2022 September-October "Health & Education" Issue by Pride Magazine Online

September-October 2022 The Health and Education Issue Charlotte’s African-American Magazine CommunitiesinSchools Preparingstudentsunderservedtoachieve Charlotte’s Vibrant Arts Scene Upcoming events in the city’s arts community MessyRoots A wellness haven for men of color The Pearl of the Community Atrium Health’s Innovation District This issue sponsored by

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Care isn’t just what we do at Truist—it’s who we are. We make sure people around us feel supported and more in control. We find out what’s important to our clients, and make it important to us. We get involved in meaningful ways with our communities. Why? Because real connections and real care create better outcomes. Now that’s powerful. you start with care, you get a different kind of bank.

When

. At Atrium Health, it’s important that our teammates represent the communities we serve. That’s why we work every day to create a space where all belong and live out our mission to improve health, elevate hope and advance healing – FOR ALL. live purpose Careers.AtriumHealth.orgfullyJoin our team where you can live life fully.

5940 Departments 7 Letter from the President and CEO of Atrium Health 10 From the Publisher 12 Book Review 15 By Faith 16 Notable Names at Atrium Health 61 FYI News & Notes Features 18 The InnovationPearl District Home of the new Wake Forest School of Medicine – Charlotte and more 21 Atrium Health and JCSU PartnershipForm Working together to propel more students into healthcare 24 Atrium YearsCelebratesHealth20ofImpact Applauding the FOR ALL Conference Log on to pridemagazineonline.com for more features. September – October 2022 27 atDiversityEmpoweringSuppliersAtriumHealth Introducing the Center for Supplier Diversity and Entrepreneurship 28 Advocating for Equity Atrium Health competencebelongingnesschampionsandcultural 30 Celebrating Charlotte’s Vibrant Arts Scene Upcoming events at area arts organizations 33 Mentorship Matters Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Central Carolinas 37 Greatness Exists in Every Child Communities in Schools empowers students to achieve 41 Private Schools in Charlotte Preparing students for a more inclusive world 54 Covid-15 Is Real How to lose weight gained during the pandemic 59 Messy Roots Creating a wellness haven for men of color 3330 September-October 2022 | Pride Magazine 5 On the Cover: Atrium Health’s planned Innovation District, the Pearl, will include the coming Wake Forest School of Medicine – Charlotte and other developments. HealthAtriumofcourtesyPhoto

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At Atrium Health, we know that our work as a health provider doesn’t stop at our walls. The reality is that there are so many factors – including access to reliable transportation, affordable housing and healthy food – that directly affect a person’s quality of life and their well-being. Inequities have plagued our communities and our entire nation for far too long, and we know we have a major role to play in dismantling them to build communities where everyone can thrive.

By Eugene A. Woods, President and CEO of Atrium Health F or over 30 years, Pride Magazine has been a source of inspiration and information for the greater Charlotte region’s African American community, lifting and supporting Black voices in and around the place we call home. It is an honor for Atrium Health to be able to share our story in this September 2022 issue, shining a light on the ways in which we provide care and work to eliminate health disparities. At Atrium Health, our organizational mission – to improve health, elevate hope and advance healing – FOR ALL – guides everything we do. And for decades, we’ve worked to bring this mission to life in every community we serve and build a foundation of trust with our neighbors in times of need.This foundation of trust was particularly critical at the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic, which presented challenges beyond any we’d ever seen – both as healthcare providers and as community members. Atrium Health met the moment, harnessing the power of publicprivate partnerships to deliver masks and vaccines to the neighborhoods and people who needed them most.

FromTheCEO of

I continue to be so proud of the Atrium Health teammates who have dedicated themselves to providing care throughout this pandemic. I’m especially proud of our work to close the Covid testing gap in the African American community by drawing on real-time, geographic data and deploying our mobile units, as well as partnering with churches and community organizations. In fact, I’d like to dedicate this issue to Atrium Health’s 70,000+ healthcare heroes leading the fight to take care of each patient who comes through our doors and showing up in neighborhoods across the region in service of health, hope and healing. I’m excited that this issue will spotlight some of our incredible teammates and their stories of bravery and compassion.

September-October 2022 | Pride Magazine 7 HealthAtriumofCourtesyPhoto

Letter from the President and CEO of Atrium Health

As an African American writer, feminist and civil rights activist, Audre Lorde once said: “It is not our differences that divide us. It is our inability to recognize, accept and celebrate those differences.” At Atrium Health, we are driven by this powerful notion: that we can, together, make this world a better place by celebrating both our differences and the ties that bind us. So, together, we will continue to break down barriers, advance equity and keep our FOR ALL mission at the forefront of everything we EugeneWithdo.hope,A. Woods

In this issue, we will share more about our work to advance health equity and our diversity, equity and inclusion agenda, which is core to how we carry out every aspect of our mission. We’ll also highlight what’s to come with The Pearl – Charlotte’s new innovation district – and the limitless opportunity it presents for our community.

Our teammates at Atrium Health are no strangers to jumping into action in times of need and, together, we were able to move mountains to keep people safe, healthy and protected against Covid-19. We’ve overcome obstacles and moved forward, collectively, by seeing one another’s humanity and working to remove barriers and address inequities.

The City of Charlotte’s Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) program provides opportunities for small minority companies to compete for federally assisted transportation, aviation, and highway contracts. DBEs provide essential services that assists the Charlotte Area Transit System (CATS) in providing public transit services to the Charlotte region. We are encouraging for minority, women, socially and economically disadvantaged businesses to become DBE certi�ied in the following areas: Visit ridetransit.org and click on “Civil Rights” to learn more about the DBE program. Scan the QR code to see all available contract opportunities with the City of Charlotte. (704)ridetransit.org336-RIDE

SurveyingConstructionSecurityBridgeWeldingLandscapeInteriorGeotechnicalElectricalStructuralLegalEngineeringSteelFinishesArchitecturePaintingServicesPaving Small Business. Big Opportunities!

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2022 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. Charlotte’s African-American Magazine Vol. 30 No. September-October5 2022 All rights reserved for PRIDE Communications Inc. Pride Magazine prints with soy ink. Find us on Facebook: Facebook.com/PrideMagazineNC Find us on Instagram: @pridemagazinenc Find us on LinkedIn: Pride Communications, Inc.

September-October 2022 | Pride Magazine 9 MAGAZINE CEO/Publisher Dee Dixon Editor Alicia Benjamin Copy Editor Sonja Whitemon Lead Writer Angela Lindsay Creative Director Larry Preslar Design & Production SPARK www.SPARKpublications.comPublications Distribution ©Watch Dog Entertainment® LLC Digital Content Distribution Account Executive Nikelle Fesperman Public Relations Nepherterra Estrada Subscribe to Pride $13.25. Please subscribe online at www.pridemagazineonline.com, mail to P.O. Box 30113, Charlotte, NC 28230 or call 704-375-9553 Letters to the Editor Please send an e-mail to info@pridemagazine.net fax to 704-375-9550 or mail to Pride Magazine 8401 University Executive Park Drive, Ste. 122, Charlotte, NC 28262 www.pridemagazineonline.com

“Whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable — if anything is excellent or praiseworthy, think about these things …” Think Well,

What’s the point?

First and foremost, the mind and the brain are two very different entities. Based on my research, the brain is made up of billions of nerve cells which make trillions of connections throughout the body. Our brains are not fully formed until around the age of 25 and weigh about three pounds. Also, the spinal cord is the main source of communication between the body and the brain and there is enough energy in the brain to power a light bulb.

Editor's Note: An article in the July/August 2022 issue (pages 21–22) about international travel during the pandemic, included an incorrect spelling of one of the travelers’ names. The correct spelling of the traveler’s name is Bridget-Anne Hampden. Also, the article incorrectly stated that Hampden and Dr. Clarence Ellis visited the Blue Lagoon and saw hot springs and volcanic activity. The two did not visit the Blue Lagoon and did not see hot springs or volcanic activity. In addition, the article incorrectly stated that a group of Americans took Hampden and Ellis on a boat ride in Croatia. The Americans actually joined the two on the boat ride.

The brain

Now, on the other hand, the mind is a part of a person that thinks, reasons, feels, understands, learns, remembers, etc. This is the common definition of the mind, which falls short. Where does the mind come from? Experts don’t have an acceptable definition. I believe the mind is not tangible, but a spiritual gift from God which includes the ability to choose.

Please allow me to share a few “gems” from my speech to the rising ninth graders at Cochrane. After all, many of us may need a refresher course about the brain and how it works in tandem with our minds. Yes?

FromTheCEO

Scientists even say the mind is not confined to

I did so, not so much for the students, but because I am personally fascinated with the mind and brain. And if truth be told, I probably bored the students beyond reason, and I admit I may have gotten a bit “preachy” at times. Nonetheless, one young lady approached me afterwards, stating she really got a lot out of my presentation. This was enough for me.

The point to be understood is that the mind and the brain are not the same. The mind works through the brain but is separate. Just to be clear, the brain responds to the mind, not the other way around. In other words, THE BRAIN RESPONDS TO WHAT WE THINK. This means we have the power to manage our thoughts and actions. We can choose what thoughts to build into our brains, as well as change some thought patterns we might need to get rid of. The brain will respond to what we think about. True, we all have weird, random and sometimes crazy and vile thoughts coming from nowhere into our minds. I know I do. But the point is, we don’t have to let these kinds of thoughts take root. With our minds, we have the power to be intentional about what we think. I know, I know this is not as easy as it sounds. It’s a battle that must be fought daily.Here’saBible passage I find helpful: Philipians 4:8

The mind

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We Are What We Think

I chose this topic when asked to be the gradeCollegiatespeakerkeynoteatCochraneAcademy’seighthgraduationceremony.

By Dee Dixon

BookReview

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“The CouldWomenFly” by Megan Giddings In a world where women’s bodies and actions are regulated, Jo must decide her future as she nears the age of 30. Will she get married or succumb to society’s rules that say her movements must be monitored? Jo wishes she had her mother’s guidance, but that’s not to be for reasons she is determined to explore. In this dystopian novel, Meghan sophomoreGiddings’effort builds on the premise that an unmarried woman is a dangerous woman. For Black women, it seems as if the danger is doubly so.

Built”“Carolina by Kianna Alexander Perseverance and overcoming are words that come to mind when you think of Josephine Napoleon Leary, a Black businesswoman from Edenton, North Carolina. Her story is one that too few have heard about. Born into slavery, but free after the Civil War at the age of nine, she eventually married Sweety Leary and the couple moved to Edenton. The book details the struggles Leary experienced as a wife, mother, and bearer of the culture. Despite her challenges, she became a real estate mogul, amassing several properties and battling cancer along the way. Leary never gave up on her dreams and because of her successes, she left behind a dynamic legacy and blueprint for those who would follow her. “If I Survive You” by Jonathan Escoffery

By Angela Haigler

This one is for readers who appreciate a good short story collection. In his debut book, Jonathan Escoffery slaps us to attention with this series of stories about a Jamaican family living in Miami, fighting for their piece of the American pie. The collection centers around Trelawny, the son of immigrant parents who sought the United States as a place of refuge from the devastation of Hurricane Andrew. Often hilarious, sometimes poignant, and always realistic, this book is an excellent way for Escoffery to make an entrance. As a new author, he won the 2020 Plimpton Prize for Fiction, a 2020 National Endowment for the Arts in Literature Fellowship and the 2020 ASME Award for Fiction. P

Start the Fall Off Right with These Provocative Books

This book chronicles his personal journey between both palettes and traditions.

American Jew”ofFoodThe“Koshersoul:FaithandJourneyanAfrican by Michael W. Twitty

Michael W. Twitty first wrote a food blog called Afroculinaria. Then he wrote an award-winning book about the cultural context of food for Black Americans called The Cooking Gene Now he’s written a book detailing his experiences bridging the difference between Jewish and African American food traditions. In Twitty’s view, there are many similarities between the two cultures. Twitty learned from experience when he converted to Judaism at the age of 25, about 20 years ago. Since becoming Jewish, he became a teacher, leader and expert on his new faith.

If you’ve got big we’vedreams,got scholarships that can help make them a reality. Get the education you deserve at a cost you can afford. Find out how a scholarship from Central Piedmont can help you conquer possibility. cpcc.edu/afford “ ” Tyler Central Piedmont Scholarship Recipient Being able to go to school without worrying about costs — I’m just grateful. 23931

Why did you

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Center for Health Sciences

The Center for Health Sciencesanchor of all health-focused programing at Northeastern University in Charlotte - is focused on improving healthspan for all, so that people live not just longer but better-quality lives. Our demographics are changing, and local healthcare providers are searching for nurses that reflect their changing patient population. Lack of diversity and inclusion in healthcare has become one of the many reasons that minority groups receive inadequate medical care. Northeastern University in Charlotte has brought together different cultures, ideas, and perspectives to spearhead collaboration and innovation, leading to better

N ortheastern University in Charlotte has become home to a variety of university offerings but is particularly focused on preparing the health science professionals of tomorrow as technology, innovation, and patientcentered care converge in this rapidly growing sector.

(ABSN) program?ofAcceleratedNortheasternchooseUniversity’sBachelorScienceinNursing

Naadirah Douglas

To learn more about the Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing program and other degree programs at Northeastern University in Charlotte, visit charlotte.northeastern.edu or call 980.224.8466 or 866.892.3819.

“WhenDouglas shared.youthinkofmental or behavioral disorders, there’s often a battle between nature vs. nurture. I want to be able to approach my patients with a strong background in health, from a broad standpoint.”Douglas’empathetic nature allows her to selflessly put herself in someone else’s shoes. Her goal is to provide support and help in any way she can. Growing up, her older sibling encouraged her to speak up and advocate for herself. Now, it’s not hard for Douglas to see things from someone else’s perspective. She hopes to be an advocate for others. At 13-years old, Douglas spent time in a psychiatric hospital. Throughout this experience, she met nurses and social workers that helped her become the woman she is today. That is the kind of provider she hopes to be. “I wanted to become a psychiatric nurse because mental health has become a taboo, especially in the AfricanAmerican community.”Shehopestobecome a nurse that her patients remember while using her platform to let her community know that there are providers who care and have a God-given purpose to serve.

“Whilepatient care.thenursing profession has employed various strategies, a vital tool for reducing health disparities involves diversity in nursing” said Angela Hosking, CEO and Dean at Northeastern University in Charlotte. “Patients who see themselves represented in the nursing staff are likely to be more transparent, more confident in their treatment, and more willing to engage in recommended care plans. This all helps improve patient outcomes.”

Douglas: “Immediately after applying I was put in contact with an admission counselor. She was extremely helpful. It really feels like Northeastern puts you in a position where you are ready for your next journey, and you don’t have any fear that you won’t know what you’re doing. I wanted a program would give me that real world, hands-on experience so that after graduating, I’d have no fear. Northeastern’s program prepares us for those real-world situations, showing us what we Studentscan expect.”whohold a non-nursing bachelor’s degree are eligible for our ABSN program in Charlotte. Now transfer students with a minimum of 62 nonnursing college credits are also eligible for the ABSN program in Charlotte.

Meet Naadirah Douglas

“My interest has always been nursing. It wasn’t until I got to Johnson C. Smith that my goal became a little bit more structured, and I specifically knew that I wanted to become a Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner. My advisor and I made sure that the classes I enrolled in would put me in a better position to become a nurse. I genuinely enjoy educating and serving others.”

Dedicated to Diversity in Healthcare

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Naadirah Douglas, from Hillside, New Jersey, moved to Charlotte in August of 2020. She earned her first bachelor’s degree in Interdisciplinary Studies with a concentration in Health and Science from Johnson C. Smith University in Charlotte, North Carolina.

“There is one whose rash words are like sword thrusts, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.” 12:28

—Proverbs

September-October 2022 | Pride Magazine 15

Are WordsYouraGift?

W ords are powerful tools. They have a tremendous impact on people and their relationships, both positively and negatively. In a positive way, words can encourage, strengthen, affirm, edify and celebrate. Humanity benefits from positive words. On the contrary, negative words can discourage, frustrate, humiliate, destroy and disappoint. Words can take an emotional, mental and physical toll on our wellbeing. There is a clear connection between human health and spoken words.TheBibleexplains how speech directly impacts our health. According to Proverbs 16:24, “Gracious words are like a honeycomb, sweetness to the soul and health to the body.” What are gracious words? First, let’s seek to understand the meaning of grace. Grace is love that pursues even when the target of pursuit has nothing to offer or give in return. Grace gives generously to the undeserved. Extending grace is to lavish the unmerited with a gift. Grace is thinking the best about a person when there is no reason to do so. Grace is amazing! Grace is free! Grace is inexhaustible. Therefore, gracious words are more than just kind words; they are words that are generously offered to someone who has not necessarily earned them. Gracious words are given based on the love of the giver, not the merit of the recipient. Gracious words are life giving. Proverbs 16:24 compares gracious words to a “honeycomb.” A honeycomb is a structure of hexagonal, thin-walled in cells made from beeswax in order to store bee honey, pollen and larvae. Simply stated, a honeycomb is the bee’s storage unit for honey. The Scripture is saying that gracious words create a nourishing supply of nutritious “sweetness” to the soul as well as health to the human body. The verse also refers to both our bodies and our souls. Man is not only a physical creature but he is also a living soul. The physical nature of our bodies is made up of cells, tissues, organs and fluids. The immaterial part of our bodies consists of a soul. God formed the man of dust from the ground (material) and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life (immaterial), and the man became a living creature (Genesis 2:7). Both our bodies and souls are affected by words. When we speak gracious words to one another, they holistically feed and nourish a person’s health and offer delight, satisfaction and refreshment. “There is one whose rash words are like sword thrusts, but the tongue of the wise brings healing” (Proverbs 12:18). Gracious words heal, soothe and comfort. They provide an opportunity for people to be nourished. On the contrary, rash words, destroy, harm and break hearts.Howdowe become more gracious in our speech? We become gracious with our words when we place our faith in the grace given by the Gracious One – Jesus Christ. May His relentless pursuit of you and His offering of the gift of grace engulf your heart and empower you to be a dispenser of grace to those in your midst. P The Rev. Dwayne Bond is the lead pastor of Wellspring Church.

By Rev. Dr. Dwayne Bond ByFaith

Shutterstock.com/ThousandsOfCast

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A graduate of Howard University College of Medicine, Simmons believes ideal health outcomes are realized when practitioners support services that meet patient needs at a comprehensive level — affordable medications, a nutritious and attainable diet, reliable transportation and stable housing chief among those necessities. And that passion for advocacy and outreach stretches beyond the walls of his practice. For the past four years in observation of National HIV Testing Day, Simmons has worked with One Charlotte Health Alliance to provide HIV testing using mobile medical units in underserved communities in the Charlotte area.

Dr. Benjamin Simmons, a Family Physician and Assistant Professor for the Department of Family Medicine, has been part of Atrium Health for 13 years. His medical practice extends to newborns, geriatrics and everyone in-between in both inpatient and outpatient clinical settings. Simmons currently serves as faculty for the Family Medicine Residency Program at Atrium Health Union Family Practice. Prior to that, he helped establish the Atrium Health Urgent Care facility in Salisbury, North Carolina. There, he led the development of a domestic violence care initiative in partnership with the Rowan County women’s shelter. He also launched a program to assist individuals afflicted with asthma.

DR. JANELLE WHITE

NotableNames at DR. SIIMMONSBENJAMIN

Dr. Janelle White joined Atrium Health in 2004 and currently serves as the System Medical Director of Community Health. In this role, she provides leadership and administrative management to formulate and implement enterprise-wide and regional public health initiatives aimed at delivering clinical care and quantifiable progress for at-risk populations. White also serves as the Service Line Assistant Specialty Medical Director for Atrium Health Levine Children’s Hospital. In this capacity, she oversees the medical quality, patient experience, access, productivity and utilization of ambulatory pediatric procedures. Equipped with a medical degree from the University of Florida College of Medicine and recently earning a master’s degree in Healthcare Management from the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, White is enthusiastic about managing educational and performance-based growth programs for providers. Additionally, her commitment to excellence expands outside the realm of her day-to-day responsibilities. She has also served as a preceptor and mentor for pediatric residents, medical and high school students. A physician and healthcare leader with over 15 years of experience coupled with a zealous determination to improve across-the-board quality of patient care on a large scale makes White a trailblazer in her field.

By Lelita Cannon

LANA HAECHERL Lana Haecherl, a long-standing associate at Atrium Health Greater Charlotte is the Surgical Services Education and Development Director. In the 1990s, Atrium Health was pivotal in sponsoring immigrants seeking asylum due to the Croatian War of Independence. Haecherl cultivated a safe, calming work environment for refugees affected by the conflict, supporting the success and career advancement they pursued when fleeing to the U.S. As the years passed, she was relentless in ensuring her colleagues’ continued attainment of their goals. She coached them in preparation for their official citizenship exams. She also spent more than 22 years of her career training disabled adults. This year, Haecherl was designated as Atrium Health’s Diversity Champion award recipient. Her steadfast, self-led devotion to creating better opportunities for her contemporaries undoubtedly played a factor in the bestowal of this accolade. The honor identifies and distinguishes teammates who are “boots on ground,” positively influencing and propelling forward diversity, equity and inclusion in the workforce. P DR. HUTCHINGSWARREN Dr. Warren Hutchings is a family medicine physician at Atrium Health Navicent Primary Care West Macon in Georgia. He was selected as Atrium’s 2022 Excellence in Diversity winner. An alum of Morehouse School of Medicine, Hutchings is a pioneer who has illuminated an illustrious path for others to follow based on his portfolio of diversity work across Atrium Health and throughout his community. This is no coincidence. His parents imparted a formidable sense of obligation in him to give back. He has diligently labored to foster a more inclusive medical workforce that represents the substantial range of patient backgrounds and encourages a more diverse pipeline of future physicians. Hutchings recruits pre-med students from underrepresented populaces and offers guidance through his role with the Student National Medical Association Minority Association of Premedical Students at Mercer University. In speaking to local high school and college students, he ignites their interest in health careers and inspires young doctors to become more involved in organized medicine as physician leaders — a route Hutchings chose early in his career.

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W hen Atrium Health began its strategic collaboration in 2019 with Wake Forest Baptist Health (now known as Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist), headquartered in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, a new vision for the future of health care, medical education, innovation and research in the region was born. With an influx of fresh ideas and inspiration as the shared values of the respective organizations aligned, we immediately began to envision the future: to bring together our hospital systems, to build a second campus of Wake Forest University School of Medicine in Charlotte, and to expand on the entrepreneurial spirit of both organizations by developing an innovation district in Charlotte that would link to Winston-Salem’s “Innovation Quarter.”

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The innovative partnership between Atrium Health and the Wake Forest School of Medicine in Charlotte

The district will be constructed in an area of Charlotte formerly known as Brooklyn, which, for years, was a thriving African American community of families, businesses and faith-based institutions. Urban renewal displaced most of the neighborhood in the 1950s, with Pearl Street Park standing as one of few remaining landmarks.Theinnovationdistrict was recently named “The Pearl” to acknowledge the area’s past as it looks toward its future as a place shaped by diverse people and perspectives, rooted in inclusivity and belonging. This mixed-use community, centered in academics and research, will feature office, retail, housing and hospitality spaces. It will have an open-door policy, Site preparation began for the earliest stages of Atrium Health’s Pearl Innovation District in MIdtown Charlotte in August 2022.

The focus from the beginning has been to plant the seeds for transformational impact through health, learning and community, and our vision strives to reflect just that.

Today, our collaboration with Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist is well underway, and progress with Charlotte’s innovation district continues to gain momentum.

Honoring the past, looking to the future

A Pearl in the Community

By Eugene A. Woods, President and CEO of Atrium Health

HealthAtriumofcourtesyPhoto

Additionally, The Pearl will house over 3,500 learners each year, across more than 100 specialized programs, including at Wake Forest University School of Medicine – Charlotte. This will help reduce the shortage of doctors, nurses and allied health professionals in underserved communities.

P Eugene A. Woods, FACHE, is President/CEO of Atrium Health in Charlotte, North (chiefexecutiveofficer@atriumhealth.org).Carolina.

September-October 2022 | Pride Magazine 19 where people from all walks of life are welcome to enjoy free coworking space, participate in community yoga or enjoy a history exhibit. Put simply, The Pearl will be a place where Charlotte’s historic vitality meets its innovative future. Serving as ground zero for entrepreneurship and innovation, The Pearl will attract clinicians, scientists, investors and visionaries from around the world to collaborate on breakthrough technologies and cures, providing life-changing care for all in rural and urban communities alike. To further promote Atrium Health’s vision of a space that is home to all, the organization has set aside funds to invest in minorityowned startups in the life sciences industry.

Scholarship and partnership with Johnson C. Smith University.Wearealsoworking to build new partnerships that will bolster the impact of The Pearl around the world. For example, earlier this year, IRCAD, the Frenchbased research and training institute for the world’s finest surgeons, announced its intent to establish its North American headquarters in Charlotte at The Pearl. When fully operational, IRCAD North America will be a “super magnet,” attracting new businesses, innovators and surgeons every year to train and collaborate on the latest surgical techniques. Like every tenant who joins The Pearl, IRCAD’s partner organizations will also make commitments to social impact, further supporting the aspirations that we have set forth for the district.Whilemany steps remain in our 1,000-step journey toward bringing this monumental opportunity to life, our vision has remained clear at every turn along the way thus far. Mahatma Gandhi once said: “The future depends on what we do in the present.” And while Atrium Health will forever remember and honor the roots of its communities, it is in the same spirit of Gandhi that we work relentlessly today to fulfill our vision for tomorrow.

Together, with our partners around the globe, we look forward to our collective future — a future where we usher in the next era of healthcare, education and research for our region; where we give back to our communities through economic opportunity and advancement; and where we explore and champion new, innovative ways to improve health, elevate hope and advance healing — for all.

Creating jobs and promoting inclusivity Through The Pearl, we also are determined to create jobs that provide inclusive opportunities and enhance the economic vigor of the entire region. As we begin preparing for the groundbreaking of The Pearl later this year, we’re intentionally creating opportunities for small, minorityowned businesses to participate in the construction and maintenance of the district itself. And, during the next 15 years, The Pearl and its tenants are projected to create more than 5,500 on-site jobs 30 to 40 percent of which are not expected to require a college degree — and more than 11,500 jobs, in total, in the Charlotte community.Thisjobgrowthwill deepen the community’s need for a robust pipeline of STEM talent, so we also are investing to ensure that today’s learners are exposed to the many types of jobs that the district will create. As an example, we hope to build a STEM Experiential Learning Lab on campus so students from local middle and high schools can learn alongside The Pearl’s researchers, scientists, doctors, nurses, engineers and allied health professionals. We are also investing in collegiate scholarship and internship programs to support underserved students pursuing healthcare careers through programs like our Bishop George E. Battle, Jr.

20 Pride Magazine | www.pridemagazineonline.com METROLINA INTERNAL MEDICINE Metrolina Internal Medicine remains dedicated to the primary care needs of the residents of Charlotte and surrounding com munities. Visit our newly-redesigned website at www. MIMPA .com NOW ACCEPTING NEW PATIENTS Virtual visits available. We are excited to have the opportunity to care for you! ◄ 2300 Randolph Rd. Unit A Charlotte, NC 28207 704.372.9393 7945 North Tryon Street, Suitel 12 Charlotte, NC 28262 704.503.6336 Independent Medical Practice Dedicated to Treating Patients Like Family Caring for the Charlotte community for over two decades. � Member FDIC. ©2022 U.S. Bank 803502c 7/22 Every andeservesdreamopportunity. Learn about products and services that can help you on your journey towards opening a small business, owning a home and more. Use your phone’s camera to scan the QR code, then open the link to usbank.com/everydream.

By Brenda Porter-Rockwell

“It was one of those serendipitous moments where process meets preparation,” explained Armbrister. “We’re looking at five areas where we want to double down and produce students that will be employed here … to enhance the upward economic mobility of the region.”Theschool’s five strategic goals are intended to graduate job-ready students in biology and health sciences, as well as fields such as general business, retail business, science technology and math, data analytics and computer science. “I’m specifically interested in JCSU’s ability to train more healthcare professionals who are equipped with the skills to combat the maternal health crisis in the United States.”

Upon hearing about Atrium’s plans, JCSU President Clarence Armbrister described feeling, “excited, humbled and thankful.”

September-October 2022 | Pride Magazine 21

Congresswoman Alma Adams

Atrium Health and JCSU

From Top to Bottom: Kinneil Coltman, Senior Vice President, Chief Community & Social Impact Officer at Atrium Health; President of Johnson C. Smith University, Clarence D. Armbrister; Lois Ingland, Atrium’s Vice President of Community Engagement and Corporate Responsibility; U.S. Representative Alma Adams represents the 12th Congressional District of North Carolina Shutterstock.com/LangJill

Right time, right goals

Partner to Prepare Students for Health Careers

A sk staff at Johnson C. Smith University (JCSU) and Atrium Health about the latest iteration of their decade-long partnership and their faces light up with pride. And with good reason. Last fall, as part of Charlotte Mayor Vi Lyles’ community-wide Racial Equity initiative, Atrium Health pledged $6.1 million to help transform JCSU into a top-tier, career-focused Historically Black College and University (HBCU).Thenewpartnership builds on years of successful collaboration and aims to boost JCSU student interest in much-needed front-line medical careers, but also for back-end roles like information technology and engineering.“It’sbeenalong-term relationship,” said Atrium Health’s Senior Vice President, Chief Community & Social Impact Officer, Kinneil Coltman. "The relationship is evolving based on where we are excited to go and where we believe JCSU is excited to go as a university.”

Lyles’ initiative focuses on achieving racial equity, social justice, economic opportunity and upward mobility through public-private partnerships in Charlotte’s communities of color. It’s the last two goals that “intersect” with JCSU’s educational focus.

While Atrium’s donation will have a dramatic impact in the short term, all staff are dreaming of what could be. There is hope for a steady stream of pre-med students attending the new medical school planned for Charlotte. Atrium Health has partnered with Wake Forest University School of Medicine to build a regional campus in west Charlotte, part of The Pearl innovation district. Lois Ingland, Atrium’s vice president of Community Engagement and Corporate Responsibility, said supporting JCSU’s goals makes perfect sense. “As we become more laser-focused on eliminating health disparities, partnering with JCSU will enable us to address current health needs, but also impact the long-term health goals of students, faculty and staff into the future,” said Ingland.

Creating a health and wellness pipeline

“Our partnership with JCSU also helps us to impact health inequities and to develop students who are not only welleducated but are also living in optimal health. In looking at our niche and expertise … we want to ensure that our resources are uniquely matched to meet the needs of JCSU and other community partners to provide optimal community benefit,” said Ingland. In addition to the monetary support, JCSU will rely on Atrium staff’s professional expertise to help improve university resources. An earlier partnership came to fruition at the end of July with Atrium taking over management of JCSU’s on-campus student health center. Armbrister said Atrium’s management of the health center has far-reaching implications for the care provided to students, faculty and staff. “We look at it much more broadly in terms of wellness. So, they’re going to be a real significant part of our whole health and wellness operation,” Armbrister said.

While careers in healthcare are a cornerstone of JCSU’s future educational goals, Armbrister says the university generally seeks to provide students with a combination of classroom theory and real-world application of their chosen profession. Internships, for some careers, begin as early as the end of a student’s sophomore year. He envisions curriculum development where students work side by side with Atrium staff. In support of the retail business curriculum, Lowe’s home improvement chain, which has a tech hub in Charlotte, gifted $10 million to JCSU. Red Ventures, an Indian Land, South Carolina-based media company, is working with JCSU students on a year-long course, where students spend half a semester in the classroom and half a semester on the Red Ventures campus. At the conclusion of the first year in the Red Ventures program, Armbrister says the company guarantees students earning at least a ‘B’ average in the class, a full-time position with a starting salary around $65,000. He estimates more than 12 students are currently fully employed at Red Ventures.ProjectDestined is a partnership with a local commercial real estate agency structured to increase the number of students entering the field of commercial real estate. Students learn about real estate and participation in the class pays for the cost of their real estate license test. Some students are already interning at area commercial real estate firms. “It’s these experiential learning opportunities that will allow students to apply what they’ve learned in the classroom to real-world jobs. Hopefully, this will culminate in helping them raise their economic mobility profile,” said Armbrister.

—Clarence D. Armbrister

Forging new career pipelines JCSU is building relationships with other local businesses and other HBCUS. The University signed a memorandum of understanding with Howard University College of Pharmacy’s “Three Plus Four program.” Students complete their first three years at JCSU then transfer to Howard University for the final four years with the goal of graduating with a PhD in Pharmacy. JCSU also recently partnered with Central Piedmont Community College (CPCC) to offer eligible CPCC transfer students an $8,000 renewable scholarship to offset tuition at JCSU. Armbrister said, “By looking at what educational opportunities we are providing and what we plan to provide, we hope to increase that economic mobility measurement here in Charlotte. We want to prepare our students to want to live, work and thrive here in Charlotte, and be a part of the incredible business community of this region.” P “By looking at what educational opportunities we are providing and what we plan to provide, we hope to increase that economic mobility measurement here in Charlotte. We want to prepare our students to want to live, work and thrive here in Charlotte, and be a part of the incredible business community of this region.”

learningReal-worldexperiences

Congresswoman Alma Adams, a longtime HBCU supporter, applauded Atrium and JCSU’s plans to meet the growing need for health care providers, especially those matriculating at HBCUs. “As Charlotte continues to add health professionals to our workforce, our region becomes better able to deliver good, affordable care. As the co-founder and co-chair of the Black Maternal Health Caucus in Congress, I’m specifically interested in JCSU’s ability to train more healthcare professionals who are equipped with the skills to combat the maternal health crisis in the United States,” said Adams.According to Adams, HBCUs make up only 3 percent of degree-granting undergraduate programs in the U.S. However, approximately 40 percent of African American health professionals practicing in the United States today attended an HBCU.

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September-October 2022 | Pride Magazine 23 Now is the time careerrealbegintoyourestate. Start and enhance your real estate career under our canopy. Canopy Real Estate Institute, formerly Mingle School of Real Estate, has grown into more than a school We’re a real estate institute providing all the coverage you need for your career development and professional growth. Real estate prelicensing, postlicensing and continuing education classes are affordable and taught by award winning instructors Explore our virtual real estate education •options:Early-bird discount ($40 off) for prelicensing • Free drop-in tutoring offered online • Free reviews to help you pass the North Carolina real estate exam canopyreinstitute.com | 704-372-2984 Everything you need to succeed is under our canopy. Proceeds from the 2022 Strides for Shelter 5K will benefit Charlotte Rescue Mission. The Charlotte Rescue Mission serves those at the intersection of homelessness and addiction through housing, counseling, fitness educationandprograms. Strides for Shelter 5K is presented by the Canopy Housing Foundation, the charitable arm of the Canopy opportunities.toandhomeownershipaffordablestrivesTheAssociation.Realtor®Foundationtopromoteprovidefundingcreatehousing Joinstridesforshelter5k.comustohelp meet unmet housing needs October 22, 2022 8:30 a.m.

FOR ALL Conference theme was “Celebrating the Journey: Taking the Road Less Traveled.” One of the keynote speakers this year was the legendary Earvin ‘Magic’ Johnson. He spoke on several topics including his “path from the basketball courts to the boardroom,” growing as a leader and being a social justice advocate. The following is an excerpt from the powerful conversation between Johnson and Gene Woods, Atrium Health CEO and President:AsJohnson’s own career grew, he met several people who gave him an opportunity.“Differentmen and women became my mentors,” he said. Johnson explained how Jerry Buss — or Dr. Buss as he was known — the late owner of the Los Angeles Lakers, took him under his wing, even opening the books and showing him how the business side of the Lakers worked. “I wasButblown away.”itgaveJohnson an idea. He called Dr. Buss and asked for the phone numbers of Lakers season ticket holders who also owned businesses. He wanted to take them to lunch.“Icalled over 50 presidents and CEOs,” Johnson said. They all said yes, of course, to the Lakers superstar. But Johnson learned valuable lessons about business. Today, Johnson still counts six of those CEOs as his mentors. Some, he’s even in business with. It’s because of those mentors and the opportunities they helped create that Johnson became the successful businessman he is today. While progress is being made in terms of social justice, some may be discouraged it’s not happening as fast — or as consistently — as they might hope. “Change takes time,” Johnson said. “We need everybody to stay motivated. Stay focused on the fact that we have to still make more changes. These problems are not going to go away just because we protested … just because we raised our voices that this shouldn’t be happening. If we all get discouraged, then we’re not going to continue to fight.”

In this way, it has strengthened our posture in the community, given us the courage to work against structural exclusion and allowed us to champion health, hope and healing — FOR ALL. P Earvin "Magic" Johnson and Atrium Health CEO Gene Woods discuss creating opportunities and growing as a leader during the 20th annual FOR ALL Conference. Atrium Health teammate asks question to panel during the 2017 FOR ALL Conference.

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Atrium Health Celebrates 20 Years of Impact Through the FOR ALL Conference

By Peggy Harris, Amy Marcellini, Dana Ellison and Uniqua Quillins

A trium Health recently hosted the 20th anniversary of its Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) learning event, the annual FOR ALL Conference. The conference continues to be the signature DEI educational opportunity and cultural mainstay of Atrium Health. For the past 20 years, it has been the largest and most prominent learning forum of its kind within the Southeast region with more than 3,000 teammates registering for the June conference. Since 2002, this event has been a cultural foundation at Atrium Health; and an investment in teammates that has challenged assumptions and perceptions. The event has empowered teammates to champion diversity, equity, inclusion and belongingness.Overthelifeofthe conference, Atrium has hosted notable speakers and experts such as the internationally revered, Dr. Maya Angelou, astronaut Dr. Mae Jemison, U.S. Surgeon Generals Richard Carmona and Dr. Jocelyn Elders, retired General Peter Pace, the 16th chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Mike Krzyzewski (Coach K) and a host of other renowned leaders and experts in topics of diversity, equity and inclusion.Thisyear’s

“We’re not going to keep the conversation going. What’s important is that we keep the conversation going.” Our FOR ALL Conference captures a meaningful connection to our mission. It reflects Atrium Health’s long-standing commitment to our Diversity Agenda, and our continued investment in our teammates.

“Waving Through a Window”

DEAR EVAN HANSEN is the deeply personal and profoundly contemporary musical about life in the age of social media and the way we live it. The musical follows Evan Hansen, a high school senior with social anxiety, who gets the one thing he’s always wanted: a chance to fit in. But he pays a steep price for it. “You Will Be Found”

“Sincerely, Me”

Piser joins a long list of incredible actors who have taken on the role of Evan, including Tony winner Ben Platt, who originated the role, Jordan Fisher (Teen Beach Movie, RENT: Live) and Noah Galvin (The Real O’Neals).

Zachary Noah Piser portrays the role of Evan Hansen in the touring character on Broadway and making Broadway history. The actor became the first Asian American actor to play the role “Beingfull-time.thefirst Asian American actor to tell Evan’s story means everything to me, and I hope this milestone allows any and all AAPI folks to feel seen, heard, and valued,” Piser said in a statement.

Today is Going to be a Good Day and Here is Why

The musical has struck a remarkable chord with audiences and critics everywhere, including The Washington Post which says DEAR EVAN HANSEN is “Theatrical magic. One of the most remarkable shows in musical theatre breathtaking knockout of a musical.” And NBC Nightly News declares the musical “an anthem resonating on Broadway and beyond.”

DEAR EVAN HANSEN, winner of six 2017 Tony Awards® including Best Musical and the 2018 Grammy® Award for Best Musical Theater Album, returns to the Queen City in the Belk Theater for one week October 25-30.

Tony Award-winning Best Musical DEAR EVAN HANSEN Returns to Charlotte

September-October 2022 | Pride Magazine 25

DEAR EVAN HANSEN’s star-studded creative team features a score by Grammy®, Tony® and Academy Award® winners Benj Pasek and Justin Paul (La La Land, The Greatest Showman), direction by four-time Tony Award nominee Michael Greif (Rent, Next to Normal) and is adapted from a book by Tony Award winner Steven Levenson.

“For Forever” Tickets are on sale now by visiting BlumenthalArts.org or calling 704-372-1000. This is one show you don’t want to miss.

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BLUMENTHAL REVIEW

Our diversity is our strength Every day we go to work, attend school, and live our lives side by side. Our individual experiences come together to help us learn more about the world around us, and ourselves as well. We’re proud to be a par t of the diverse communities where we live and work. wellsfargo.com/donations © 2022 Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. 7320633-2 MOD: 981

Supplier diversity may be a new concept for some. However, it is a strategic business operation that encourages and advocates for the use of suppliers and service providers that are minority-owned, Black-owned, woman-owned, veteran-owned and LGBTQ+ owned. Historically, many companies in these categories are underutilized and Atrium Health is leading the way to change that. Manwell Bynum is the Head of Business Acceleration for Atrium Health and leads the center. He said the center will offer aspiring companies an electronic resource library that includes presentations, business plans, templates and even peer-to-peer discussion forums. Suppliers will also have access to consultations on capacity building and obtaining financial assistance. Bynum, as an entrepreneur himself, knows first-hand how challenging it is and how important it is for minority-owned businesses to get support with scaling their companies.

“Everybody is at different stages and a lot of times minority companies don’t get an opportunity to work with a company the size of an Atrium Health because they just don’t have the resources, they don’t have enterprise capacity. So, we will engage them in an ecosystem where we can provide them with support to grow,” Bynum said.

Creating Opportunity for Supplier Diversity Building Equity Within the Community

PORTAL is also home to the National Institute Economic Development Women’s Business Center of Charlotte, NXT/CLT, City Startup Labs and BLKTECHCLT, all of which create, build, develop, incubate, accelerate, capitalize and scale sustainable minority owned companies. “I don’t think there’s another company in the country right now that is bold enough to actually insert their supplier diversity department inside of an ecosystem. I think this is game changing. I think we’re pioneering a new way of investing in supplier diversity,” said Bynum.

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Later this year, the healthcare company will launch their Center for Supplier Diversity and Entrepreneurship. It is a resource hub for diverse and minority entrepreneurs, equipping them with the tools and education they need to scale their businesses and secure contracts with Atrium Health and other large companies within Charlotte.

By Uniqua Quillins

The center will operate at the PORTAL (Partnership, Outreach and Research to Accelerate Learning) on the University of North Carolina Charlotte's campus.

Fernando Little, Atrium Health’s Enterprise Chief Diversity Officer, said he is excited about that possibility. “If this center can become a blueprint for other organizations to strengthen their supplier diversity strategies and how they reach out to minority owned companies we’re hoping to influence that as well.”

Conrad Emmerich, Enterprise Senior Vice President, Supply Chain Management and Chief Procurement Officer for Atrium Health as well as President and Chief Executive Officer for Atrium Health Supply Chain Alliance, said the center is important because it allows Atrium Health to spend dollars within the communities that the company serves and in turn creates local wealth. “One of our main interests was being able to look at our zip codes where we do business in our communities. If it’s in Charlotte, if it’s in Winston-Salem, Macon or in Rome what are those zip codes that we service and how much of our spend goes back into those zip codes,” he said. Not only is Atrium Health empowering diverse suppliers, the company is also empowering other companies within Charlotte who may want to increase their engagement with diverse suppliers.

trium Health is using its mission to improve health, elevate hope and advance healing for all in a new, innovative way that will empower diverse suppliers across Charlotte.

– for all. Our Diversity Agenda centers on advancing equity and outlines our bold goal –to achieve transformative equity for patients, teammates, learners, and communities by 2025. This framework acts as the guiding philosophy through which diversity initiatives are developed and implemented across the enterprise.Withover70,000 teammates, our most powerful resource is our workforce. We acknowledge and celebrate this by cultivating an equitable and inclusive culture. Our Culture Commitments serve to break down barriers to communication, understanding, access, and opportunity. “We recognize the value of diversity, equity, and inclusion through our culture commitments. One of our foundational culture commitments is to “create a space where all belong,” said Fernando Little, VP & Enterprise Chief Diversity Officer.

Roadmap

One of the ways we do so is by leveraging our Diversity Infrastructure. It includes regionally based diversity councils, system resource groups (SRGs), faculty and champions who work to enhance belongingness and cultural competence for our teammates. They are empowered to act as facilitators, educators, strategy partners, mentors and coaches serving to keep the “for all” part of our mission statement alive. Our nine SRGs – including groups for multicultural physicians, minority men, women leaders, veterans and more –celebrate what makes their members unique. They are open to members of the primary affinity but welcome all teammates. These groups further serve as stakeholders for the organization at large, with the power to transform culture. We invite them to be our partners, challenge the status quo and urge us to do Leadersbetter.and teammates across the enterprise work tirelessly to foster a culture that is welcoming for all. Our approach spans all levels, departments and facilities. Furthermore, we recognize that a strategic focus on inclusive hiring helps build trust right from the beginning. To ensure the candidate experience conveys inclusivity throughout, our Diversity Equity & Inclusion (DEI) and Talent Acquisition teams recently worked to revamp our hiring practices. This work included creating an Inclusive Hiring Toolkit, implementing relevant training for hiring leaders and developing strategic recruitment goals – like increasing diverse candidate slates and expanding talent sources. Our organizational strategy, Impact 2025, outlines our pursuit to optimize our platform, extend health impact, and invent the future. Specific targets include ensuring management reflects the diversity of our patients, boosting the exposure of diverse managers and increasing our spend with minority suppliers. We regularly monitor all available data to understand if we are as inclusive as we think. Additionally, we lean on the “voice of our teammates” to understand if specific groups are experiencing things differently. If identified, we take action to address the root cause of gaps and make course corrections.In2021,weworked to increase our organizational DEI-related measurement and accountability capacity. This required that all executives complete an introspective survey and a learning module on racial equity and inclusive leadership. Executives also met with DEI team members to review their custom diversity dashboard and discuss relevant insights. Later, they created DEI-specific goals informed by this process.

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As a support vehicle for this work, Atrium Health provides educational opportunities and activities throughout the year. Our signature FOR ALL Conference is a cultural mainstay of Atrium Health. Each year the conference attracts speakers and educators from across the nation, who help attendees recognize their biases and inspire them to affect systems and processes for the benefit of all.

A t Atrium Health, leadership at all levels and regions of the organization are committed to diversity, equity and inclusion. In fact, it’s central to our business and culture as demonstrated by our mission: to improve health, elevate hope and advance healing

TransformativetoEquity

By hosting this annual learning forum, we aim to elevate cultural competency across the enterprise, enhance care delivery, cultivate an inclusive and equitable workplace and learning environment and uplift the communities we serve.

bit.ly/DiversityandInclusionatAtriumHealthlive meaningfully.

Atrium Health was named the No. 1 “Best Places to Work for Women and Diverse Managers” by Diversity MBA magazine. At our organization, it is important that we build trust in our diverse and most vulnerable populations. That’s why we work to make sure our leaders reflect the communities we serve. It helps us live out our mission to improve health, elevate hope and advance healing – FOR ALL.

Blumenthal Performing Arts Center

CouncilScience&ArtsofcourtesyPhotoFotographyFenixbyPhoto

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The mission of the Blumenthal Performing Arts Center is to share, employ, and present the best in performing arts as a catalyst to strengthen education, build community cohesiveness, and advance economic growth in the performing arts sector. The Blumenthal Performing Arts Center houses six theatres including the Belk Theater, Booth Playhouse, Stage Door Theater, Ovens Auditorium, Knight Theater and Festival Stages in Romare Bearden Park. Visit blumentalarts.org for more information.

Two upcoming Arts & Science Council

What’s New on Charlotte’s Art Scene

By Ryan Kouame Actor’s Theatre of Charlotte

Arts & Science Council

The Charlotte Ballet’s season opens Oct. 13 – 15 with the return of an acclaimed work never before seen in Charlotte. Fall Works features Helen Pickett’s “IN Cognito,” created for Charlotte Ballet in 2019. Also, for the first time, Charlotte Ballet will R&B singer Eric Roberson will perform at the Booth Playhouse at Blumenthal Performing Arts Center on Oct. 22 at 8 p.m.

Charlotte Ballet

Janeta Jackson as Billie Holiday in “Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar and Grill” at Actor's Theatre of Charlotte Danielle Walcott, Arts & Science Council 2022 Creative Renewal Fellowhip recipient

performances include Princess Fearless, Sept. 24, 10 a.m., in Stumptown Park, 120 S. Trade St., Matthews. This is an original work by regional playwright Lakeetha Blakeney. Recommended for grades 2-5. Also, look for Westside Star Search & Karaoke Showdown, Sept. 3 and 10, 5 p.m. at Five Points Plaza, 1601 W. Trade St., Charlotte. This is a talent showcase. Performers must pre-register to perform with a live band and chance to advance to the grand championship. Visit artsandscience.org/ for more information.

Two upcoming plays at the the Actor’s Theatre of Charlotte are written by Black women and geared toward diverse audiences. “If Pretty Hurts Ugly Must be a Muhfucka,” is a retelling of a West African folktale set in the fictional world of Affreakah-Amirrorkah and “Apologies to Lorraine Hansberry (You Too August Wilson)” is a dark utopian comedy set in an alternate America in an all-Black state during the Civil War. Visit atcharlotte.org to learn more.

present “Under the Lights,” choreographed by Charlotte Ballet II Director Christopher Stuart and set to the music of Johnny Cash. The third performance piece will be Crystal Pite’s “A Picture of You Falling.” Visit charlotteballet.org for more information. Charlotte Symphony Charlotte Symphony performances run from September to May and include classical, pop, movie and family series among other community programs like Healing Hands, Bridging Musical Worlds, and Music for All. Some of their upcoming events include the “Saint-Saëns Organ Symphony,” “Elgar Cello Concerto,” “Queens of Soul,” “Beethoven Pastoral,” “The Polar Express,” and “Cirque de Noël” and Copeland’s “Symphony No.3.” Visit charlottesymphony.org to learn more.

“ark of bulrushes” MuseumMinttheofcourtesyPhotoCravottaJeffbyPhoto DreamsYour Are Our Business htb.com Personal | Mortgage Commercial | Business 220802-992617511

Diedrick Brackens’

Children’s Theatre of Charlotte Some upcoming Children’s Theatre of Charlotte events include “A Sick Day for Amos McGee,” “Annie,” “The Best Christmas Pageant Ever and Confessions of a Former Bully.” “Jackie Robinson: A Game Apart,” is a one-man show that highlights the triumphs and struggles of baseball legend Jackie Robinson’s life. The show runs from Nov. 12 to 19, 2022, at the Wells more information.ctcharlotte.orgPlayhouse.FargoVisitfor The MuseumMint Mint Museum online exhibitions include “Expanding the Pantheon,” “Project Ten Ten Ten” and “Classic Black.” The “ark of bulrushes,” exhibit is a new series by Los Angeles-based artist Diedrick Brackens including large-scale weavings and premiering the artist’s first woven sculptures. Admission to the museum is free on Wednesday nights and varies depending on age throughout the week. Some upcoming exhibitions to expect in the fall and winter are “American Made” and “Fashion Reimagined.” Visit mintmuseum.org/ for more information. P End of year performance for Charlotte Ballet’s nationally recognized need-based dance scholarship program, “Reach.”

Here Jackie Robinson is playing for the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1954. Nov.Apart”Robinson:“JackieAGamerunsfrom12–19,2022.

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Trinadadian-Canadian conductor Kwamé Ryan will lead Copland’s Symphony No. 3, Jan. 13 and 14, 2023, at the Belk Theater, 7:30 p.m., as part of the Charlotte Symphony’s Classical Series. theofcourtesyPhotoCharlotteSymphony

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September-October 2022 | Pride Magazine 33

Butler TawannaofCourtesyPhotos

By Sasha Manley O

ver the last 50 years, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Carolinas has been transforming lives through its non-profit organization. Their one-on-one mentoring program continues to enrich and inspire the youth in our area. They will celebrate this tremendous milestone in September. The Central Carolina region joined BBBS in 1972. Over 900 children were served in Mecklenburg, York and Cabarrus Counties last year. Its mission is to use oneon-one connections to support the youth’s developmental success from ages 6 to 14. With school-based and community-based outreach, the program focuses on four areas for this positive result: educational success, avoidance of risky behaviors, mental wellbeing and socioeconomic opportunities. About 70 percent of the children enrolled in BBBS programs come from single-parent homes and 11 percent have at least one parent incarcerated.Throughtheyears, much change has happened, including the Covid-19 pandemic. CEO Donna Dunlap joined BBBS 6 years ago and shared how their mission continuously adapts to the needs of the mentors and mentees. “Today, our young people are struggling academically and are facing mental health challenges more so than they have in the past due to the pandemic. As a result, we have had to make more resources available to them through their mentor, school and family,” said Dunlap. These resources include training for staffThemembers.digitalage has provided another extension of support, Dunlap added. “Technology and tech-use competency are so important today. We focus on ensuring our young people have access to technology and connectivity. In addition, we are finding creative/safe ways to use it to help their mentors connect virtually, prepare their schoolwork and plan for their future.”

Local Big Brothers Big Sisters Organization Celebrates 50 Years of Service

Mentorship matters Big Sister/Little Sister Donna Julian and 11-year-old Hannah (pronounced “Hon’nah”) Butler were connected nearly two years ago during the pandemic. Since then, the two have developed a meaningful bond. “I knew at some point when I started, I wanted to be a big sister. I felt like it would be a positive relationship.”DonnaJulian

Big Sister Donna Julian and Little Sister Hannah Butler

Earlier this year, philanthropist Mackenzie Bezo donated a record $122.6 million to Big Brothers Big Sisters of America. It was a huge surprise for the organization; 38 agencies out of 235 received a portion of the donation. The Central Carolinas region received $2.3 million. Dunlap said the excitement was beyond anything they could have imagined. “My team and my board were ecstatic, humbled, honored. So many positive emotions flood in when something unexpected and impactful happens,” she said.

The BBBS Board of Directors has already begun working on ways the funds will continue their mission in mentoring. Dunlap briefly shared three essential plans: Infrastructure expansion by extending the program to age 21 (the cut-off age is now 18) and increasing education and training to support volunteers and parents; and rainy day fund establishment to help with the organization’s future with a portion dedicated to setting up a quasi-endowment to grow to $3.4 million (capital campaign) 4 to 6 months of cash reserve development. Looking ahead The future of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Carolinas is bright, with plans to increase its advocacy for the LGBTQ and Latino communities, collaborate with other non-profits, organizations, corporations and more.TheBBBS of Central Carolinas organzation will celebrate its 50th Anniversary at an event on Sept. 24 at the J.W. Marriott Charlotte hotel. It will be an invite-only affair with presentations for the BBBS Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (J.E.D.I.) awards. Live musical performances will feature a local youth choir, two jazz music groups, and Wé McDonald, a finalist on the singing competition show, “The Voice,” in 2016. A special tribute in memory of their regional and national board member, the late Cheslie Kryst who was the 2019 Miss USA, is also planned.Visitbbbscentralcarolinas.org to find out how to become a mentor or volunteer, or to request a mentee for a young person. Above: Big Sister Donna Julian and Little Sister Hannah Butler Below: Donna Dunlap, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Carolina’s CEO 34 Pride Magazine | www.pridemagazineonline.com

Julian first came to the organization as a board member for seven years, then as board chair for two years. She knew becoming a mentor was a part of her plans, “I knew at some point when I started, I wanted to be a Big Sister. I felt like it would be a positive relationship,” Julian said. Mentoring has given her a muchneeded outlet and a different type of connection. Additionally, it breaks up the demands of Julian’s day job as the executive vice president and Spectrum Center general manager of Hornets Sports and Entertainment. “It’s just a great relationship. We are all working together.” Hannah said she goes to the movies with her Big Sister and enjoys hanging out often. “I like to see Ms. Donna. When we get to see each other, it’s really fun,” Hannah said. Tawanna Butler (Hannah’s mother) explains why she decided to put her daughter in the program. “It was an instant extension of my village. I wanted Hannah to meet other women in the community that were leaders and keep her engaged,” Butler said. “So, it was more about extending my village and having other positive women in Hannah’s life.”

Plans for recent donation stream

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In every specialty area, we’ve reached the Top. tryonmed.com Ballantyne | Gaston | Huntersville | Matthews | Pineville | SouthPark | Steele Creek | Uptown | Waverly Dr. Daniel Aquino Dr. Amit Aravapalli Dr. Anne Barnard Dr. Francisco Bautista Vitiello Dr. April Boswell Dr. Robert Bowen III Dr. Oscar BrannDr. Enrico Belgrave Dr. Allen Brantley Dr. Eric Clemons Dr. Peter Copsis Dr. Meredith Dasher Dr. Walid Eltaraboulsi Dr. Charles FerreeDr. Jeffrey Constantine Dr. Maya Fetter Dr. David Framm Dr. Kym Furney Dr. Diane George Dr. Jennie Hauschka Dr. SiSi Hester-Clarke Dr. Eric Hilgenfeldt Dr. Erin Hodges Dr. Kent Holtzmuller Dr. Martie Jewell Dr. Alison Johnson Dr. James Jones Dr. Tina Kennelly Dr. Eric Landis Dr. Michael McCartney Dr. Uma O’Brien Dr. Gregory O’Leary Dr. Uha Reddy Dr. Patricia Roddey Dr. Gary Rolband Dr. Caroline Stephens Dr. Ehrlich Tan Dr. Charles Upchurch Dr. Jill ZouzoulasDr. Ilhem Remmouche

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Communities In Schools Prepares Students for Success in School and Life

September-OctoberSchool 2022 | Pride Magazine 37

Photos courtesy of Communities in Schools of Charlotte-Mecklenburg B ryson Staten, an 8-year-old thirdgrader at Westerly Hills Academy, is planning a future as an NFL star so he can buy his mother a “really big house.” He credits the Communities In Schools of Charlotte-Mecklenburg (CIS-Charlotte) with giving him the guidance and support he needs to make his dream come true. An affiliate of the national Communities In Schools network dedicated to keeping kids in school and on the path to graduation, CIS-Charlotte serves about 5,000 students grades K-12 in 54 schools through counseling and support on various levels. Bryson is one of its biggest fans. “It’s a lot of fun. It helps me stay out of trouble, and every day we set a goal,” he said. “We read and talk about stuff in groups that are bothering us and it makes our day better. The teachers make us feel like everything’s going to be OK. I know I’m going to grow up and be somebody.” The mission of CIS-Charlotte, which started locally in 1985, is to surround students of all races and socioeconomic backgrounds with a community of positivity, empowering them to stay in school and achieve in life with plans tailored to their personal needs. Areas of focus include attendance, academics, mentoring, social-emotional learning, basic needs, college/career readiness, leadership, life skills development, cultural and Some Communities in Schools of Charlotte-Mecklenburg Class of 2021 graduates celebrate.

A CIS-Charlotte student at Cotswold Elementary

By Cheryl Clemmons |

Harding Univesity High School Class of 2022 from the CIS-Charlotte family 38 Pride Magazine | www.pridemagazineonline.com

CIS-Charlotte Youth Development Coordinator Jasmin Harris has been working with her “scholars”for three years. She credits social and emotional support, daily communication and community resources with working wonders“Somethingfor children.assimple as a trip to a local park is an adventure for some kids because they’ve never been out of their own neighborhood,” she said. “You have to get them to think outside the box, but most of all, provide them with love and encouragement.”

educational enrichment and parent engagement. Currently, there is a focus on getting students to re-engage in their education and recover from losses because of the pandemic which had a devastating effect due to school closures and remote learning. An estimated 3 million students are “missing” from school rosters across the U.S. Locally, that number is in the thousands.“Attheonset of the pandemic, we had to pivot quickly from our typical services. Our initial response was to meet the urgent basic needs of our families, such as food and hygiene supplies,” said Men Tchaas Ari, CIS-Charlotte’s years,” she said. “We’ve literally been homeless, their grandfather died and I’m dealing with some serious health problems. They have helped us with all of that, as well as made sure my children are getting a good education in a good environment. Even though it’s been a struggle, I’ve always been involved in my kids’ education and lives. They’ve made sure we’re all OK.” The program is currently working on getting the family permanent housing. “We’re all very grateful,” said Staten. Jenni Ramos, 18, was in the program since the sixth grade. The recent Myers Park High School graduate has two scholarships in her pocket that will pay for the nursing degree she plans to earn at Appalachian State University after earning her basic education credits at Central Piedmont Community College. She credits the program with changing her life and helping her reach her childhood goal. “I’ve always wanted to be a nurse. I was actually a nurse to my brothers when I was a little girl. I was always putting band-aids on them when they got hurt,” she said. “I’ll be a first-generation college student in my family and my parents are very proud. I’m very proud of myself. I learned a lot about myself in those seven years I spent in the program. It was a great opportunity and taught me there was a different way of life.”

Men Tchaas Ari president and CEO, in a press release about the program. “During the first eight weeks at the start of the pandemic, we conducted emergency needs assessments for 6,000plus students and families and worked with [Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools] and the County to deliver more than 55,000 services, primarily critical needs such as meals and supplies.” Tiffany Staten, Bryson’s mother, said he and his siblings, Justice, 11, a sixth-grader, and Nia, 10, a fifth-grader, are also in the program at Westerly Hills Academy and achieving great things. She said CIS-Charlotte has helped her family immensely over the past six years. “They have been absolutely wonderful to me and my children. Things have been very traumatic for us over the past few

CIS-Charlotte Site Coordinator Kenyatta Bigger meets with a Ranson Middle School student.

September-October 2022 | Pride Magazine 39

Learn more at: www.tescharlotte.org The only K-8 independent school in Charlotte's center city, Trinity shapes the next generation of scholars and citizens through academic excellence, service learning, and fostering an inclusive community. creating SCHOLARS nuturing SPIRITUALITY embracing DIVERSITY

Private Schools in Charlotte Adjust to a Changing World

continues to permeate many aspects of American life in the 21st century, and the education system is no exception. In recent years, there has been an uptick in documented cases of students brazenly displaying expressions of cultural insensitivity and hurling racist insults. In a CNN report on racism and bullying incidents in school in December 2021 titled, “Students are fed up with racial slurs and bullying,” Black students reported being called monkeys by white students, finding the N-word written on school restroom walls and other forms of abuse. Students of color have also reported being humiliated on social media. Frustrated and disturbed by these bullying tactics, many students have bravely spoken about this harassment at school board meetings and even sued some school districts, CNN reported. Local private and independent schools face their own challenges with the volatile issue. Education experts have long known that racism — the systemic oppression of people of Charlotte Country Day School

How are area private schools creating a more just, diverse and for students?environmentinclusive

By Angela Lindsay Racism

Charlotte Latin School September-October 2022 | Pride Magazine 41

As a school, we seek to admit talented and motivated students from diverse backgrounds. Central to preparing our students for this world is creating an academic community that is diverse socioeconomically, racially, ethnically, and inclusive for all. 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. 100% of Country Day graduates are accepted to colleges and universities around the world; the Class of 2022 received $8.6 million total scholarship offers based on academic merit, athletic abilities, or special talents 20% of our enrollment comprises students of color 100% of our faculty engage in professional development each year including diversity, equity, and inclusion Over 20% of our Board of Trustees comprises people of color Learn more about diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging at Country Day: org/about/deibcharlottecountryday. Call us today to learn more about the opportunities at Country Day! 943-4530

charlottecountryday.org | (704)

•

Did you know?

Ready. For. You.

•

A Charlotte Christian graduate will leave with the opportunity to develop a personal relationship with Christ, knowledge to understand and defend their faith and experiences to serve God and love others.They will learn that Christ is the center of all and synthesize information using a biblical worldview.

Focus on Innovation and Creativity

Questions,

EducatingCollegeChrist-centered.preparatory.thewhole Oct. 9:30 a.m. a.m. please call (704) 366-5657, ext. 6502. RSVP, www.charlottechristian.com/visitadmissions/visit.

Pursuit of Excellence

A Charlotte Christian graduate seeks excellence with their God-given gifts. Excellence in the form of academics with robust college preparatory and college level class offerings; engagement in multi-faceted co-curriculars, effective communication skills and collaboration with others; and practicing empathy while embracing diversity and respecting other perspectives.

A Charlotte Christian graduate approaches new concepts with creativity and the courage to be innovative and resilient when taking risks. Through this pursuit they develop selfconfidence, self-awareness and self-motivation with the desire to be challenged. Formation of integrity and the ability to engage responsibly with new technology.

child. A Closer Look: visit campus and experience the CharlottecommunityChristian JK - grade 5 Wednesday,

Spiritual Formation

JK - Grade 12 Saturday, Nov. 5 10

Administration will work in conjunction with the Office of Equity, Inclusion & Belonging to determine outcomes, including, but not limited to, suspension, Dyer said. “A continued pattern of behavior, or issues of a severe or extreme nature, could lead to expulsion.” At Charlotte Preparatory School (CPS), they “continually work to build a truly inclusive learning environment where each member is accepted and valued for who he or she is and can bring his or her “whole self” to school each day,” the CPS website states. “Through open, honest dialogue and purposeful, ongoing inquiry, all members of their community gain awareness, wisdom, and the capacity to act as responsible, engaged citizens.”

“We recognize that our school exists in an ever-changing world and that our understanding of, and support for, diversity, equity, and inclusion must expand and evolve,” the CPS website states. “We will innovate, adapt, and reflect on our current systems and practices to support a richer, more open and authentic community culture.”Sincetheuptickin

Charlotte Country Day School

news coverage of social and racial justice issues over the past few years, especially after the killing of George Floyd, private and independent schools are exploring ways to proactively tackle racism should it arise. “Shortly after George Floyd was brutally murdered by police officers, our school reaffirmed its commitment to diversity and social justice by organizing all-school events, activities and open conversations about racial injustice and disparities in our country,” said Ayeola Elias, director of diversity, equity and belonging and admission advisor at Trinity Episcopal School (TES) “As we grappled with the painful realities of racism that still persist in our country, the Board of Trustees [decided to] address the school community directly,” said Shannon Drosky, director of marketing and communications at Charlotte Country Day School (CCDS). “We not only acknowledged the pain felt across the country, but we also recognized the pain felt in our own school community. We committed to listen and take stock of racial equity and inclusion at Country Day, and we Education experts have long known that racism — the systemic oppression of people of color based on social and legal structures that privilege white people — has severe consequences for students of color.

Trinity Episcopal School

44 Pride Magazine | www.pridemagazineonline.com

color based on social and legal structures that privilege white people — has severe consequences for students of color. When students feel stigmatized because of their race, they suffer emotionally and academically, according to a September 2021 article on GreatSchools.org, “What is an antiracist school?” At Providence Day School (PDS) in Charlotte, “[Incidents] are handled with a multi-pronged approach focused on education, social and emotional well-being, restorative justice, community restoration and accountability,” said Leigh Dyer, director of strategic marketing and communications. “Any situation that involves the use of a racial slur, inappropriate jokes or innuendos directed at an individual or group which is based on physical characteristics, stereotypes or cultural biases will not be excused or tolerated.

Providence Day School will conduct Open Houses this fall for all rising grades. Please visit www.ProvidenceDay.org/Admissions for more information or to schedule a tour.

IDEAS@PD is a reimagining of the computer science department that offers students the chance to explore and expand their passions around innovation, design, entrepreneurship, analytics, and sustainability. Using resources such as computer programming with Alice, EV3 robotics, and broadcast media to name a few, students have the opportunity to identify challenges they care about and want to pursue while also working across disciplinary boundaries. We exist to inspire!

For more information, visit ProvidenceDay.org/IDEASPD

The place for big IDEAS

Max Owens ’22, creator of the MAVRIK self-flying passenger vehicle, at Providence Day’s spring Hackathon. The school conducts Hackathons twice a year to invite students to design solutions to local issues.

Our

Charlotte Preparatory School fosters a diverse , equitable , and inclusive environment for learning. seek to ensure all aspects of school life—including curriculum, admission, retention, hiring practices, and support for students, families, and employees— our commitment to DEI. goals will be diligently assessed actively supported through reflection, and

and

reflect

innovation,

investment. FAST FACTSFAST FACTSFAST FACTS 40% of our student body represents diverse nationalities and ethnicities 36% of our Board of Trustees identify as persons of color 400 students in our PreK- 8th-grade Researchschool shows the Kindergarten-8th grade model is the best for students and allows children to develop in a supportive environment without the shadow of a high-school write your own story admissions@charlotteprep.orgwww.charlotteprep.org

Inquire today at 704.846.7207CharlotteLatin.org/admissions

committed to act to continue our progress on diversity, equity and inclusion.”

Charlotte Christian School 48 Pride Magazine | www.pridemagazineonline.com

Teach For America suggests several ways to shape an anti-racist school environment, including rethinking dress and hair policies; replacing vague conduct policies with a defined culture of respect; investing in mental health, not discipline; analyzing grading policies; bringing parents to the table and sharing power with communities; and building a culture that supports staff in the long-term antiracism effort. “Essentially, any action that is taken to counter racism and its effects is inherently antiracist. Therefore, every effort to educate (through curriculum, programming, and so on) about the policies, practices and acts that promote and sustain racism is antiracist,” said Erica Moore, director of diversity, equity and inclusion at Charlotte Latin School (CLS) To that end, last year, a group of CLS’s students attended the White Privilege Conference held in Charlotte. Four Upper School students attended the annual National Association of Independent School Student Diversity Leadership Conference and shared their experiences in a presentation to parents. In addition, curriculum choices at CLS reflect its desire to advance the conversation on racism — choices such as the Lower School’s participation in the Aspire to Be Campaign, a 2021 division-wide, interviewbased project that encourages all members of the community to learn about others beyond outward appearances, based on the children’s book “Milo Imagines the World” by Matt de la Peña; the Middle School’s collaboration between humanities classes and the library, exposing students to a wide variety of diverse authors; and the Upper School’s commitment to interdisciplinary approaches to studying the effects of racism throughout history. “In the last few years, social justice issues have rightfully been at the center of crucial conversations across the world and across industries,” said Dyer. “As an independent school located geographically in the South, [Providence Day] acknowledges its founding as a “white flight school” more than 50 years ago. Our Equity, Inclusion & Belonging Office was first established more than 21 years ago. The work is on a continuum. We are constantly evolving, growing and working every day towards becoming an antiracist institution.”ProvidenceDaySchool also launched a new annual report on Equity, Inclusion and Belonging last year. This year’s report summarizes many of the measures the school is implementing to respond to racism at Charlotte Preparatory School

For 40 years, The Fletcher School has been empowering students with language-based learning differences and ADHD to achieve bright futures by offering a multisensory, Orton-Gillingham approach. Our collegepreparatory program serves students from grades K-12. Learn more by visiting TheFletcherSchool.org 704-365-4658 | @FletcherFalcons

At Carmel Christian School we offer an excellent education built on biblical truth, which equips students to reflect Christ to the world. Our students participate in challenging college preparatory curriculum taught through the lens of a biblical worldview. We are a community in which academic excellence, artistic expression and athletic distinction are marked by intentional discipleship. We partner with Christian parents to nurture and challenge the potential of each student.

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Tell to the coming generation the glorious deeds of the Lord, and His might and the wonders that He has done. Psalm 78:4

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GRADES K-12 OPEN HOUSES

Join us for an Admissions Open House and discover Our Story!

Tell to the coming generation the glorious deeds of the Lord, and His might and the wonders that He has done. Psalm 78:4

EVERY SCHOOL HAS A STORY...WELCOME TO OURS.

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Charlotte Country Day School created a DEI committee to partner with school leadership to actively and intentionally collect feedback on the climate of racial inclusivity at Country Day. CCDS used that feedback to shape future efforts as outlined in its DEI Strategic Plan developed in the 2020-21 school year. To better engage themselves in antiracism activities, The Fletcher School (TFS) includes a DEI section in their weekly newsletter for all employees. In addition, their DEI Committee sponsors monthly events to help increase inclusion, the acceptance of others and to build community.“Asaschool,we have become more aware of social justice issues and have worked to provide educational opportunities about anti-bias practices, inclusivity and acceptance,” said Jennifer Brost, director of advancement at TFS. “In 2021, the school established a DEI Committee, tasked first with assessing where the school is on a variety of issues. Today, the DEI Committee is continuing that great grassroots work as they establish their footing with new leadership.” She added, “This is only a start, and we recognize the need to do more.”

Head of School at Carmel Christian School (CCS), Jay Hancock, said CCS’s “commitment to fight racism begins with the belief that racism is a sin that is an offense to God and is contrary to the gospel message of Christ. We believe that if our students and the adults who lead them properly understand and apply the teaching of Christ, they will be able to identify personal and structurally embedded sins like racism.”

“Through innovative learning opportunities with our counseling and diversity and belonging faculty, our students engage in social and emotional skill-based activities that teach appropriate ways to advocate and speak up for those who are being mistreated, while creating positive change,” Walker said.

At TES, parents, teachers, staff, students and board members are encouraged to engage in ongoing work to foster equity and justice. Participating in listening sessions and regular assessments helps “set goals to move the needle and build more equity at the school,” said Elias.

The director of diversity and belonging guides teachers on how to give students culturally responsive [instruction] that’s developmentally appropriate and centered on the individual needs of each student,” Walker added.

“This is a whole school effort that requires an investment of members of our community and the institution as a whole so we can partner together to handle all situations with equity,” Elias added. “Our Episcopal identity affirms our commitment to building trust and stamina for the work of pursuing equity within our diverse school community and in the world.” Carmel Christian SchoolThe Fletcher School

52 Pride Magazine | www.pridemagazineonline.com

The school is preparing their students to recognize racism, empathize and defend those who are mistreated and to “positively impact their community as they live the biblical teachings regarding love and justice,” Hancock added.

“We are particularly examining our social studies curriculum to make sure that our students are taught to understand the various forms that racial and ethnic bias have taken and how they have shaped the development of our nation and other nations and cultures throughout history,” Hancock said. “Jesus’ message, values and vision for the world, when properly believed and applied, provides the foundation for a just people and just society.”

Through weekly chapels, biblical discipleship and elective offerings at Charlotte Christian School, students engage in conversations that help them navigate culturally sensitive topics in a respectful manner and strengthen their intercultural communication skills, shared Jozi Walker, director of diversity and belonging at Charlotte Christian.

the school. Three years ago, the school also started an anonymous reporting form for incidents of hate and bias. In addition, PDS formed an Anti-Racist Task Force in 2020 in partnership with the school’s families.

“There are so many things about CDS that we are thankful for. The smiles on our children’s face each day says it all. They look forward to going to school. They love their teachers and friends. We appreciate the high academic standards. We love that our children’s intellect is challenged and their talents are cultivated. Above all, we are so incredibly thankful that the Christian values which are so important to our family are infused in every aspect of life here.”

www.covenantday.orgwww.covenantday.org covenantdayschool - CDS Family

Times said to get fit, lose weight and maintain it, you have to do things that keep you motivated. “It takes a village … people like me, friends, people around you to help you through the whole process. There will be days when you don’t want to go to the gym, but you have to go anyway.”

Experts say the sudden switch to sedentary lifestyles was an obvious contributor. According to NCCI, a nonprofit research group, only six percent of U.S. employees worked from home before the pandemic. By May of 2020, that number had grown to more than 33 percent. Now, when you account for those who were not working at all, well over one-third of the U.S. workforce was at home all day.

Times said when everything shut down, people shut down. “Some people went home, sat down and did nothing for two years. Virtual training gained popularity, but it only works for people who have the discipline to do it,” he added.

Jovon Times

Tamara Williams-Burns knows what it is like to lack motivation. She said the only walking around she did after going home to work was in her house. “I was never a big TV watcher. So, I was sitting in front of a TV eating potato chips instead of going to the gym, lifting weights and walking on the stair climber and walking on a treadmill.

An area fitness trainer tells us what we can do about it.

Although she has equipment at home, she just couldn’t bring herself to work out at home. “Sometimes you just need that motivation, you know, somebody to keep you accountable. She attributes her weight loss to personal training. With Jovon Times’ help, she said she shed 10 of the 21 pounds she gained during the pandemic.

Above: Melani Green before working with a personal trainer. Right: Here's Melani Green after working with a personal trainer.

A less obvious contributor to the pandemic weight gain phenomenon is the emotional turmoil the pandemic took on many people. Diagnoses of stress and depression skyrocketed and are still much higher than the norm before the pandemic.Accordingto the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, only 8 percent of Americans experienced a major depressive episode in 2019, before Covid19 hit the U.S. By May 2021, 22 percent of people reported exhibiting symptoms associated with major depression.

“I am a business owner, and during Covid, everything was so unsure. I saw a lot of sickness and I’ve even known people to pass away from Covid-19,” she said. “You just never know where you are going to get [the virus].” She lingered in this pattern of negative thinking until she realized the next move was on her. “The only way to fight this is to work on my health.”Melanishifted her thinking and started focusing on her wellbeing. She began working out and changed the way she eats to “clean eating,” she said. With that change of focus, Melani went from a 10-pound weight gain to losing 35 pounds.

By Sonja Whitemon T

he Covid-15 is what they call it. Harvard Health says 39 percent of its patients gained a significant amount of weight in the two years since Covid rocked our world. WebMD says 49 percent and Healthline says 61 percent. No matter the number, all agree that Americans packed on pounds.

54 Pride Magazine | www.pridemagazineonline.com

He believes people are well-intentioned. “People don’t get married to get divorced, people don’t get a job to get fired, and they don’t start their workout programs to quit.”

Have Started?CovidSinceWeightGainedYou

Contact Jovon Times at Exercise Times at ExerciseTimes.net. P

Jovon Times is a personal trainer and owner of Exercise Times, a fitness center in Fort Mill, South Carolina. Times has a bachelor’s degree in fitness and wellness and an MSS in sports fitness. He also teaches weight training and fitness at Johnson C. SmithTimesUniversity.estimates 80 percent of his personal training clients that came in after the pandemic said they gained weight during that two-year period and averaged between 20 and 30 pounds in weight gain. He agrees that depression and stress play a big role. “A lot of my clients said they were just stressed out,” he said. “They said they felt like they couldn’t do anything. People don’t like being told that they can’t do something.” Now that we are out of lockdowns and life for many is back to something closer to normal, people are trying to undo two years of damage. Melani Green is one of Jovon Times’ clients. Green said she sought out personal training because she, too, was stressed by the pandemic.

September-October 2022 | Pride Magazine 55

MUSIC Ruben Studdard Sings Luther Vandross and The Duke Ellington Orchestra at the Blumenthal Performing Arts. Visit jazznsoulmusic.com for more information, as well as Facebook and Instagram.

56 Pride Magazine | www.pridemagazineonline.com

he journey to homeownership begins with building your financial know-how. According to Bank of America’s latest Homebuyer Insights Report, 88% of Black/ African Americans plan to buy a home in the next five years, but nearly one in four (23%) respondents are hesitant to buy because they don’t fully understand the homebuying process.CanIbuyahome if I’m still paying off student loans? How much money do I really need to save? What is a down payment and how does it work? If these questions and more are running through your head, you’re notLuckily,alone. there is a wide array of educational resources and programs to help you brush up on your home buying knowledge, from in-person and online workshops, to articles and videos. With so many options at your fingertips, some of the most common questions can be answered easily through online resources. Here are some questions our lending officers get most often – and online resources to get you started: “How much debt is too much debt to buy a home? What if my credit score is low?” Debt and credit scores can be daunting topics. Confronting them head on is the first step. This starts with your first banking experience and continues as you learn to budget, save and build a solid credit history, all of which will set you up for success once you’re ready to buy. Building financial health takes time and begins with making consistent, informed decisions. Better Money Habits® is Bank of America’s free financial education platform that offers a simple way to access relevant resources, tools and guidance to take control of your finances. Visit bettermoneyhabits. com for advice on topics such as budgeting and saving, paying down debt, homeownership, retirement, and more.

Your Roadmap

By AJ Barkley, Head of Neighborhood and Community Lending, Bank of America

“What does all this jargon mean?”

Bank of America’s new It’s Great to Be Home™ workshop provides on-demand homebuying education content for anyone who is planning to purchase a home now or in the future. The workshop covers a comprehensive range of topics, including: the benefits of homeownership, how to prepare for prequalification, how to review your credit, different types of mortgages, homebuyer assistance programs, and much more. Visit homebuyer-workshophomeloans.bankofamerica.com/https://

Don’t know your LTV (which is Loan-to-Value) from your DTI (which is Debtto-Income)? It’s fair to say these homebuying terms are not a part of most people’s daily vocabulary and can make homebuying feel like learning a new language. To demystify the process and make an informed decision, Bank of America’s First-Time Homebuyer Online Edu-Series® (bankofamerica.com/homebuyer) creates a roadmap to take you from renter to owner. Go at your own pace as experts provide guidance and tips to prepare your finances, make an offer, apply for a mortgage and more.

“How can I be sure I’m financially ready? How do I know how much I can afford?” Many first-time homebuyers aren’t sure what they can afford, especially when taking into account costs that go beyond the monthly mortgage payment. There are the upfront costs – down payment and closing costs – and monthly payments – property taxes, homeowners insurance, plus any additional costs like utilities and upkeep of the property.

to get started. Above all, if you’re feeling anxious about the homebuying process, remember to go at your own pace. Buying a home is a big decision with long-term financial responsibility, so it is important to remember that there is no rush. If you’re planning to move in the near future or you need more time to save for a down payment, consider all your options and determine the best fit for your lifestyle. P Bank of America, N.A., Member FDIC Equal Housing Lender ©2022 Bank of America Corporation

Homebuying 101 Educational Resources to Build to Homeownership

PUT YOURSELF IN CONVERSATION WITH US TODAY Your peace of mind is at the top of our list. Getting on the Sharon Club Priority List comes with perks, including: • First offer of residences in upcoming phases of new construction • Opportunities for dining, education, fitness and events • Exclusive offerings and promotions Visit Sharon Towers.org or call 704.556.3231 5100 SHARON ROAD I CHARLOTTE, NC 28210 September-October 2022 | Pride Magazine 57

When you can’t nd a way forward, nd help here. 1-(844)-HOPEWAY • hopeway.org HopeWay provides extraordinary mental health treatment for adults. Residential & day programs available. HopeWay Psychiatry & Associates offers outpatient psychiatric services for children, adolescents and adults. The Center ContinuingProfessionalforandStudies (803) conedu@claflin.edu535-5573 Claflin Online (803) conedu@claflin.eduanparker@claflin.edu535-5108 Earn Your Bachelor’s or Master’s Degree in as little as 12-18 Months! Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction (M.Ed.) 100% ONLINE (803) dwaymer@535-5673claflin.edu mastersed@cl aflin.edu Master of Science in Biotechnology ON-CAMPUS, 2-YEAR PROGRAM (803) 535-5459/5405 gmccutcheon@cl aflin.edu ncherry@cl aflin.edu Master of Science in inwithBiotechnologyaConcentrationClimateChange 100% ONLINE, 2-YEAR PROGRAM (803) 535-5535 npanasik@claflin.edu ncherry@cl aflin.edu Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice ON-CAMPUS AND ONLINE (803) 535-5573 conedu@cl aflin.edu RN to Bachelor of Science in Nursing ONLINE AND ON-CAMPUS CLINICALS (803) 535-5843 nursing@cl aflin.edu Bachelor of Science in Organizational Management ON-CAMPUS AND ONLINE (803) 535-5573 conedu@cl aflin.edu Bachelor of Arts in Psychology 100% ONLINE (803) 535-5573 conedu@cl aflin.edu *U.S. News and World Report Rankings includ ACCELERATED BACHELOR’S AND MASTER’S DEGREE PROGRAMS ORANGEBURG • ONLINE Master of AdministrationBusiness(MBA) ON-CAMPUS AND ONLINE (803) 535-5715/5200 mba @cl aflin.edu Master of Science in Criminal Justice 100% ONLINE (803)535-5898/5573 civey@ cl aflin.edu conedu@ cl aflin.edu Master of Science in Nursing (Family LeadershipthePractitionerNurseandNursingTracks) ON-CAMPUS AND ONLINE (803) 535-5843 nursing@ cl aflin.edu APPLY NOW! 400 Magnolia Street Orangeburg, S.C. 29115 www.claflin.edu/admissions-aid/how-to-applywww.claflin.edu • Top 10 HBCU for 11 consecutive years. • Claflin University ranked third among HBCUs with the four-yearhighestgraduation rates among first-time, full-time students. For informationmore 58 Pride Magazine | www.pridemagazineonline.com

So that’s where we got messy with some because if we dig deep in there and get our hands dirty, we can tackle some things.” Men of color can join the Messy Roots wellness community for $15 per month or $150 per year. Wellness Wednesdays, a weekly meditation session is available for all members or ‘Growers,’ as Shaw calls them. Members can also join a monthly online gathering to meet and share mindfulness practices. Annually, members from around the world are invited to attend a wellness summit designed exclusively for men of color where they can build relationships with each other and access mindfulness materials on the Messy Roots’ online platform.AnotherMessy Roots’ initiative, Body Keeps the Score, which focuses on body positivity, is designed to help men of color become comfortable in their own skin, Shaw said. “Many men of color don’t have the opportunity to talk about our body and body positivity. … We might be blocking purpose and our opportunity, because we’re not comfortable in the skin we’re in,” Shaw said. “And so we’re asking, ‘How do we have those type of conversations?’” A Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) instructor, Shaw is also able to certify individuals through Messy Roots. One of his goals is to help 10,000 men of color become MHFA-certified during the organization’s first 10 years. MHFA is a course that gives people the skills to help someone who is developing a mental health problem or experiencing a mental health crisis. “If we could help more men of color be able to identify the signs and symptoms of when [someone’s mental health is] going down … now we have, not just therapists, but we have a friend that can recognize and identify those signs and symptoms and have these tools to be able to help someone,” Shaw explained. As times change and the stigma of mental health changes, Shaw wants to help men of color get to the root of their mental health issues so they can accomplish their“Moregoals.men of color are asking themselves these questions: ‘Who am I? What is my purpose?’” he said. “I think that we’re living in a time right now where we need everybody to be able to know what their goals are and what their purpose is, and live in and be their most authentic self. And if we do that, then we have a group of individuals that now are making the world better. We have to make this world better for next generation.”that

Shaw said he was inspired to create Messy Roots after realizing how a person’s messy foundation can impact them years down the line. He decided to found Messy Roots after realizing all men of color should have that mindfulness and wellness experience he was searching for himself, he said. “It’s really to own the fact that our roots are, you know, that internal work is messy. It gets everywhere,” Shaw explained. “People don’t like to do the messy work, but I do.

Mario Jovan Shaw, founder of Messy Roots, a wellness community for men of color

Members of Messy Roots

By Anders J. Hare

Messy NurturesRootsMen of Color

ShawJovonMarioofcourtesyPhotos September-October 2022 | Pride Magazine 59

fter teaching seventh grade students in Charlotte and co-founding Profound Gentlemen, an organization that addresses the needs of Black male students by mentoring Black male educators, Mario Jovan Shaw decided to change course a bit. Through his work with Profound Gentleman, Shaw said he now recognizes “what it means to take it to the next level.” He added, “Now taking it to the next level is to support all men of color. In addition to working with educators, Shaw said he also supports “many different folks from different sectors.” Shaw formed Profound Gentlemen with fellow teacher Jason Terrell in 2014, and they were both recognized in the Social Entrepreneurs category of Forbes Magazine’s 30 Under 30 list in 2017. Now, as the founder of Messy Roots, an organization that works to help men of color live authentically and have a wellbalanced lifestyle, Shaw works as a wellness coach and offers lifecoaching lessons in mindfulness and yoga. Founded in May 2022, Messy Roots also offers meditation sessions, leadership coaching, horticulture work and wellness retreats hosted around the country and online.Shaw’sgoal is to help Messy Roots members connect with their purpose, core values, goals and live the lives they desire, according to the organization’s website.

Contact Info Ph: 800-227-3881 or 704-291-9267 Website: FirstCareCanHelp.com

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Our NC locations are in Charlotte, Monroe, Albemarle, Locust and Gastonia. In South Carolina location is in Rock Hill. Come visit us today by appointment or walk-in today and leave with your Primary Care Provider for tomorrow. We are excited to serve you all!

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First Care Medical Clinic is a comprehensive care medical practice which focuses on treating the whole patient. We have seven locations across North Carolina and Rock Hill, SC and our mission has always been community first! Our goal is to meet both the preventative and ongoing health needs of the people in which the communities we serve.

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Charlotte History Museum Names New President and CEO

“HoopTee Charities is committed to assisting underserved youth with their educational journey and we are proud to partner with the Dee-Lite Foundation and Charlotte Country Day School to support diversity and inclusion through these scholarships,” said Whitfield.

The four academic scholarships will cover the full cost of tuition as well as any other expenses not included in tuition such as school field trips, books, athletic costs, extra-curricular activity fees, tutoring, AP/IB exams, and other school activities over the next four years.“Charlotte Country Day School is committed to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging, and we believe that diversity is key to individual achievement, educational excellence, and the advancement of knowledge,” said David Mancos, Interim Head of School at Charlotte Country Day.

The Charlotte Museum of History has named Terri L. White as its new president and CEO, effective July 4. White comes to the museum after previous stints in development and operations roles at the both the Heinz History Center and the Carnegie Science Center in Pittsburgh and at the Smithsonian Institution National Air and Space Museum in D.C. “Terri brings an impressive combination of corporate management experience together with a background in museum operations, events and development,” said Dee Dixon, chair of the board of trustees for The Charlotte Museum of History. “Her background aligns perfectly with the museum’s new strategic plan and its updated mission, which is to inspire community engagement and to create common ground through education and inclusive storytelling.”

September-October 2022 | Pride Magazine 61

HoopTee Charities & Charlotte Country Day Join Forces to Donate Academic Scholarships

Fred Whitfield, Founder of HoopTee Charities, Inc announced the group is joining with the Dee-Lite Foundation, and Charlotte Country Day School to award four, 4-year academic scholarships totaling $500,000 to four North Carolina rising freshmen. The scholarship recipients will be from underrepresented backgrounds to attend Charlotte Country Day’s Upper School which includes grades 9–12.

Terri L White

White has a bachelor’s degree from Howard University and an MBA from the University of Pittsburgh. She also holds a master’s degree in arts management from George Mason University, and she is a doctoral student at UNC Charlotte, where she is studying the economic impact of diversity and inclusion in the workplace. She will continue to pursue her doctorate while at the museum.

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Charlotte Center for Legal Advocacy Names New CEO

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Amplify Charlotte, which has led communication and outreach for local governments for over a decade, has rebranded as Civility Localized, a social impact firm that will now provide services nationwide. Headquartered in Charlotte, Civility Localized is a HUBcertified and certified woman-owned small business specializing in community outreach planning and place-based outreach initiatives. The company served as the community engagement lead on several high-profile projects including the renovation of Independence Square in Uptown Charlotteand piloting the Participatory Budgeting Program for Mecklenburg County Government. “With the launch of Civility Localized, we are creating a unique opportunity for the voices of so many city dwellers to be heard across the country,” said founder and principal consultant Christine Edwards. “We are creating the new blueprint for community engagement which we hope will reach diverse communities everywhere,” Edwards added. Under its new name, Civility Localized has already secured several major projects including leading community engagement for the City of Charlotte Arts and Cultural Plan and teaching Equity in Contracting, a course for the Small Business Center at Central Piedmont Community College. P Toussaint Roman

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Amplify Charlotte Rebrands as Civility Localized

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Charlotte Center for Legal Advocacy announced Toussaint Romain as its new Chief Executive Officer. Dedicated to providing legal representation to those who are unable to afford it, and advocating for policies that increase economic opportunity and mobility for the Charlotte community, Romain’s experience, leadership and passion for justice will serve the Advocacy Center well as it enters a new chapter of impact and growth. “I have been offered a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to join Charlotte Center for Legal Advocacy to fight for access to justice and utilize our legal system as a tool for economic opportunity and upward mobility for all. I am humbled to lead a team of advocates who are dedicated to fighting for our community,” said Romain. Romain previously served as Deputy General Counsel for Appalachian State University and Assistant Public Defender in Mecklenburg County, representing thousands of individuals through this work.

Aldersgate is a non-proﬁt Life Plan Community. 3800 Shamrock Drive • Charlotte, NC 28215

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Join Aldersgate for a comprehensive, complimentary legal seminar. This seminar is open to anyone beginning the process of estate planning, but with a special emphasis on LGBTQ, immigrant and underserved populations. Enjoy refreshments and light appetizers while Connie Vetter, Attorney at Law, explains the legal ins and outs of estate planning for everyone and what marginalized groups need to know. RSVP and you’re welcome to bring a friend! RSVP today or schedule a tour—call (704) 318-2035 or visit AldersgateSummer.org.

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2. Additional information about the Down Payment program: Down Payment program is available with one mortgage product. Program funds can be applied toward down payment only. Borrowers cannot receive program funds as cash back in excess of earnest money deposits. Down Payment Grant program may be considered taxable income, a 1099-MISC will be issued, consult with your tax advisor. May be combined with other oﬀers. The Bank of America Down Payment Grant program may only be applied once to an eligible mortgage/property, regardless of the number of applicants. Homebuyer education is required.

4. Maximum income and loan amount limits apply. Fixed-rate mortgages (no cash out reﬁnances), primary residences only. Certain property types are ineligible. Maximum loan-to-value (“LTV”) is 97%, and maximum combined LTV is 105%. For LTV >95%, any secondary ﬁnancing must be from an approved Community Second Program. Homebuyer education may be required. Other restrictions apply. Credit and collateral are subject to approval. Terms and conditions apply. This is not a commitment to lend. Programs, rates, terms and conditions are subject to change without notice. Bank of America, N.A., Member FDIC. Equal Housing Lender. © 2022 Bank of America Corporation. America’s Home Grant, Bank of America Community Homeownership Commitment, Bank of America and the Bank of America logo are registered trademarks of Bank of America Corporation. MAP4697912 | BAAM9311000 | 06/2022

Through our Community Homeownership Commitment,1 we’ve helped over 34,000 people and families get an aﬀordable loan to buy a home. Here’s how it can help you secure your family’s future:

Learn more at bankofamerica.com/homeowner Closing costs help up to $7,500 as a lender credit.3 Down payment help up to $10,000 or 3% of the purchase price, whichever is less. Product availability and income restrictions apply.2 Down payment as low as 3% down. Income limits apply.4 What would you like the power to do? ®

1. Down Payment program and America’s Home Grant program: Qualiﬁed borrowers must meet eligibility requirements such as being owner-occupants and purchasing a home within a certain geographical area. Maximum income and loan amount limits apply. Minimum combined loan-to-value must be greater than or equal to 80%. The home loan must fund with Bank of America. Bank of America may change or discontinue the Bank of America Down Payment Grant program or America’s Home Grant program or any portion of either without notice. Not available with all loan products, please ask for details.

You are invited to apply. Your receipt of this material does not mean you have been prequaliﬁed or pre-approved for any product or service we oﬀer. This is not a commitment to lend; you must submit additional information for review and approval.

3. Additional information about the America’s Home Grant program: The America’s Home Grant program is a lender credit. Program funds can only be used for nonrecurring closing costs including title insurance, recording fees, and in certain situations, discount points may be used to lower the interest rate. The grant cannot be applied toward down payment, prepaid items or recurring costs, such as property taxes and insurance. Borrowers cannot receive program funds as cash back.

2022 September-October "Health & Education" Issue

Articles inside

Mentorship Matters

Greatness Exists in Every Child

Celebrating Charlotte’s Vibrant Arts Scene

Messy Roots

Covid-15 Is Real

Advocating for Equity

Empowering Diversity Suppliers at Atrium Health

Letter from the President and CEO of Atrium Health

By Faith

Book Review

Atrium Health and JCSU Form Partnership

Notable Names at Atrium Health

The Pearl Innovation District

Atrium Health Celebrates 20 Years of Impact

From the Publisher