaddeus, and their daughter, Gavyn. P

ByFaith

By Rev. Dr. Dwayne Bond

Pathway From Fear

F

ear has a way of crippling and hindering us from both experiencing the life that we have and progressing forward. As humans, we fear certain things, people and situations.

Some of us fear the future, success or failure, while others fear public speaking, poverty or dying. Although fear is a normal human emotion, left unchecked, it can trap, enslave and hold anyone hostage. In addition, it can lead to anxiety, depression and even despair.

What in your life are you fearful about right now? What has consumed your heart and mind with fear? How have you chosen to address your fear? Typically, when we discover that we are fearful, we either seek to deal with it by attempting to overcome it, by controlling people or situations or by simply becoming overwhelmed. Some find it easiest to deny that it even exists. Is it possible to gain victory over fear and to be freed from its paralyzing grip?

Scripture says in Isaiah 41:10, “Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” In addition, the apostle Paul encourages his young disciple in 2 Timothy 1:7 by reminding him that, “For God gave

us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.” From these passages, it’s clear that God knows that we will be fearful, but desires that we not be hindered and entangled by fear.

In Psalm 27:1, David declares, “The Lord is my light and salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?” Based on these and countless other Scriptures, we see that overcoming fear requires more than our willpower, strength, intention, words and ability. We need the Lord. When David was inspired by the Holy Spirit to write these hope-filled words, he was in a lifethreatening dilemma. Bloodthirsty and evil people were trying to destroy him. At a time when fear could have gripped his soul, he sought the Lord.

How did David seek the Lord? David reminded himself who the Lord was and what He had done. David knew that the Lord wasn’t simply the light and salvation, but instead He was his light and salvation.

He made God’s presence personal. As His light, he understood that the Lord was the only path worth following, even though his circumstances appeared dark. As his salvation, he reminded himself that God was

his source of rescue. Both of these realities refreshed David’s heart and assured him that he didn’t have to fear anything or anyone.

Secondly, David recalled that the Lord was his stronghold or refuge. This truth also guarded him from being afraid of people and circumstances. The word “stronghold” means fortress, temple or guarded tower.

When fear was seeking to strangle him, he knew that the Lord was his safe place and ultimate protection.

The Scripture teaches us that in order to overcome fear in our lives, we need more than ourselves; we need the Lord. As you think about your life, what circumstances, decisions, next steps or people need reminders that the Lord is your light, salvation and stronghold? Embracing these truths from God’s Word can enable us to walk by faith, instead of succumbing to a lifestyle of fear. Experiencing victory over fear is impossible without the Lord. May your heart acknowledge your need for Him and may this beautiful reminder of who He is encourage and strengthen you as you live a life of faith and trust (Psalm 56:3). P The Rev. Dwayne Bond is the lead pastor of Wellspring Church.

September-October 2018 | Pride Magazine

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TheMindfulParent

College-Bound and Prepared

By Shavonda Bean

Managing Mind Health with New Independence

C

ollege preparation is full of excitement, challenges and an overabundance of to-do’s. Are you prepared for guiding your child through the transition from high school to college when he or she has health to manage? Those with common diagnoses such as ADHD, depression or anxiety can be successful in college, and most campuses are prepared to support and assist your child. There are several factors to consider in order for them to make a healthy leap into the college world.

• To stay close or venture far? There’s no magic answer here. There are several factors to consider when making this decision, including the severity of your child’s diagnosis, his or her preferences and the type of support system in place in the college town. Having a support system in place, and arranging resources in advance, are important steps. If your child has a therapist and doctor in place to continue care, and has a support system in a friend or relative close by, this helps. If not, you might consider having your child attend a local college, where and treatment providers can remain consistent. Make this decision as a team along with your child and treatment providers.

• Stress 101: Help your child plan ahead for ways to manage general well-being and stress. Encourage him or her to try maintaining consistency in sleep, eating and exercise habits. Stress is normal; however, stress accompanied by changes in mood and behaviors can be a signal that it’s time to intervene. These signs might include increased frustration or irritability, isolation, excessive sleeping or changes in appetite, feelings of hopelessness or feelings of drowning in responsibilities. Have your child keep a journal or mood record and be prepared to respond to these warning signs by implementing their safety plan.

• Safety planning: Developing a safety plan (and calling it whatever helps your

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Pride Magazine | www.pridemagazineonline.com

child feel comfortable) is key to helping him or her prepare to manage rough periods when in the middle of a crisis.

The plan should include a list of triggers or symptoms of stress, a list of ways to respond and key people to reach out to for support. Also, encourage your child to learn about the resources offered on campus to help with academic challenges and encourage him or her to be a part of groups or organizations that can help build connectedness and a sense of belonging in a new environment.

• Privacy and confidentiality: Know the rules and laws about your child’s confidentiality in college. Most children will want privacy when it comes to his or her health care in college. At 18, all children are entitled to it. Talk with your child about signing an Authorization to Disclose Information that allows treatment providers to contact you only if your child’s safety is at risk or if he or she is having suicidal thoughts. Otherwise, treatment providers might not be able to disclose information to you. Help

your child understand the importance of this document.

• Accommodations at college: If your child received accommodations in high school, consider continuing those supports and accommodations in the college setting if they were beneficial.

Seek out assistance from the college disability resource center. Some colleges require a recent evaluation or diagnosis for the accommodation plan, so be sure to update those assessments or diagnoses before your child heads off to college.

This can assure your child is set up for academic success.

Encourage your child to be in charge of his or her health and accessing the supports available. Your child will learn many academic and life lessons during the college years— make learning and preparing for mental health a priority too. P Shavonda Bean is a licensed psychological associate and owner of Essential Assessments & Behavioral Health. Visit Essentialhealthnc.com for more information.

FamilyNotes Compiled by Angela Haigler

‘We Rise, We Resist, We Raise Our Voices’

By Cheryl Willis Hudson and Wade Hudson, Illustrated by Ashley Bryan “We Rise, We Resist, We Raise Our Voices” is a keepsake edition children’s book published in partnership with Just Us Books. Featuring a renowned group of authors and illustrators, the book attempts to answer the question, “In this divisive world, what shall we tell our children?”

Featuring poems, letters, personal essays, art and other works from such industry leaders as Jacqueline Woodson (“Brown Girl Dreaming”), Jason Reynolds (“All American Boys”), Kwame Alexander (“The Crossover”), Andrea Pippins (“I Love My Hair”), Sharon Draper (“Out of My Mind”), Rita Williams-Garcia (“One Crazy Summer”), Ellen Oh (cofounder of We Need Diverse Books) and artists Ekua Holmes, Rafael Lopez, James Ransome, Javaka Steptoe and more, this anthology empowers the nation’s youth to listen, learn and build a better tomorrow.

GirlTrek Taking Charlotte by Storm

Iconic Fashion Editor’s Life Featured in Documentary at Mint Museum Randolph From small-town North Carolina, young Andre Leon Talley dreamed of a career in fashion. Eventually, he would reach the highest heights of fashion around the world. Encouraged by his grandmother to believe his future was limitless, young Andre used his love of fashion to set a course for himself that, at the time, had never been undertaken by a Black man. He went on to become editor-at-large at Vogue magazine, and established himself as a fashion consultant, advisor and icon.

Talley’s life is the subject of a documentary that will be shown at the Mint Museum Randolph on Wednesday, September 12. There will be free popcorn, a cash bar and live music. Talley himself is expected to make an appearance at the event. His curated exhibit, “The Glamour and Romance of Oscar de La Renta,” was recently extended.

Details: Screening of “The Gospel according to Andre” (PG 13) at Mint Museum Randolph General Admission $10/Children ages 5-12 $5.

(Mint members save 25 percent) To register, visit www.mintmuseum.org/happenings

If you find yourself overrun by a sea of women walking briskly in blue, it might be because of an organization called GirlTrek.

Two friends, T. Morgan Dixon and Vanessa Garrison, founded GirlTrek in 2010 in Los Angeles, CA, after they realized how essential their walking ritual had become. After seeing the difference walking made in their lives, they wanted to share those benefits with others. As they began to research health and walking, they learned that a brisk 30-minute walk daily can save lives.

Dixon and Garrison say GirlTrek is more than just another fitness organization.

“We are inspired by Harriet Tubman’s courageous story. She saved herself by walking away from slavery, then went back to help others,” said Garrison. The two women visited Charlotte in July to rally organizers and as part of their 50-stop tour, to encourage one million participants by 2020.

Participants are encouraged to walk every day for a minimum of 30 minutes. Those who accomplish milestones such as five walks in seven days are eligible to win prizes. For more information, contact www.girltrek.org.

Reading Buddies It’s a no-brainer: Reading is very important in the development of a child’s vocabulary, reading comprehension and language fluency. When children read out loud to others, their confidence soars. That’s why Charlotte Mecklenburg Library’s Reading Buddies program is such a good resource. It was developed for children ages five-11. Kids are paired with an adult library volunteer for a 30-minute session. Parents or caregivers must sign up for a time. For a full list, visit www.cmlibrary.org. P

September-October 2018 | Pride Magazine

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BookReview

Bringing Experiences Together

By Angela Haigler

Children’s Book:

“Taking the Arrow Out of the My Heart”

By Alice Walker (poetry) Alice Walker enthusiasts, rejoice! The godmother of writing about the black female experience has penned a new poetry collection. As per Walkers norm, it’s a collection of beauty. This assemblage is just as raw, riveting and “right on time” as her previous prose and poetry.

Newcomers and Walker lovers alike will enjoy and be moved.

“She Called Me Woman: Nigeria’s Queer Women Speak”

By Azeenarh Mohammed, Chitra Nagarajan and Rafeeat Aliyu Who tells the story of the queer woman in Nigeria? Until now, these stories remained largely hidden. That’s all changed, thanks to the groundbreaking work of cowriters and editors Azeenarh Mohammed, Chitra Nagarajan and Rafeeat Aliyu. Together with their contributors, they have unearthed and brought to light 25 stories of women who live their lives in the queer space, a space previously undefined and invisible in mainstream Nigeria. With the freedom to share, unafraid, they show how ordinary lives revealed are actually extraordinary.

“Fresh Ink: An Anthology”

By Lamar Giles (Young Adult) Published in partnership with We Need Diverse Books, this anthology of works for young adult readers, penned by both new and established writers, includes a twist: Readers are encouraged to finish what the writers started! Writers include Walter Dean Myers, Schuyler Bailar, Melissa de la Cruz, Sara Farizan, Sharon G. Flake, Eric Gansworth, Malindo Lo and others.

“Little Man, Little Man: A Story of Childhood”

By James Baldwin Those familiar with James Baldwin’s only children’s book will be delighted to find that the book is being reprinted after 40 years, preserving its original content. The new book will feature a foreword by Baldwin’s nephew, Tejan Karefa-Smart, for whom the book was written and who was the main character, TJ. Critics of the first book questioned whether the content was age-appropriate, and some felt the story wasn’t focused enough. Those who love Baldwin and are enjoying his recent resurgence will clutch the book to their hearts, grateful for the opportunity to revisit this enterprising work.

“My Mother. Barack Obama. Donald Trump and the Last Stand of the Angry White Man.: An Autobiography of America”

By Kevin Powell Sociopolitical activist and writer Kevin Powell brings together three experiences and one prediction in his new book of 13 essays. He makes surprising connections, sharing well-researched thought pieces, in which he reflects on the radical differences between the Obama and Trump presidencies. His ideas are especially nuanced, since he was raised by a socially conscious mother who survived the Jim Crow era. Is this the last stand of angry white men? Powell’s essays desperately hope so.

Angela Haigler explores the literary world at www.angelicmusings.wordpress.com and on Twitter @angelicmusings

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A Foundation for E Critical Thinking Preparing for Success in Our Local and Global Future Students learn best when they are known, seen and valued, and their critical thinking skills increase when they are taught to view history, literature and current events from multiple perspectives.

This curriculum approach gets underway at Country Day in junior kindergarten and continues intentionally through graduation.

ven though our youngest students are just five and six years old, parents and teachers alike ask themselves, “What skills do we want these children to leave Country Day with upon graduating?” It is certain that we all want our children to come away with strong reading comprehension and writing skills, deep math and science literacy and a strong knowledge base of past and current events, along with a host of other tangible abilities.

A “softer” skill set, but no less important, falls under the umbrella of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI). In fact, Country Day’s Affirmation of Community calls on us to develop curriculum that equips students to think critically, to act respectfully and to

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show sensitivity to the needs and feelings of others in preparation for success in local and global communities. That’s because when we create a learning environment in which every child feels known, seen and safe, they are more willing to take risks. That leads to a greater depth of understanding, builds critical thinking skills and improves the academic experience. A meta-analysis of research published in the journal “Child Development” showed an 11 percent gain in academic achievement for students who participated in a wellimplemented social/emotional learning program, versus students who didn’t.

Mirrors and Windows

Children are naturally curious, and at a very early age, they recognize similarities and differences. What they don’t do—at least at first—is ascribe value to those differences. The intentional DEI and social-emotional learning work lay the groundwork for continued openness to and respect for differences in developmentally appropriate ways.

“Over the past two years, we have fortified our classroom culture and settings with the AMAZE curriculum,” explains junior kindergarten teacher Amy Ilfeld, who helped pilot the program for the Lower School. “In a nutshell, the AMAZE program provides children with dolls, conversation

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and high-quality literature that mirrors their own likes and dislikes, physical features and home life. The program tools also provide a window into differences such as family structure, socioeconomic status or heritage.” The intentional curriculum helps launch discussions and gives children a foundation in understanding themselves and others.

Thinking Through a Variety of Lenses

While teaching children to think about people in more complex ways begins with our youngest learners, all of our students are learning necessary skills such as critical thinking and problem solving, collaboration, resiliency, initiative, strong written and oral communication and the ability to access and analyze information in order to lead and thrive in a changing world.

A required course in the International Baccalaureate diploma program is the IB Theory of Knowledge (TOK) course, which asks students to question and reflect upon the process of acquiring knowledge, and how they know what they know. “I tell my students that TOK can be captured in three basic questions: ‘What do I know?’

‘How do I know it?’ and ‘What happens when different people know different things?’” says Tim Waples, Upper School English and IB Theory of Knowledge (TOK)

teacher. “Those questions, along with the distinction that TOK draws between ‘personal knowledge’ (like knowing your favorite color or flavor of ice cream) and ‘shared knowledge’ (like knowing that Country Day was founded in 1941), requires that our class be shaped by the knowledge of all the people in the room, not only the teacher. Teaching—or taking—TOK means being open to the perspectives of each of the people in the room, noticing how they overlap, discovering when they differ or even disagree and then finding out what happens next.”

A Foundation to Grow On

At all grade levels, Country Day teachers develop curriculum with intention and purpose to guide its students to be leaders, thinkers and doers. “As our students define a healthy sense of self, they develop a strong identity, and strong identities have strong voices,” says Ilfeld. “Whether in the next grade, in college or the workplace, these are the voices that ask questions such as ‘Why is it like that?’ ‘What can I do?’ One could argue that critical thinking skills developed with social and emotional skills empower students to make change. And that will be important for our students to navigate a complex, integrated world.” P Content courtesy of Country Day School

Discovery Place Education Studio Provides

New Approach to Education

By Kallan Louis

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chool may have been out for the summer, but class was in session for dozens of educators in June and July, when they participated in the Summer Leadership Institute at Discovery Place Education Studio uptown. There were five four-hour open registration courses, providing hands-on experience on topics including “3D Printing and Design” and “Robotics and Coding.”

“The whole focus of Summer Leadership Institute is how do we take any random teacher from any random school, and give them the opportunity to get the full depth of experience that we would normally provide to a full school or district over the course of a year, in four days,” said Doug Thompson, senior manager at the Education Studio.

If that seems like a lot crammed into each workshop, well, it is. As the educational landscape continues to evolve, educators are being forced to quickly adapt.

“My school is eliminating our technology lab, said Meagan Humphrey, a librarian at Berwick Elementary School. “My principal has tasked me with incorporating technology (into the cirriculum). I did a test run last year with my fifth graders doing a STEM project, based on a research project we had done. They were so engaged that I realized I had to do more.”

Jean Mulligan, a media specialist for St. Gabriel Catholic School, has been an educator for nearly 40 years. When she moved here in the early 2000s, she was so inspired by the hands-on learning experiences at local facilities such as ImaginOn that she began incorporating “maker spaces” in her school. Maker spaces are designated places where people come to create, invent, build and share ideas. Think of it as a wood shop class, with an emphasis on modern STEM. Mulligan attended this workshop just to get new ideas.

“This isn’t traditional thinking for educators, and they have a very difficult time moving into that,” said Mulligan. One of the assignments that day was to create a structure for an imaginary city named “Scrappton.” She picked up a six-inch acrylic ruler she was using to build a residence for the project: “You make them use a tool like this. There’s your math for the day, there’s your math for a lifetime. Make them do

something to scale.

They love doing it, and now you taught them.”

Kellen Nixon is the senior director of STEM education at Discovery Place and site director of the Kellen Nixon Education Studio.

He joined the team in 2016, two years after the studio first opened. His experience in education reform with Carnegie Corp. of New York’s “Teacher’s of a New Era” initiative, and his education leadership roles at museums has helped him lead the development of a business model that has proved successful for Discovery Place.

“The Discovery Place Education Studio was a combination of all my experiences into one amazing opportunity, to empower teachers to teach in the 21st century,” said Nixon, “My background, understanding the importance of preparing teachers with what they need to be successful in the classroom, that expertise

extended into the work that we do.”

The Education Studio has partnered with more than 150 schools, districts and organizations throughout the Carolinas to help provide customized professional development in STEM for teachers. These partnerships allow the studio to earn business from funds dedicated toward professional development, instead of asking teachers to pay out of their own personal finances. The Summer Leadership Institute is an exception, as the workshops are open registration.

Nixon says the time is now for communities and businesses to be thoughtful on how we engage the next generation of STEM leaders and educators.

“That comes with making sure what we provide is not only culturally relevant, but (also) allows students to see how they can use these skills and learning opportunities to leverage their thoughts today,” he said. “The more kids that we expose to these platforms, the higher our chances are to fueling an economy and society that is rich in critical thinking, with an ability to solve problems.” P

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Math Tutoring with Heart

By Eren Simpson

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tutors.

Heart Math Tutoring was built from a partnership between Social Venture Partners (SVP) Charlotte, Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools and Communities in Schools, after identifying a need for willing volunteers to help struggling students after rigorous testing standards were introduced in 2013.

In 2017, 56 percent of economically disadvantaged students in CMS scored below grade level in third- through eighthgrade math. Without these basic math skills, students struggle to meet graduation requirements in high school and face economic hardships later in life.

Under the leadership of Executive Director Emily Elliot, the organization has grown to serve more than 1,400 students in grades one through five in 17 schools, with more than 980 weekly volunteer tutors and more than $840,000 in support from the community in just five years. For the 201819 school year, Heart will be in at least 20 schools across CMS’ footprint and need the help of about 1,300 weekly tutors.

“We have good (volunteer) retention rates,” Elliot said. “Ninety percent of people who start at the beginning of the year finish the year, and 60 percent stay from one year to the next.”

Telia Williams, a financial analyst, was introduced to the organization through a coworker and has been a volunteer with Heart for three years.

“With 30-minute sessions, it fits in well with my work and personal schedule,” Williams said. “My job allows us set aside time to volunteer during the week, so this is perfect.”

Elliot says Heart prides itself on creating a positive experience for the tutor and the student.

The organization is modeled so that each school has a part-time Heart program coordinator (hired and paid for by Heart), to give students the help they need and make sure each tutoring session runs smoothly.

Elliot said most students require at least two years of tutoring to get ahead, but some get ahead after just one.

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Photo courtesy of Heart Math Tutoring

Charlotte nonprofit is helping to bolster area math scores 30 minutes at a time, with a whole lot of heart and help from volunteer

In the last five years, more than 1,400 Heart students have met program growth targets in math, and more than 90 percent of teachers report students are more confident and enthusiastic toward academics as a result of the program.

Students are recruited based on school staff recommendations, then assessed by Heart program coordinators to determine their conceptual gaps. Volunteers provide instruction at each student’s level in the form of 30-minute tutoring sessions, twice each week during the school day.

But Heart isn’t just about increasing math scores; it’s also about building relationships with the kids it serves.

“Half the job of volunteers is the math curriculum, and the other half is being a positive influence,” Elliot said. “You’re forming a partnership to get students to the next level. Rich relationships are being formed.”

Williams has experienced that partnership firsthand.

“The most surprising and meaningful thing to me is knowing my child [the child I tutor ] really wants me there and looks forward to me coming to help her,” Williams said. “At the end of each year, she and her mom always ask if I will come back and help. It really means a lot that they appreciate my help and that only 30 minutes out of my day is making a noticeable change in my student’s academics.”

Elliot and Williams both stressed that a passion for helping, not math, is all that’s required to get started with Heart.

“It’s flexible, it’s impactful, we give you everything you need, the curriculum and the support,” Elliot said. “This is an effective way to help. It takes some commitment, but it’s manageable.” P To learn more, visit http://hearttutoring.org/.

Putting Students First

at Charlotte Country Day School Q & A with Dr. Denise Spruill, Upper School class dean and history teacher

Dr. Denise Spruill is a 20th-century social historian, who focuses on the United States, African American and women’s histories.

Her role at Charlotte Country Day School extends beyond that of an Upper School history teacher, who brings her expertise and passion to the subject area to enhance student learning. She also is a trusted adult who treasures and values the relationships she has with students, and truly believes in the power of combining strong academics with diversity, equity and inclusion, and working together to raise the next generation of leaders, thinkers and doers.

Q. Congratulations on your recent accomplishment of earning your PhD. Can you share with us briefly what you studied and why?

A. Thank you! My dissertation,“From the Tub to the Club: Black Women and Activism in the Midwest 1890-1920,” argues that the independent activism and organizing of black Iowa club women gave them the ability to influence other national organizations where women’s leadership was suppressed.

Both personally and professionally, my journey to earning a PhD at the University of Iowa means so much to me as a nontraditional student who started while single in her 30s and finished after marriage, motherhood and through personal challenges. I am grateful and proud of my family, my students, Country Day and my community for the support they gave me throughout the process. Being able to model perseverance, hard work and dedication for my son, Jabari Jr., and my students has been an honor. The best part of graduation was hearing my son yell “Yeah, Mommy!” as I crossed the stage at graduation.

Q. Integrated into Country Day’s strategic plan is preparing students

to lead and thrive in a changing world. Why is this important, and how do you see this playing out in your classrooms and beyond?

A. Student leadership opportunities, both in and out of the classroom. including clubs, the Diversity Awareness Forum, student government and Honor Council, provide students with the opportunities to lead in various capacities. Within my teaching, I truly believe in the value of cooperative learning, where all students have an opportunity to teach and collaborate, thus teaching them leadership, public speaking and teamwork.

Q. I know you have led some of Country Day’s global experiences, including the first school-led group to Cuba. In your view, what is the role of global opportunities for students and faculty?

A. We should all strive to be more globally mindful. The global exposure our students experience through Country Day’s extensive travel opportunities, as well as our exchange and international students on campus, allows our students to better understand the importance of diversity, cultures and ethnicity.

I see this firsthand, leading to young adults who have a greater respect for difference.

Q. What are you looking most forward to with your son starting school at Country Day next year?

A. Besides having the opportunity to see him every day, I look forward to him learning how to think critically, research and continue his love of school. The Lower School has so many things he loves, from art, music, learning a second language, a guidance program and of course, PE every day.

Q. How does Country Day differentiate itself from other educational institutions?

A. I have taught at a variety of places, kindergarten through college, public and private, and one thing remains the same— students are students. The thing that makes Country Day special is the access to teachers and resources. Country Day intentionally allows teachers to build real relationships with students that last a lifetime and have incredible influence on the success of our students. When a student can meet with a teacher at any time and have trust – anything is possible. P

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Ready. For. Anything.

Ready to lead. Ready to thrive. Ready for the world.

Country Day Ready.

Open House Dates: October 4 (Junior Kindergarten – Kindergarten)

October 11 (Junior Kindergarten – Grade 4)

November 1 (Grades 9 – 12)

charlottecountryday.org (704) 943-4530

Mike McCarn Photography

PrivateSchoolsFeature

FLETCHER SCHOOL

Private Schools The Critical Nature of Teaching Critical Thinking

By Angela Lindsay

T

here’s thinking... and then there’s critical thinking. It is the process of critical thinking that opens one’s mind up to concepts such as comprehension, analysis and evaluation, framing ideas and creating opinions.

Educators at Charlotte area private and independent schools consider critical thinking to be central to the educational development of their students.

In simple terms, critical thinking is about thinking independently, according to Globaldigitalcitizen.org, which also states that “critically thinking about something means formulating your own opinions and drawing your own conclusions. This happens regardless of outside influence. It’s about the discipline of analysis, and seeing the connections between ideas. However, it’s also about being wide open to other viewpoints and opinions.”

CHARLOTTE LATIN While technology and all of its advancements have made gathering information and getting answers more efficient, it cannot replace the process of critical thinking when it comes to how students navigate solving problems.

Parentingscience.org states that students become remarkably better problem-solvers when we teach them to: analyze analogies, create categories and classify items

appropriately, identify relevant information, construct and recognize valid deductive arguments, test hypotheses, recognize common reasoning fallacies and distinguish between evidence and interpretations of evidence.

“We live in a complex society that is driven by technology and innovation, yet these advances present ever-evolving dilemmas. In order to prepare today’s students for the global challenges we face now and in the future, schools must emphasize critical thinking skills as an essential component of their culture of teaching and learning,” says Dr. Sonja Taylor, Charlotte Latin School’s director of diversity and inclusion. “As educators contemplate the most effective ways to ready students for life beyond high school, critical thinking skills have emerged among the best practices to help students put acquired knowledge

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Your extraordinary child deserves an extraordinary education. Visit us today to see how Charlotte’s #1 LD and ADHD school can create opportunities from challenges and success from frustration.

5146 Parkway Plaza Blvd., Charlotte, NC 28217 | 704.365.5490 |

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Crosland does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, sex, age, marital status, disability, religion, creed, or national or ethnic origin in the administration of its educational programs, admissions, financial aid policies or employment practices.

into practice. Therefore, students do more than ‘know.’ They actually use what they know to scrutinize complicated issues, evaluate potential strategies from multiple perspectives and implement reasonable solutions.”

Michelle Toler, director of academic and student affairs at the Fletcher School, agrees, saying, “I think critical thinking is making a comeback due to the nature of the world we live in. Technology innovations and new forms of digital communication continue to rapidly develop and ‘memorized’ curriculum will not allow students to solve existing, much less, unknown problems and issues. Creative thinking and sound working knowledge, infused with the ability to think through details, prioritize and focus on an array of solutions is what is and will continue to be desired in schools, communities and the workplace.”

So, what could critical thinking look like in the classroom?

At Charlotte Latin, students across all grade levels and content areas are exposed to a number of curriculum approaches which enhance critical thinking skills, such as inquiry-based instruction, projectbased learning, reflective writing, Socratic questioning and design thinking.

Each grade level in the lower school at Trinity Episcopal School (TES) utilizes a problem-based learning approach in the social sciences. By giving students real or simulated problems to wrestle with intellectually, the school provides opportunities for students to practice their reasoning skills in a meaningful way, explains Chris Weiss, head of lower school/ assistant head at TES. “For example, our kindergarten students take on the role of the Wampanoag [native

FRIENDSHIP DAY SCHOOL

TRINITY EPISCOPAL SCHOOL American] people, and must determine whether or not they will share their resources with those who have come from another country and do not yet know how to live off the land,” explains Weiss. “All reasoning is an attempt to figure something out, to solve a problem and to look at the problem from different points of view. What are the implications and consequences of giving away your own resources to someone else in need?”

Similarly, fourth graders at TES must determine how they will respond to a simulated classroom tax on pencils, he continues. Will they rebel in the same way that the colonists did in Boston? What

will happen if they do this? Every TES eighth grader must choose a social justice topic that is connected to a current bill in Congress. Students spend the year researching every angle of self-selected topics, such as homelessness, immigration and gun control, as they prepare to take a stand on one side of that issue, and then meet in May with members of Congress and their staffers to advocate for their position.

“This capstone experience takes into account all the previous years of wrestling with difficult problems and working to see an issue from several points of view,” Weiss says. “They will gather relevant information, formulate their own questions, interpret their findings and come to well-reasoned conclusions about a particular problem or issue. This is the truest form of a critical thinker, and an approach to teaching and learning which we firmly believe will help develop our students’ intellectual humility, perseverance, courage and empathy.”

Friendship Day School for the Sciences and the Arts has a strong STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) emphasis. The school encourages scholars to utilize questioning (called Socratic-style questioning in upper grades) as a means of fostering critical thinking and engaging in scientific inquiry, says M. Lorraine Wynn Dancy, a member of the Friendship Education Commission. Its scholars regularly practice the five pillars of the engineering process: ask, imagine, plan, create and improve.

“Higher-order thinking is prompted

September-October 2018 | Pride Magazine

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Partners in Global Education

Engaging and Inspiring Scholars to Excel BAPS: www.brisbaneacademy.org RCSCA: www.rcsmithchristianacademy.org

Enrolling NOW… (Pre-K through 9th grade)

Call to schedule a consult today

5901 Statesville Road, Charlotte NC 28269

BAPS: 704-598-5208

RCSCA: 704-650-1732

EXPERIENCE THE CHARLOTTE PREP DIFFERENCE

Montessori Early School (Ages 2-5) Pre-Kindergarten-8th Grade

charlotteprep.org | 704-366-5994

classroom. Students need frameworks to not only look at academic content, but [also] life as they experience it. Our world demands not only critical thinking, but creative thinking.”

To achieve this, the curriculum at Charlotte Prep’s lower school, for example, lays a solid foundation for critical thinking and reasoning throughout the core subjects, Pousa explains. Inquiry and dialogue are cornerstones of students’ learning environment.

“Teachers carefully model curiosity and give students the language and encouragement they need to launch their learning investigations. The sharing of perspectives ignites external interests and expands worldviews. From kindergarten to fourth grade, students gradually learn critical thinking and reasoning skills as

PROVIDENCE DAY SCHOOL especially in the imagine, create and improve phases of the engineering process. Friendship Day School’s math instruction goes beyond problem-solving toward emphasis on reasoning skills. This means that analysis (taking information apart), synthesis (putting information together) and evaluation (judging the outcome)—three key elements in critical thinking—are fully embedded in our math instruction,” she explains. “Our STEM instruction is also enhanced through our school’s partnership with Discovery Place, a science museum. Our school utilizes a rigorous language arts program that fosters not only comprehension skills, but [also] encourages application (making use of knowledge), another essential critical thinking skill. The daily classroom routines that promote peer group collaboration and hands-on instruction also reinforce critical learning elements.”

While students are largely the ones engaging in the critical thinking activity itself, it is important for educators to understand that the role they play in developing critical thinking is different than the role they are typically playing, according to research compiled at Globaldigitalcitizen. org: “In order to engage students in critical thinking, the educator needs to act as a facilitator to allow for discussion and encourage a freer thought process, as well as to encourage understanding that thinking critically does not always end with a right answer, but instead sometimes ends in more questions or differing evaluations of the topic. The educator’s role as facilitator also

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encourages a peer review process, even in the youngest of children, and helps students to learn appropriate responses to conflicting evaluations and opinions.”

Says Dr. Nada Johnson, executive director of diversity and multicultural education at Providence Day School: “One of the most important tenets of the culturally responsible classroom is also the most overlooked – that teachers and administrators must explore and acknowledge their own cultural identities and understand the consequences of those identities. Put differently, educators must recognize the ways in which they bring their own cultural biases into the classroom, as well as how their cultural identities may be perceived by their colleagues and students. Culturally based blind spots in the classroom actually impede the academic and social success of culturally diverse students. The culturally responsive classroom thus encourages teachers to learn about their students on a personal level, to transform their classrooms into learning communities in which every student’s personal experience has value and to create a curriculum that reflects the diversity of our local, regional, national and global communities. The ability to think critically is essential to this task.”

Latoya Pousa, director of community life at Charlotte Preparatory School, says, “We live in an internet age where information is readily available at our fingertips. Educators are responsible for teaching children how to navigate, analyze and think critically about content. Learning is not limited to the

CHARLOTTE PREPARATORY SCHOOL similar, and new information is introduced through tiered curriculum materials and research projects. Unique to lower school are grade-specific ‘traditions’ that reinforce concepts taught and provide hands-on engagement,” she says.

Teaching critical thinking, however, is not without its own potential set of hurdles.

“There are often challenges with memory, given the population of students [who often learn differently] that we serve,” says Portia York, director of enrollment management and admission at the John Crosland School. “However, because of the multimodal approach to teaching that we employ, our students are able to exercise critical thinking skills.”

York says through this method, the school has seen success with improved expressive language skills and higher-order thinking, the ability to share ideas for language comprehension and thinking and

Teaching and Learning at Charlotte Latin School

As a community of learners, Charlotte Latin School is committed to creating a welcoming and supportive environment that accepts and honors all people. The School is especially proud of its demonstrated emphasis on attracting the most talented professionals to nurture the next generation of gifted scholars, community servants and global leaders.

Whether you are an experienced educator or current college student who is interested in teaching, Charlotte Latin School may be the right fit for you. Our teaching and learning philosophy emphasizes the educator’s voice and input in curriculum decisions.

We encourage and support our teachers as they pursue professional development opportunities, and we foster an academic environment where class size is conducive to content mastery and managing effective parental partnerships. Our teachers also have many opportunities for extracurricular engagement including coaching, club sponsorships and international travel.

Latin Fellows is a new and exciting diversity initiative that transitions recent college graduates into a mentored teaching relationship in the Lower, Middle or Upper School division. Fellows co-teach alongside an experienced educator and over time, assume more responsibility for the day-today classroom operations. During this oneyear commitment, Fellows are full-time Latin employees and are eligible for a competitive salary and benefits package.

To learn more about all teaching opportunities at Latin, including Latin Fellows, contact Dr. Sonja L. Taylor, Director of Diversity and Inclusion at 704.846.7294 | staylor@charlottelatin.org Go to www.charlottelatin.org/admissions for information on how to apply to Charlotte Latin School.

Open House TK/K – Friday, October 5, 9:30 – 11 a.m.

Upper School – Friday, October 12, 9:30 – 11 a.m

increased verbal ability and vocabulary.

Another major challenge that several of the private and independent schools cite: the media.

At a recent parent education session, Charlotte Country Day lower school administration members said that “children are bombarded with endless sources of information (Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, 24-7 news cycles, ads, etc.), so teaching them to cut through the noise, evaluate sources, seek out other perspectives and be critical, thoughtful consumers of information is more important than ever.” They continued, “The first step is to help kids realize that everything has a person behind it. This is important for children to realize—NOT so they end up distrusting everything they read and see, but so they can more thoughtfully discern, evaluate, and understand it.”

Teaching creative thinking had created a positive impact on students at Brisbane Academy Preparatory School & R. C. Smith Christian Academy, as educators prepare them to become independent learners, according to Geraldine Crooks, founder of Brisbane Academy.

“Creative thinking allows students to think and share the endless possibilities within lessons taught. Our teachers are provided with the skills to teach students how to become creative thinkers by integrating their cultural and linguistic experiences with challenging learning experiences that involve higher-order thinking and critical inquiry,” she says. “Creative thinking allows our students to become a part of their daily lessons. Our students are no longer just receiving the information, but [also] adding the ‘what if’ and expressing their valued opinions respectfully.”

Crooks says that this method often leads to debates that are followed by research and data information sessions from teachers,

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JOHN CROSLAND SCHOOL students and parents. As a result, students are” confident as they approach different learning opportunities, as well as local assessments and national assessments. They also gain an awareness and appreciation for other cultures by traveling abroad and experiencing different teaching and learning styles.”

The same is true at the Fletcher School where the misison is to serve students who learn differently. “Therefore, respect for difference is fundamental to our social purpose,” says Dr. Brent Betit, head of school at the Fletcher School.

“Many people today condemn the tribalism and nationalism that appear to be surfacing, causing conflict and division between and within sovereign nations and their citizens,” he continues. “Enlightened citizens with a global outlook understand that cooperation and understanding are the path to a more peaceable world — that, counterintuitively, our celebration and understanding of difference unites us as human beings... It is part of our cultural DNA. We aim to build on that cultural foundation of respect, to create global citizens who can thrive in a diverse social environment, equipped to achieve personal life success and to contribute to American and global progress.”

Regardless of their approaches, one thing all the schools seem to agree upon is the need for critical thinking skills to prepare students for the future and whatever challenges they will face.

“I would argue that it is in the DNA of Country Day to help our students critically examine the many nuances of global issues, and prepare them to help to not only live within the intricacies of the 21st century, but to also help think through and lead in the areas of ensuring clean water, dealing with

an expanding global population, building relationships to nurture and cultivate markets of innovation and business, understanding and responding to climate changes, strengthening public policy in areas of health and education, reducing terrorism, reducing

CHARLOTTE COUNTRY DAY SCHOOL nuclear proliferation and grappling and solving issues which have not yet emerged, but will demand a powerful, flexible, and resilient mind and spirit,” says Warren Sepkowitz, head of middle school at CCDS. Scott Waybright, assistant head of school at CCDS, adds, “It has been noted that, in this age of technology and change, our children are likely preparing for work in a world that we adults cannot entirely imagine. Critical thinking and problemsolving is associated with every profession and is considered a key 21st-century skill.

More than ever, critical thinking is crucial to provide a foundation that will prepare our students to thrive and lead in our everevolving and global world.” P

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At Providence Day, we inspire a passion for learning in our students.

So from time to time, we go where their curiosity and imagination take us. www.providenceday.org/admissions

WHERE PERFORMANCE MEETS POTENTIAL Providing a structured, individualized, K-12 college preparatory curriculum for students with learning differences.

704.365.4658 | thefletcherschool.org 8500 Sardis Road | Charlotte, NC 28270

Charlotte Sounds Off on Public Education

By Kallan Louis

T

he public school system all over the country is facing increased criticism, following the last academic year. From nationwide teacher pay protests to classroom safety following fatal tragedies on campuses, people have many questions, and school districts are under pressure to come up with solutions.

Recently PRIDE asked a diverse group of local education leaders and parents:

What is one thing you would like to change about the public school system?

“I believe in the philosophy of education reformer Howard Mann:- “Education, beyond all other devices of human origin, is the great equalizer of the conditions of men, the balance-wheel of the social machinery.” Public school is our greatest asset. It is an opportunity for kids, regardless of background, to receive the social, emotional and academic tools to unlock their path. Unfortunately, our public schools don’t live up to Mann’s ideology. I am a public school advocate. Although I’m a product of public schools, I taught in a public school and my kids will attend public schools; I know that my school experience reflected my neighborhood and parents’ income.

If I could change one thing about public school, I would ensure that the quality of teachers, supplies, courses offered, extracurricular activities and the schools’ conditions was superior, regardless of zip code, income levels and race.”

—Jason Terrell, executive director, Profound Gentlemen, Inc., and former educator September-October 2018 | Pride Magazine

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“...The one thing I would change about the public school system is to throw the whole thing away!

Rather than fix a 1960s automobile that’s high on mileage and has a leaky oil pipe, it’s better to invest in a newer model. The world has changed, but the education system, in America, has remained the same for decades. While this is perhaps a radical option, students of color, in particular, are ‘forced’ to engage in a curriculum that wasn’t designed for them. They are pressured to pass tests that are institutionally biased. For our LGBT babies, the freedom of expression and space to develop like any other kid is limited....”

— Mario Jovan Shaw, chief impact officer, Profound Gentlemen, Inc., and former educator

“I live in a nice neighborhood, but our schools are rated like a four on a scale of one-10. In other neighborhoods, schools might be rated an eight or nine. Unless you are in the lottery, you can’t choose a better school to go to. I just don’t understand why there is such a big gap between schools in CMS that rate as low as a two or three. More needs to be done to close the gap.”

— Shawna Cook, parent

“Every school needs champions – a wide range of community partners, stakeholders that provide support, encouragement and advocacy for our schools. When the broad community claims shared investment in our public schools, other needed changes will follow: Eeducators and children will have adequate resources including meaningful professional development, access to mental health services and books/supplies to spark and sustain the love of learning in every child.

When we believe in children, and demonstrate our belief with our time, talents and treasure, children will believe in themselves and grow into their long-term potential.”

— Mary Nell McPherson, executive director, Freedom School Partners

“I think we put too much pressure on the schools and not enough on the parents.

Schools and parents need to work together more for the kids. I raised three children and always made sure I had a relationship with the school and their teachers.”

— Giovanni Flores, parent

“Rather than busing students around for hours, let’s do something about that.

Some kids don’t get off the bus for an hour or more.”

— Guy Eaker Jr., parent

“I don’t understand why the changes to the grading scale and reduced passing scores.

Get rid of No Child Left Behind. They should be there to learn and pass classes — not be in school for attendance purposes.”

— Crystal Bailey, parent 38

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Meet the Toppin Family Lin, Lisa, Lance (eighth grade) and Lindsay (sixth grade)

Q. Tell us a little about what brought you to Country Day. Lisa: Initially, we were not going to consider independent schools, because our neighborhood school was rated so well.

However, after a friend talked us into the tour, we could see that the opportunity was much more than formal academics. The curriculum has a basis in inquiry, research and discovery. For me, this means that not only will our children learn the necessary content, but they will also learn how to think, how to ask questions and how to look for answers beyond what is presented. The additional experiences offered at Country Day help children discover the full range of their talent, what makes them special.

Q. Can you share with us briefly how you and your family are involved in Country Day? Lisa: From engaging in the summer camps to clubs and extracurricular opportunities, especially Science Olympiad, the music program, athletics and the international studies program, our children have taken advantage of the myriad of opportunities that exist for them to get involved. The results can be seen both in their passion and drive.

We are looking forward to the possibilities that exist in the Upper School, as well. After attending a presentation by the Upper School students on their science internship experiences, that included impressive projects like “Synthesis and Reactivity of N-Heterocyclic Thione and Selone Complexes of Silver,” we understand the kind of college-level opportunities that await our children.

For Lin and me, it has been about the Parent Volunteer Groups that have been so important in extending our experience —both through the Parents’ Association and People of Color in Independent Schools (POCIS). Not only do we come together to do important work on behalf of the school, but we also get to know each other, support each other and build relationships that will endure long after our children graduate.

POCIS is such an important body for the school. By creating and continuing to sanction POCIS for the last 18 years, Country Day has said that having an organization focused on supporting families of color is important. And that means everything.

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Q. Charlotte Country Day School has a history of putting diversity and accessibility first, most recently by increasing funding toward financial aid and creating a board committee to focus on diversity of all kinds. Why is this important, and what is your experience relative to accessibility at Country Day? Lisa: What I love about Country Day is its accessibility. We not only have made great strides in ethnic diversity, but also socioeconomic diversity is strong and perhaps does not get enough attention.

Families can receive partial or full financial support for tuition. I have also seen how the school has financially supported students for extracurricular experiences like our international exchanges. We are a community with a shared value for an excellent, whole education that binds us together. Every child deserves that, and every student at Country Day has access to it, regardless of their resources.

Q. What is one thing that you would like to share about your Country Day experience with the readers of Pride Magazine?

Lisa: The culture of the organization is one that is welcoming and inclusive. While people outside of our community project misconceptions about the school due to its prominence and history, I would encourage anyone to take the tour. Now, be prepared if you take the tour—don’t be surprised if you fall in love, just as we did. Charlotte Country Day School is a human place, a place where everyone is striving for excellence. Perfect doesn’t exist, but excellence does. At Country Day, excellence exists through so many aspects of the curriculum: visual and performing arts, athletics, academics, social responsibility and more. We are grateful to be a part of and contribute to this community, this excellence and this opportunity. We influence our experience, and that is what inclusion is all about. P

Did you know?

Ready. For. You. As a school, we seek to admit talented and motivated

•

100% of Country Day graduates are accepted to colleges and universities around the world; the Class of 2018 received $10.6 million total scholarship offers based on academic merit, athletic abilities, or special talents

•

Nearly 20% of our enrollment comprises students of color

•

100% of our faculty engage in professional development each year including diversity, equity, and inclusion

•

About 16% of the Country Day student body receives financial aid; more than $4.3 million is granted with an average award of $12,000

•

Over 20% of our Board of Trustees comprises people of color

students from diverse backgrounds. Central to preparing our students for this world is creating a diverse academic community, including socioeconomically, racially, and ethnically. In fact, research has proven that a diverse environment leads to better learning outcomes for all students. Families who feel the full tuition cost is out of their reach should not hesitate to visit or apply to the school. We are here to help you determine the best options for your family with this very important educational investment.

Call us today to learn more about the opportunities at Country Day! charlottecountryday.org | (704) 943-4530

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DREAMING OF A CAREER IN NURSING? College Grads Can Become an RN in Just 16 Months with Northeastern University-Charlotte’s Accelerated Program

By Colleen Brannan

W

hether you’re a recent college grad or career changer, there’s still hope for your nursing aspirations. Northeastern University-Charlotte’s ABSN program enables bachelor’s degree holders to earn a nursing degree in as few as 16 months, regardless of your previous field of study.

It features the same curriculum, the same selective admission standards, and the same distinguished nursing faculty that made the program such a success in the Boston area, where top-ranked Northeastern University is based.

Launched in Charlotte in 2016 to help address the ongoing shortage of bachelor’s-educated nurses facing health care providers throughout the region, the ABSN program graduated its inaugural class in May of this year. All achieved both a 100% first-time pass rate on the NCLEX exam (required to become a licensed nurse) and received job offers before they even graduated.

According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, in North Carolina alone, demand for nurses will exceed supply by nearly 13,000 by the year 2025.

The state already has 110 areas officially designated as “medically underserved.”

May ABSN graduate Patti Spada works in the nursing lab on Northeastern University-Charlotte’s campus in Uptown.

“The limited capacity of most nursing programs, combined with a growing need for nurses with a bachelor’s degree, has led to a significant supply/demand imbalance in the profession,” said Dr. Cheryl Richards, CEO & Regional Dean of Northeastern University-Charlotte. “As the only ABSN

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Northeastern's 16-month ABSN program in Charlotte combines online courses with hands-on learning in labs like this one, plus clinical rotations in local hospitals.

program in the region to offer three start dates a year, we’re able to admit a greater number of qualified students than our peer universities offering similar programs.”

Online courses also help increase the program’s capacity, as do clinical partnerships with local healthcare leaders Atrium Health and Novant. ABSN program students gain real-world nursing experience inside two nationally-ranked hospital systems, which also happen to be two of the area’s largest employers.

“Some students in our inaugural ABSN class received job offers from our clinical partners, a promising sign for future program graduates,” said Dr. Richards.

“Charlotte’s health care sector continues to thrive and needs practice-ready nurses.”

The university also added a stateof-the-art nursing center to its Uptown Charlotte campus located at the iconic intersection of Trade and Tryon, to give students the hands-on experience needed to supplement their online coursework.

Students currently come from all over the state, region, and country to attend the ABSN program.

The current ABSN class, which started in May, is full of career changers with undergraduate degrees in everything from electrical engineering and accounting to marketing and business. In addition to the Carolinas, these students are coming

from all over including California, Florida, Massachusetts and Michigan.

The ABSN program at Northeastern University-Charlotte is currently accepting applications for its 2019 start dates in January (Spring), May (Summer) and September (Fall). For more information, visit absn.northeastern.edu or call 866.892.3819

YOU'RE INVITED! Want to check out Northeastern’s State-of-the-Art Learning Facilities in the heart of Uptown Charlotte?

Attend the ABSN Open House WHEN: Saturday, September 22, 10AM-12PM WHERE: Northeastern

University-Charlotte Campus (Uptown at the corner of Trade and Tryon) 101. N. Tryon, 11th Floor COST: There is no cost to attend but

please RSVP to Alexandria.schellhase@ northeasternnursing.com

More Black Parents Turn to Homeschool to Educate Their Children

(L - R) Namir Jankee, 10, Gianna Jackson, 6 and Jalen Jackson, 13 enjoy reading time during their weekly visit to the library.

By Tonya Jameson

T

he kitchen table in the Jacksons’ north Charlotte home is stacked with books and writing paper.

Three Black boys thumb through the books, looking for animals to write about. Kristin Jackson tells them the day’s assignment and leaves them to work.

Jackson, 45, used to think homeschoolers were weird. Now she is one.

After enrolling and then removing her children from public and private schools, Jackson began homeschooling her two sons and daughter a few years ago. It wasn’t an easy decision, but it’s one that she and her husband haven’t regretted.

The Jacksons join a growing legion of Black parents who have decided to educate their children themselves. They are part of the reason that homeschool student enrollment now leads private school enrollment by 10,000 students in North Carolina, according to the Division of NonPublic Education. Black students make

up only eight percent of the homeschool population nationwide, but that number tripled in the last two decades.

Black parents are drawn to homeschooling for a myriad of reasons, ranging from medical issues to flexible scheduling to cultural competency. For the Jacksons, a medical issue with Jalen, 13 caused him to miss a lot of school. He was so behind that when he did attend, he hated it and stressed out. That increased his chances for seizures.

His medical care team suggested homeschooling. Jackson wasn’t sure. She was educated at a top public school system in Maryland, where she grew up. She had her own stereotypes about homeschoolers. Her grandmother, mother and aunt were public school educators. Her family questioned her qualifications. After all, her background was in social work, not education. They, like her, wondered if she was up to the challenge, and they were worried that her children would grow up with poor social skills.

Jackson researched everything, from homeschool curriculums to free local educational programs. She found other Black homeschoolers on Facebook. She created a library in her home. Her hard work paid off.

Jackson spent two years focusing on Jalen’s reading comprehension, to get him on grade level. She and her husband decided to try it with elder son Chris, 17, as well. His PSAT score went from a 780 to 1,000 a year later. He will start at Central Piedmont Community College this fall.

Jackson adapts her curriculum to fit her children’s learning needs. Chris is an auditory learner. Jalen, 13, learns visually, and daughter Gianna, 6, needs hands-on activities. She’s a kindergartner, and would have had to wait until next year to start at a public school because of her late birthday, but Jackson will start her on a kindergarten curriculum this fall.

The Jacksons and other parents interviewed for this story say their children’s

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test scores and competency have improved, but there is little definitive data on educational performance of Black homeschoolers.

A 2015 study in the Journal of School Choice did find that Black homeschooled students scored “significantly higher” on reading and math tests than did Black students enrolled in public schools. That study, though, was conducted by a researcher at an organization that advocates for homeschooling, according to an article in The Atlantic.

Homeschooling isn’t just an option for the affluent. It is used by single mothers, working class families and beyond. Josue and Shonte Moise run Academy Achievers, which offers extracurricular programming for students, and say their parents include single mothers, business owners, third-shift workers and twoparent homes.

Initially, Jackson homeschooled her children alone, but now she has a group of kids she also teaches a couple of days a week for literacy. She wanted her children to participate in group projects, but when she participated in other programs she rarely saw other Black children. She posted inquiries on Facebook to organizations such as African American Homeschoolers of Charlotte, and began creating a network for her children. There are even national organizations such as the African American Online Co-Op, African-American Homeschool Network and National Black Home Educators.

She also takes advantages of free community resources, such as Spanish language classes at the library and science programs at Discovery Place and Reedy Creek Nature Preserve. The YMCA offers homeschool programming to enrich parents’ curricula.

Contrary to her families’ concerns, Jackson’s children are far from socially awkward. Chris is a few steps away from becoming an Eagle Scout, and plays football. Jalen runs track. Gianna is adorably social and far from shy.

“That was my main concern, that they wouldn’t be able to get everything they would need,” said Jackson’s mom. “I feel much better about homeschool. They’re not just sitting in front of a computer. They do field trips and incorporate it into their learning.”

Homeschooling has also created a cottage industry locally. The Moises started the Academy Achievers to provide supplemental education outside of the standard core education classes, such as math and reading.

They created Academy Achievers after they began homeschooling their son a few years ago. Shonte Moise said she used to spend hours each night working with him on his schoolwork. So, she decided to teach him herself. Friends asked if their children could participate. Most of the Academy Achievers students come from word of mouth.

The Moises say Black students aren’t exposed to the same classes and programming as their white peers. Academy Achievers evens the playing field.

“We’re not trying to isolate them,” Josue Moise said. “We want to give them a dominant advantage so they can compete.”

Core classes at Academy Achievers include computer coding, art, physical education and agriculture. Specialty classes include piano, film and chess.

The Moises also provide orientation and assistance for parents transitioning to homeschooling. They provide a support system and help with paperwork.

Jackson and Shonte Moise say discipline is rarely a problem with their home school students.

“It’s the mind-set, it’s the lifestyle. Once they start homeschool, they have a mind-set,” Shonte Moise said. “They want to be there.” P

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3 Artists to Watch

By Jimese S. Orange

T

hese Charlotte-based artists are creating opportunities by using art as a form of social activism, to challenge the status quo, contribute to the narrative, call communities to action and initiate communal healing. We are all invited to join the movements they are spearheading.

Georgie Nakima www.gardenofjourney.com “I like things to be as diverse as possible, in real life and through my artwork. That is why my work looks so eclectic,” says Georgie Nakima, who describes her style as “conceptual expressionism.” You can get lost in her multidimensional pieces, as Nakima’s love for science and geometry intersect with inspirations from the African diaspora, indigenous cultures, wildlife and nature. She is leaving a colorful mark on the city, with huge murals in Camp North End, at Warehouse 242 in west Charlotte and at Solstice in NoDa. Ford Motor Company took notice of her work and featured Nakima in its 2018 “Born To Roll” advertising campaign that celebrates women of color. A collaborative project with the League of Creative Interventionists, called “Manifest Future”

“Learning Expands Great Souls” from artist Georgie Nakima

September-October 2018 | Pride Magazine

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and funded by Historic West End and the Knight Foundation, will be coming together in Mosaic Village on West Trade Street with the intention of infusing the space with new energy, color and purpose. It’s a response to gentrification in the area, using mural creation, community gardening, farmers’ markets and event space to reclaim a landmark area that had been abandoned for more than 10 years. Paint parties, held every first and third Friday, invite the community to come out and make a hands-on contribution to the cause.

Monique Luck moniqueluckart.com Mixed-media artist Monique Luck creates mosaic-like works of art, using abstract shapes made from pieces of recycled paper, sometimes scraps of fabric, other found materials and acrylic paint, that come together in rich, layered textures.

As the grand prize winner of the Romare Bearden-inspired collage contest hosted by the Mint Museum, Monique Luck’s mark on Charlotte has been given opportunities to expand through mural projects, community-centered public art installations and most recently in a summer residency at the McColl Center.

Her work can be seen making its way through Charlotte as part of the ArtPop Street Gallery Billboard project. “As a public muralist, it amazes me how simple imagery and color can transform a space

“Caught in a Daydream” from artist Monique Luck

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“The Collector” from the series "Homeless in America" by John Robert “Trey” Miles III

in a community,” Luck says. A beautiful sculpture she created, with the residents of the Renaissance community as part of the Renaissance West Community Initiative, helped bring hope and a sense of pride to the transformed former public housing development once known as Boulevard Homes. An upcoming community project, in partnership with Lexicon Gallery in Plaza Midwood, will have Luck creating a work of art inspired by community bonding over loss and grief that will be an installation at the International House.

John Robert “Trey” Miles III www.milesofdesignstudio.com At first glance, John Robert “Trey” Miles III’s art almost looks like a vintage photograph of a familiar homegrown scene in urban life or everyday country life, reminiscent of times gone by. This high school art teacher is taking collage to hyper-realistic levels. The depth of perception he creates in each work of art, using hundreds of pieces of paper, precisely cut-up photographs and paint, come together like pieces of an intricate puzzle. The illusion is fascinating to appreciate and dissect, as one takes in his work up close. His work magnifies and takes inspiration from traditional street life and the everyday activities of people, young and old. “The Neighborhood,” a series that was inspired by walks through the Hidden Valley community, comprises representations of Charlotte neighborhoods.

“America Gentrified” and his most recent series, “This is America,” visually address the wave of gentrification that Charlotte and much of urban America has been experiencing. Look for a chance to see his work featured in an exhibition offering a fresh look at gentrification, at the Harvey B. Gantt Center this fall, and delve deeper into the artist’s mind, process and inspirations in an upcoming documentary tentatively titled “The Rebirth of Collage,” which will be streaming on Amazon Prime Video this winter.

Stay abreast of great things in motion and on the horizon for these homegrown artists making their mark on Charlotte and beyond. P

West Charlotte Program Inspiring

the Next Generation of Classical Musicians

By LaShawn Hudson

W

hile most boys his age spend their time playing video games or bopping to the latest hits from Bruno Mars or Drake, six-year-old Amauri Smith prefers to listen to Beethoven.

And when he’s not listening to classical music, the first-grader enjoys playing it on his custom-fitted violin.

“I treat my violin like a baby,” says Smith, who lives in the Beatties Ford Road corridor. “I love to listen to Beethoven, because you can hear the violin and the piano playing in the background.”

Smith was first introduced to classical music at school. He is

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one of 30 plus students taking Suzuki violin lessons at Friendship Day School (FDS) for the Sciences and the Arts in west Charlotte. The school was birthed from the success of Friendship Missionary Baptist Church’s highly-acclaimed eight-week summer Y.O.U. Program.

Linda Comer and Margaret Dancy helped establish the Suzuki violin program at FDS in September 2017, after reviewing the far-reaching benefits of studying music.

“The study of music teaches focus, concentration and attention,” says Dancy, a member of the church’s education commission and the chairwoman for the Arts Advisory Council that advises FDS. Comer heads the school. Both women say the violin program is unique, because it complements the school’s rigorous arts and sciences program and promotes parent engagement.

The cost of violin lessons is included in tuition.

“It’s a part of our school’s philosophy and it’s embedded in our curriculum,” explains Dancy. “Every single child that’s enrolled in our school has to take the violin lessons.”

The school uses the Suzuki method, which dates back to the 20th century and teaches young children to play music through repetition, similar to the way in which language is learned. The founder of the method, Japanese violinist Dr. Shinichi Suzuki, also believed that all children could learn music if they had a positive learning environment and practiced playing their instrument daily with parental support.

Dancy says students have responded well to the program, and their musical skills are blossoming, too.

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int to Move Cultural Dance Night began at Mint Museum Uptown in 2012 to reflect the region’s diverse and inclusive commUNITY through music, dancing, visual art, and cultural appreciation. Held on one of the best dance floors in Charlotte, this bi-monthly drop-in event presents varied cultural themes. Mint to Move is not just a dance party but rather an artistic and cultural experience paying tribute to artists and Latin, African, & Caribbean islands/countries.

Adults enjoy 4 hours of Afro-House, Afro-Cuban and Latin-American dance rhythms with House DJ Jorge Moran, live musicians, and unique themes to celebrate multi-cultures, ethnic and gender diversity, dance, visual and performing art. Guests can semba, salsa, bachata, cha cha, line dance, and step to other dance forms relative to various global communities as well as enjoy other performing and visual art, including live painting by local artists and a cultural art activity.

Mint to Move also offers discount admission before 9 pm and free dance lessons

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Pride Magazine | www.pridemagazineonline.com

@ 7:45 and 9:00 p.m. with Rumbao Latin Dance Company. Ball room, Latin salsa, and other dance programs are welcome.

Complimentary snacks and party favors are offered while they last, along with a cash bar.

Each December, Dia de las Velitas, a Colombia, South America tradition, is held as a part of the event to foster unity, family, cultural appreciation, and comradery.

Community partners include ArtSí Charlotte, the Puerto Rican Society of Charlotte, Rumbao Latin Dance Company, Comite’de Fiestas Patrias y Tradiciones de Charlotte, Líderes Colombianos en Charlotte, Soy Como Tú, and the UNCC Africana Studies Department.

Mint to Move has brought spectacular performers and emerging artists to join in the celebration, such as Orquesta Mayor, Café Amaretto, and Rico Oscar; featured

live painters include Barbara Ellis, Curtis King, Lillian White, Monica Veckruise, Julio Gonzalez, Elisa Lopez Trejo, and Leonor Demori Neisler; and poets: Herrison Chicas, Quentin Talley, Kurma Murrain, Irania Patterson, and José G. Vázquez.

YOU'RE INVITED! WHEN: SATURDAY, SEP 15, 2018 (celebrating the Mint’s Grand Re-Opening and Latin American Heritage Month) 7:00PM - 11:30PM WHERE: Mint Museum Uptown at Levine

Center for the Arts, 500 South Tryon Street COST: ADMISSION: $13 / $9.75 MINT MEMBERS; $1 OFF General Admission before 9 PM

Adds Dancy: “The philosophy of the Suzuki violin is joy. If the children are participating in the violin instruction and it’s a joyful experience for them, they will likely continue to play.”

Smith’s great-great aunt, Angela Rivers, says she’s noticed positive changes in her nephew since he’s been in the private school and a part of the program.

“He is reading, he’s adding, he’s using his imagination,” says Rivers. “The level of confidence that he has from playing Suzuki violin is amazing.”

FDS has two grade levels,: kindergarten and first grade, but Comer says the school will add an additional grade level every year, as more students enroll.

Comer says the violin program has helped students become more well-rounded and it is fortifying their educational experience in meaningful, impactful ways.

“When children come through the door, I look at the brilliance they bring to the table,” she says. “They come in bright, with confidence, and they are brilliant in many ways. And it’s our job as educators to continue to build upon that.”

She says she will continue to work with other staff members, the education commission and the school’s board of directors to figure out ways to strengthen the music program at the school.

“At some point, I’d like for us to offer additional string instruments,” says Comer. “I’d like to see our students play the cello, the viola and the bass.”

Students currently enrolled in the violin program get to perform for live audiences at their winter and spring recitals.

As for Smith, he aspires to become a piano teacher when he grows up. In the meantime, he says he’s content with learning the fundamentals of the violin.

“Playing the violin makes me happy,” he says. “I think it’s important for all kids and adults to do it.” P

September-October 2018 | Pride Magazine

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SceneandSeen

The Charlotte Museum of History’s Fourth of July Celebration at the Charlotte Museum of History.

Photos courtesy of The Charlotte Museum of History.

Carolina Music Video Music Awards at McGlohon Theater.

Photos courtesy of Street Scoop Photography.

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PrideBusiness

New Center Will Train Students and Adults for In-Demand Skilled Construction Jobs

By Tonya Jameson

C

ranes once again dot the Charlotte skyline, as new hotels and offices open uptown, while bulldozers and commercial dumpsters erase old homes to turn them into new ones.

Despite this growth, Charlotte’s construction industry struggles, because there are not enough skilled trade professionals, such as HVAC and masonry workers, to support demand. The workforce skills deficit comes at a time when city leaders grapple with raising Charlotte’s economic mobility ranking from last in the 50 largest cities in the nation.

Seizing on an opportunity to address both problems, Goodwill Industries of the Southern Piedmont, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools (CMS), Central Piedmont Community College (CPCC), and The ROC (Rebuilding Opportunities in Construction) established the Goodwill Construction Skills Training Center.

The four organizations will work together to train and certify high school students and adults for in-demand construction trade skills for free. The training center is expected to open in January in a former Goodwill warehouse on Allegheny Street.

The existing 15,000- square-foot building, across from Phillip O. Berry Academy of Technology, requires $2.7 million

for renovation, upfit and equipment.

Fundraising efforts are underway. Organizers are about halfway toward their goal.

By December 2018, the old warehouse will become a state-of-the-art training facility. There will be three “smart” classrooms, a computer-aided drafting lab, a large training space filled with laboratory bays and industry-specific equipment for hands-on training in various disciplines.

There will be top-notch technology; for example the computer-assisted drafting (CAD) lab will have a laser printer to create 3D renderings, said LaRita Barber, Goodwill’s chief advancement officer.

CMS and Goodwill currently have programs in the construction industry. For example, CMS will continue its Career and Technical Education program, and Goodwill has a seven week construction training program with instructors from CPCC. However, this center will allow participating organizations to take these basic training programs a step farther, allowing youth and adult students to become trained and certified in a specialized field, Barber said.

All students will start with foundational training and then choose a specialty area, such as construction, field supervision, masonry, apartment maintenance, advanced carpentry, computer-aided drafting and design, HVAC and electrical. The training

center will allow each partner organization to expand its offerings to better serve the needs of our community at one facility.

Barber emphasized that the creation and operation of the center is truly a joint effort: • The ROC will develop and oversee in-school teen programming and support services and develop outreach strategies to engage CMS students and their families.

• CPCC will handle education, training and curriculum design for teens and adults.

• CMS will handle recruitment, logistics and collaboration with agencies for teen support services and mentoring.

• Goodwill will oversee the renovation and management of the facility, as well as recruiting and providing support series to adults.

According to a 2016 N.C. Department of Commerce survey, more than half of the state’s construction companies had difficulty finding employees with technical skills.

There’s expected to be a 37,000 shortfall of people to fill the available construction jobs.

Nearly half of these job openings are a result of current construction employees aging out of the workforce.

“We recognize the skilled trades are an essential part of helping to build our growing city, and having these skills can lead to in-demand high potential careers. We also understand the path for individuals in our

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23234 x 9.875 4c

(L to R) Stephanie Kripa Cooper-Lewter, Exec.

Director, Leading on Opportunity Council; Dr. Kandi Deitemeyer, President, Central Piedmont Community College; Darren Ash, Executive Director, The ROC; Chris Jackson, President & CEO, Goodwill Industries of the Southern Piedmont; Dr. Matt Hayes, North Learning Community Superintendent, CharlotteMecklenburg Schools.

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community to attain these skills is sometimes met with obstacles,” said Chris Jackson, president and CEO of Goodwill Industries of the Southern Piedmont in a statement.

“The programs offered at the Goodwill Construction Skills Training Center are provided at no cost to participants and lead to industry-recognized certifications that create access to opportunities for familysustaining employment.”

High school students will complete career and technical education coursework through The ROC during the day, and will get training through Goodwill at night.

Once their training programs are complete, students can choose to enter the workforce, apply for an apprenticeship or transfer credits toward an associate degree at CPCC. “We are very excited about this partnership and the opportunities it will offer to our students,” said Dr. Clayton Wilcox, superintendent of CMS. “The new training center will allow students to gain certifications that will prepare them for good jobs.”

Excitement regarding the new facility is building among employers, as well as potential students, Barber said. The first class of high school juniors will start this fall at Phillip O. Berry Academy and transition to the new facility in 2019. The adult programming will start in 2019 with classes in the evenings. By 2020, the Goodwill Construction Skills Training Center will serve approximately 120 youths and 400 adults each year. P

A

Mustard seed gets

International

ATTENTION

International visitors join in Village HeartBEAT’s chair aerobics class. On steps from left to right: Deborah Smith, Dr. Mwai Makoka (Switerzland), Mitchell Smith, Dr. Benita Yaw-Alfred (Jamaica) Middle from left to right: Brenda White, Cheryl Emanuel, Prof. Suzanne Jackson (Canada), Janet McConnell (Jamaica), Rev. Judith Johnson-Grant (Jamaica), Rev. Gary Harriott (Jamaica) Back from left to right: Eva Mafi (Tonga), Rev. Filifai'esea Lilo (Tonga), Joe Young, Rev. Jordan Boyd, Rev. Gerome Stinson, Bishop Wade Ferguson.Photo Credits: www.Zuri.Creative.com

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ecklenburg County Public Health and Village HeartBEAT (VHB) hosted a summit to discuss and develop a framework for promoting healthy living through Christian churches around the world. Representatives from VHB clergy and Community Partners, the World Council of Churches – Switzerland, Tonga, & Jamaica, and the World Health Organization convened in Charlotte for this ground-breaking strategic planning session and ended with a community reception at Dorothy D. Waddy Pavilion on Manchester Dr. in Charlotte.

Dr. Makoka leads a group discussion during Day 1 of the workshop.

Guided by Dr. Mwai Makoka, program director for the WCC‘s Health and Healing Program, the workshop took an in-depth look at three congregation-based health programs in Tonga, Jamaica and Charlotte, all of which are engaging communities in an effort to combat non-communicable diseases.

Though each have different histories and operate in different socio-economic environments, all three programs were examined and used as a starting point for developing a model for scaling up to other countries. Workshops included discussions regarding which components or activities can make a significant impact; identifying the necessary monitoring/evaluation tools and skills; recogSponsored Content

nizing compatible governance, management and coordination structures and pinpointing effective technological solutions necessary to support the program.

Health Director, Gibbie Harris, takes an active role in group discussion during Day 2 of the workshop.

The World Council of Churches (WCC) is a worldwide fellowship with over a half a billion Christians around the world, supporting the work of churches globally on health issues.

The legacies of WCC include establishing Christian health associations in several countries, proposing and implementing the Primary Health Care Model and creating programs to help churches address the aids epidemic in Africa, the Philippines and the Caribbean.

Under the leadership of Cheryl Emanuel, Mecklenburg County Senior Health Manager of Community Engagement, VHB is Mecklenburg County's award winning, faith-based movement, established in 2011 to help eliminate health disparities and balance health equity among African Americans and Latinos by enhancing community resources in a coordinated health care service model to address obesity and heart disease awareness.

VHB works in collaboration with all members of faith-based organizations and leaders to provide a platform by which all of Mecklenburg citizens can partake of good health, regardless of socioeconomic status, race or ethnicity, gender, age, or disability. Each year, area churches in Mecklenburg County with members who have self-identified with at

least one chronic disease health risk factor, enter into a 10-month wellness program, including a 16-week competition challenge, which encourages them to engage in activities such as healthy eating, exercising and health education. VHB won the National Faith & Community Health Excellence Award from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Region IV in 2014. In February of this year, VHB was 1 out of 10 initiatives to receive the Healthiest Cities and Counties Challenge (HCCC) national SPOTLIGHT AWARD under the Aetna Foundation and was granted $25,000 for its community-based model to improve and sustain the health and well-being of citizens in African-American and Hispanic neighborhoods in Mecklenburg County. The program is also currently a contender in Aetna Foundation’s Healthiest Cities and Counties Challenge to win the grand prize of $500,000 to be announced in December 2018. Village HeartBEAT’s Season 7 kicks off October 2018.

Bishop Wade H. Ferguson III, Dr. Mwai Makoka, Arlandis Rush, VP Aetna Representative, Ms. Thereasea Elder, Rev. Jordan Boyd.

To learn more about this workshop or Mecklenburg County’s Village HeartBEAT program, go to www.villagehb.org and www.facebook.com/VillageHeartBEAT or contact Cheryl Emanuel at Cheryl.Emanuel@MeckNC.gov.

PROUD TO GIVE BUSINESSES A LIFT CATS is proud to provide opportunities for businesses to create local jobs through the advancement of transit projects. CATS also seeks to create an environment that gives small and socially or economically challenged local businesses the opportunity to compete for publicly funded contracts by participating in the Small Business Opportunity (SBO) and the Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) Programs.

To date, 112 DBE firms have been awarded contracts of over $89 million to help build the LYNX Blue Line Light Rail Extension.

As the major provider of public transportation to Charlotte and the surrounding region, CATS relies on the communities we serve to build and operate the service every day. By working together on these new opportunities, we can all keep our communities moving in the right direction.

For more information, visit ridetransit.org.

CATS. YOUR RIDE IS HERE.

PrideHealth

By Martez L. Prince

I

Are You Taking the Wrong Medication?

n the past, when an individual was diagnosed with a condition, the physician would use clinical guidelines created during extensive studies to determine proper treatment. It’s been proven that these studies are sometime outdated and exclude several factors that affect certain populations.

Patients are usually started on one medication and then monitored for 30 to 90 days for progress. If the medication doesn’t work, the same process is repeated, and then the patient is prescribed a new medication. They will need to do a follow-up to determine if it’s working.

Reports show that this process cost patients more than $17.1 billion annually, excluding wages from missed work. Recently, an Arizona-based company launched a provider-friendly pharmacogenetic test that’s changing the way medications are being prescribed.

These changes aren’t just saving patients money on ineffective medications; they are also saving lives by decreasing mortality and morbidity among medication users.

Not only is this test making sure patients are prescribed the right medication and dose the first time; most of medication users are getting it done for free. Due to

the proven benefits of patient outcomes, and an effort to expand upon President Obama’s Precision Medicine Initiative and explore innovative ways to individualize medicine, insurance companies increase their coverage to include the RXight Pharmacogentic Test by MD Labs. The test was chosen for its ease of collecting DNA samples and its ability to return a great deal of information that can be used by patients, family members, prescribers, pharmacists, and even in emergency situations.

The Rxight Pharmacogentic test is done at your pharmacy through a simple mouth swab. The RXight Pharmacogenetic

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test checks the DNA compatibility between the patient and more than 250 different medications. This new and innovative pharmacogenetic test works first by analyzing how you metabolize and respond to specific medications. Through this analysis, it can also be determined which medications will cause more side effects, require dose adjustments or increase the number of adverse effects in you. When the results of the test are determined, they will be shared with you and your doctor in a comprehensive report. The results will then be used to adjust current medications, as well as eliminate prescribing errors in the future.

In addition to the comprehensive report, each patient receives a pocket card that can be placed in the wallet and used in emergency situations, by paramedics and other emergency responders, to ensure proper treatment. Ensuring that you are prescribed the right medication allows you to experience the benefits of the medication faster, so next time you visit your pharmacy, be sure to ask your pharmacist about the RXight Pharmacogentic test and if you qualify to received one for free. P Dr. Martez L. Prince is a pharmacist, philantropist and entrepreneur. www.DrMartezPrince.com

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PrideBusiness

FYI News & Notes Compiled by Angela Haigler

Minimum Wage Increase for Atrium Health Employees Atrium Health employees making minimum wage received a $1-an-hour raise over the summer, moving their pay from $11.50 to $12.50 per hour. Additionally, teammates who are currently in the $12.50 per hour pay range will receive an increase to maintain pay differentiation. The system cites staying competitive in today’s labor market as the reason.

“Each and every one of our teammates is integral to ensuring our patients receive the very best,” says Gene Woods, president and CEO of Atrium Health.

“As we continue to work together to improve health, elevate hope and advance healing – for all, this increase represents our ongoing commitment to our team and supports the incredible work they do every single day.”

Atrium is one of the region’s largest employers, with more than 35,000 employees in the Charlotte region. The increase stands to impact the lives of more than 7,500 area residents.

Walmart to Offer Low-Cost Educational Benefits to Employees On the heels of its announcement that it will increase hourly wages from $9 to $11, Walmart will provide workers with the chance to attend college for $1 a day, after relevant financial aid. The costs for tuition, books and fees will be subsidized by Walmart, eliminating the need for student loan debt. Courses must be business or supply-chain oriented. Part-time, full-time and salaried employees will be eligible.

Walmart CEO Greg Foran said, “Investing in the personal and professional success of our associates is vital to Walmart’s future success. We know training and learning opportunities empower associates to deliver for customers while growing and advancing in their careers.”

Michael Baker, Brittney Bogues, Malia Brown, Cathay Dawkins, Charles Hands III, Justin Harlow, Marcus Howard, Cheslie Kryst, Prince Martez, Colton Palmer, Simone Suber, Naomi Thomas, Nicole Wilkinson. Photo by Ariel Perry

Gantt Center Leans Names New Millennial Advisory Board

Thirteen young entrepreneurs and professionals are poised to help the Harvey B. Gantt Center for African-American Arts + Culture engage more effectively with millennials.

The new Millennial Advisory Board (MAB) will lead efforts to attract patrons in their 20s and 30s.

The Gantt Center was founded in 1974. Its leaders understand the need for it to remain relevant and vibrant, realizing that newcomers to Charlotte are likely unaware of the center’s historic creation and evolution. “As the city of Charlotte continues to attract younger residents, it is imperative that we incorporate the innovation and vision of these young leaders,” said Gantt Center president and CEO David Taylor. The MAB will provide insight into initiatives and program offerings.

Decorated Doctor, Minister and Community Leader Receives Prestigious Award Novant Health executive Dr. Ophelia Garmon-Brown has been awarded the Order of the Long Leaf Pine, the highest honor the state of North Carolina can give a citizen.

Created in the 1960s, the Order of the Long Leaf Pine is unique to North Carolina, and its recipients are chosen based on their contributions to their communities, extraordinary careers and years of service. Notable recipients include the Rev. Billy Graham, Charles Kuralt, Maya Angelou, Michael Jordan and Andy Griffith.

“Ophelia is a remarkable woman with extraordinary gifts and talents,” said Carl Armato, president and CEO of Novant Health. “As a physician, minister, volunteer, advocate, community leader — she embodies the spirit of giving and caring for others.”

Garmon-Brown recently cochaired the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Opportunity Task Force, where she helped convene the study of issues related to economic mobility for citizens in Charlotte. She also cochaired the One Charlotte Health Alliance, a partnership which is the first of its kind to address disparities to build a stronger city.

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EventsCalendar

Mark Your Calendar Compiled by Shawn D. Allison, II

September 1 Come honor one of Charlotte’s most legendary sons at the Annual Romare Bearden Birthday Bash. Enjoy an evening full of art, fellowship and live music from violinist Ken Ford and saxophonist Shableek Henderson. FREE. 6 p.m. 300 S. Church St. September 8 Food Television personality and chef Kardea Brown is bringing her Gullah roots to your taste buds as she hosts The New Gullah Supper Club Charlotte. This feast aims to unite people with one common interest, to enjoy good food and unity. Chef Kardea will prepare her family’s Gullah/Southern recipes with a modern twist. $85. Eventbrite.com September 12 Throw on your best purple ensemble and celebrate His Royal Badness at 4u: A Symphonic Celebration Of Prince. Experience the extensive music catalog of Prince with a full symphony orchestra, all-star band and premier vocalists in an evening fit with the best royal trimming. $25-59.50. livenation.com September 14-15 Everyone come to historic West End for the third annual Soul Junction. This FREE two-day music festival utilizes music and art to build community, and showcases more than 25 local talents. All events will be held at JCSU, 100 Beatties Ford Rd. Check website for various times. souljunctionclt.com September 23 Take a pleasure cruise with island grooves on nearby Lake Norman, as Reggae

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Save The Date!

PRIDE AWARDS 2019! We are set for another out-of-the box, exclusive luncheon on THURSDAY, JANUARY 24 at the Ritz-Carlton. For more details, log onto pridemagzineonline.com Central hosts Reggae on the Lake. End your summer on a special charted yacht and enjoy nonstop reggae music, Caribbean eats, cocktails and prize giveaways throughout the evening. Tickets are $45.

Purchase only at Reggae Central. 1506 Central Ave. September 27-28 The 2018 Black Mental Health Symposium is a solutions-based conference focused on improving mental health outcomes in Black communities. This conference will feature a host of guest speakers, award winners, panel discussions, vendors and hundreds of like-minded practitioners. 9201 University City Blvd. For more information visit Blackmhsymposium.com September 29 Join the United Negro College Fund and a host of dignitaries and friends for the 2018 Maya Angelou Women Who Lead Luncheon. Don’t miss this afternoon of fashion, flair, fun and fine foods, honoring women who make a difference in the QC community. 10 a.m. Westin Charlotte. 601 S. College St. For more details visit Uncf.org Mingle with thousands of culture and music lovers at Charlotte’s signature cultural event, the Latin American Festival. This year, come celebrate 28 years of music, food and fun with some big surprises in store—it’s a fiesta

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that you don’t want to miss! $10. 12 noon. Symphony Park, 4400 Sharon Rd. October 6 Bring your friends and family to the 2nd Annual Charlotte UNITE Festival.

This FREE multicultural event looks to unite people of all backgrounds in the QC, to celebrate our city’s diversity and illustrate to the rest of the nation that the Queen City stands united. Enjoy food, live entertainment, speakers and more. 12 noon. NoDa Brewing Co. 2921 N. Tryon St. Ladies it’s time to shine in all your chocolate glory as The Little Brown Girl Group invites you to Rock the Runway: Brown Girl Edition. Come and mingle with some amazing local designers, makeup artists and performers, who are poised to bring you a night of culturally inspired fashion. Tickets start at $35.

6 p.m. 2424 N. Davidson St. Eventbrite.com For all my true hip hop heads, throw on your leather medallions and pump your fists this evening as The JETA Team proudly presents Off the Wall: The Annual ATCQ/Native Tongues Tribute Vol. 6. Call up your crew and celebrate one of the most legendary and creative collectives in history as with DJ Aking Allah and DJ Justice rock the house.

$5-10. 9 p.m. at Petra’s. 1919 Commonwealth Ave. October 13 The International House invites you to its 30th anniversary gala, South Africa -- Land of Beauty & Splendor. This elegant and much anticipated affair will feature South African-inspired cuisine and entertainment that raises funds for programs and services offered to Charlotte’s immigrant and international communities. For more information, visit Ihclt.org October 15-22 Black Business Owners of Charlotte invites you to fill your stomach and soul at the 2nd Annual Charlotte Black Restaurant Week. Explore a number of Black-owned restaurants and bars in a week full of meal specials, workshops, seminars and nonstop fellowship. bboclt.com October 20 Take a sonic ride to the underground music scene and come experience the second annual BLK/ALT Music Festival. Rock, soul, industrial, hip hop and experimental — you’ll get to feel the energy of a diverse lineup of the QCs most talented alternative Black artists.

1 p.m. at Camp North End. 1824 Statesville Ave. bla-alt.com October 27 Cheer on the JCSU Golden Bulls as they celebrate their 2018 Homecoming! Full of lots of events, parties, tailgating and a huge football game against St. Augustine’s University! Sport your blue and gold and support your hometown heroes. For more information visit Jcsu.edu

We deliver a higher level of stroke care.

Like 10,000 feet higher.

When every second counts, speed matters. At Novant Health, our experts are dedicated to maximizing the life of our stroke patients by providing a new level of care and delivering better outcomes, faster. We do this by offering our communities access to our advanced comprehensive and primary stroke centers across our region — and sometimes speed and access comes in the form of a helicopter.

See advanced care in action at NovantHealth.org/advancedcare.

Novant Health Presbyterian Medical Center and Novant Health Forsyth Medical Center have earned The Gold Seal of Approval® from The Joint Commission.

Charlot te’s first advanced comprehensive stroke center

Walmart's New Education Benefit Puts Cap and Gown within Reach for Associates Under the program, the associate contribution toward a college degree is just $1 a day. Walmart will subsidize the cost of tuition, books and fees, eliminating the need for student loan and debt and addressing one of the biggest hurdles that keep people from returning to college.

TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS INITIATIVE AND HOW ASSOCIATES CAN JUMPSTART THEIR PATH TO COMPLETION BY EARNING COLLEGE CREDIT FOR PAID TRAINING AT WALMART ACADEMIES, LOG ON TO: corporate.walmart.com