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Roddie Jr.’s Watchdog Foundation
Helps Make Owning Dogs Safer

By Derik Hicks An 8-year-old boy named Roddie Philip Dumas Jr. was fatally mauled by his father’s three pit bulls while innocently playing in his grandmother’s fenced-in yard in Charlotte on April 16, 2004. Tameaka Brown, Roddie’s mom, first learned about it while she was at work and was 7 1/2 months pregnant.…
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Addressing the Epidemic of Gun Violence Among Black Youth

Chablis Dandridge works to save Charlotte’s at-risk youth from the cycle of crime and punishment he experienced. By Sonja Whitemon A student at Rocky River High School was shot and killed after stepping off his school bus last fall. He played tight end on the football team, and he was planning to graduate this year.…
Travel

Across the Ocean Again!

The pandemic clearly restricted my international travel. I had to cancel travel plans to Amsterdam and England, but not all was lost. I found myself in Puerto Rico, a U.S. territory, in July of last year. I joined my brother and his friend from Kansas City there.…
Diversity

U.S. Bank Expands Lending Opportunities for Diverse Groups

FYI News and Notes By John Burton Jr. In April, U.S. Bank introduced a new Business Diversity Lending Program that will expand the ability of diverse business owners to obtain capital, building upon the bank’s broader efforts to support under-represented businesses and help address the wealth gap.…
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The Vault: Highlighting the Importance of Preserving Black Art

By Ryan Kouame The Mint Museum Uptown will be highlighting the importance of stewarding and preserving Black art through an upcoming exhibition called The Vault starting July 1. Curated by artist, curator and custodian of Black art, Jessica Gaynelle Moss, this exhibition will present a range of vintage photography, original paintings, prints, sculptures, furniture, vinyl records and other Black ephemera from some of Charlotte’s most prominent Black art collectors.…
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Women Fire Fighter in Charlotte

Showing Courage and Inspiring the Next Generation By Anders J. Hare Molly Williams was the first known female firefighter –– and first known Black firefighter––in the U.S., working with the New York City Fire Department on Oceanus Company No. 11 in the 1780s.…
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Three Charlotte Teens Thrive in Business

Today’s youth have a new outlook on how to take control of their careers. According to a survey by the nonprofit organization Junior Achievement USA, “Over 60 percent of teens prefer starting a business over having a traditional job.” Many are even starting their businesses before the age of 18.…