Welcome

CRITICAL ISSUES SESSION

2:00 pm – 4:00 pm

are many critical issues facing the African American and other minority communities. Unfortunately, only two issues could be addressed during the timeframe that is available for this year’s North Carolina Legislative Black Caucus Foundation Scholarship Event. Consequently, the planning committee determined that education and voting rights are the most critical of the prevailing issues. The objective of this issues session is to make participants aware of the latest developments, formulate “moving forward” strategies in the time allotted, energize participants to return to their respective communities to continue the awareness process through small group meetings, town hall meetings, rallies, and other means; and to impress upon everyone in attendance what’s at stake relative to these critical issues. Participants’ feedback will be encouraged and welcomed!

A. EDUCATION – IMPACT OF BUDGET CUTS ON EDUCATION

Moderator:

Senator Gladys Robinson – Senate District 28 – Guilford County

Panel Members/Presenters:

Representative Rick Glazier – House District 45 – Cumberland County

Dr. William Harvey – Dean - School of Education at NC A&T State University

Representative Earline Parmon – House District 72 – Forsyth County

Education has been and continues to be the route by which many individuals, especially minorities, improve their well-being and quality of life. Assisting minority students in obtaining a higher education is the primary reason NCLBCF hosts a yearly scholarship event; hence, the importance of education and the need to protect education funding. Participants will receive a brief overview of funding for elementary, secondary and higher education in North Carolina, and how recent budget cuts have affected education. “Can the state continue to provide quality education given the cuts in funding?” and; “What can concerned citizens do about the cuts?” are just a few of the questions that will be explored during the session.

B. PROTECTING ONE’S RIGHT TO VOTE

Moderator:

Senator Edward Jones – Senate District 4 -- Bertie, Chowan, Gates, Halifax, Hertford, Northampton, Perquimans Counties

Panel Members/Presenters:

Representative Larry Hall – House District 29 – Durham County

Professor Irving L. Joyner – North Carolina Central University School of Law

You may be aware of the battle over restrictive “voting” legislation that has been enacted throughout the USA in the name of stopping election fraud. This topic will review voter suppression laws -- laws that deny basic voting rights -- and what has happened in North Carolina relative to one’s right to vote. “Are voter ID laws being used to disenfranchise minorities and the poor?”; “Are such laws being enacted primarily in ‘swing’ states to impact the upcoming general election?”; “How should attempts at voter suppression be resisted?”; “What can concerned citizens do?”; are among the questions to which presenters will react. In addition, participants will discuss the best approaches for letting citizens know what is at stake and why it’s imperative to protect voting rights.

Join us for the North Carolina Legislative Black Caucus Foundation, Inc. (NCLBCF) 26th annual EDUCATION SCHOLARSHIP EVENT on June 15, 2012 at the Sheraton Imperial Hotel and Convention Center, Research Triangle Park, Durham, North Carolina.
The EDUCATION SCHOLARSHIP EVENT for 2012 is a day to address topics that impact the citizens of North Carolina and students attending Historically Black Colleges and Universities in North Carolina. The day includes Critical Issues Session from 2:00 pm - 4:00 pm. The sessions will address Education, and Protecting One’s Right to Vote and items of state and national interest. The day ends with the annual signature fundraising event, the NCLBCF EDUCATION SCHOLARSHIP DINNER at 7:00 pm.