North Carolina Legislative Black Caucus

Chairman’s Report

2013 — 2014

Chairman’s Comments

T his report is being compiled to let you

know what we have done as a Caucus

during my time as Chair of the North

Carolina Legislative Black Caucus. This

term has been an unusual term as the 2013

Session was a landmark year for hot-button

legislation that captured the attention not only of

the state, but the entire nation as well. Rarely has

a General Assembly shifted so dramatically from

the bipartisan-supported center to the extreme

right of the new majority in power.

As you will see in this report, the Caucus has done

a lot in this short time and we look to do more to

keep our constituents educated and connected.

Those things or activities we may not be able to

capture in a photograph or video.

We have branded the Caucus with:

A dedicated Caucus logo

Caucus colors of black and gold

Procured a Caucus table cloth and retractable

banner

Created an NCLBC directory to hand out at

Caucus events and across the state

In addition:

Paid for Redistricting Court Case

Updated our existing by-laws

Updated the NCLBC web site

Created a Facebook and social media presence

Created an NCLBC YouTube TV where all

press conferences are uploaded

Purchased a Caucus camera/video and tablet,

to capture the history of the Caucus

2013 Opening Reception

Valentine’s and Holiday Reception Appreciation for

Legislative Assistants

The NCLBC celebrated their Legislative Assistants at Valentine’s Day with

floral arrangements and a reception.

A Christmas holiday reception for the LA’s and members. Each LA was given

a gift card as an appreciation for their patience and hard work.

Each year the NCLBC opens the new session with and opening reception for the new members. This session the Caucus had a record number of freshman members of 8 and a total caucus membership of 33.

2013 NCLBC Community Partner and Youth Day

The NCLBC Community Partner and Youth Day was well received. More than 400 youth

and 45 adults participated. During the half day session at the North Carolina General

Assembly, youth and adults were given a tour of the General Assembly, an update of what is

happening in during the long session, and participate in a mock session.

Caucus Members Participated in HKonJ

Wainwright Prayer Breakfast and Clergy Meeting

In Memory of William L. Wainwright

The William L. Wainwright Prayer Breakfast

and Clergy Day at the General Assembly

honored the service of the Honorable William

Wainwright. With more than 200 guests in

attendance, members and guests celebrated the

life and legacy of our late friend . The Breakfast

followed with a clergy meeting at the General

Assembly.

Clergy Day was a great opportunity for clergy to

meet legislators that serve them and their

congregation. In addition, clergy would gain

additional details about legislation to

disseminate to their respective congregations.

Clergy had the opportunity to gain additional

information to disseminate to your respective

William L. Wainwright was an 11 term Democratic member of the

North Carolina General Assembly representing the 12th House

district, including constituents in Craven and Lenoir counties.

Rep. Wainwright was a presiding elder in the African Methodist

Episcopal Zion Church. He was an active member of the North

Carolina Legislative Black Caucus and Board member of the North

Carolina Legislative Black Caucus Foundation, where he served as

Foundation’s Treasurer.

In January 2007, Rep. Wainwright was nominated by his colleagues

in the Democratic Caucus as Speaker Pro Tempore of the House. He

was elected on January 24, making him the first African-American

to serve in the number-two post in the House since Reconstruction.

He was re-elected Speaker Pro Tempore in 2009. After Democrats

lost their House majority, Rep. Wainwright was elected Deputy

Minority Leader.

Rep. Wainwright was a dedicated public servant who was known for

his deeply-held faith and the passion he brought to every aspect of

his life.

NCLBC Foundation Banquet Panel Discussion

Theme: The Church’s Role in Helping Shape Public Policy

A clergy meeting was hosted as a session during the NCLBC Foundation Weekend. Guest

panelist included Dr. William Turner, Pastor of Mount Level Missionary Baptist Church

and Professor of the Practice of Homiletics Duke Divinity School; Rev. Dr. John Mendez,

Pastor of Emmanuel Baptist and Psychotherapist with MindSight Consultation and

Counseling Services; and Rev. B.T. Cornelius, Pastor of Bryant Chapel AME Zion Church,

The North Carolina Conference, New Bern District.

Closing Session Caucus Dinner for Members and Staff

The Caucus sponsored an end of session dinner for members and staff at Fitzgerald’s

Seafood Restaurant. This was a time for members to relax, and fellowship after a

long and eventful legislative session.

Condolences from the Caucus

Rep. Alma Adam’s Brother Rep. Elmer Floyd’s Mother Rep. Jean Farmer Butterfield’s Father & Mother Sen. Earline Parmon’s Husband Rep. Edward Hanes’ Father Rep. George Graham’s Mother

Get Well Sentiments

Barbara Pierce – Rep. Garland Pierce

HBCU Day at the General Assembly

N orth Carolina is home to the largest number of historically black colleges and universities in the

country. Most of these colleges began as high schools and then colleges to offer education to

African Americans, during a time when “Negroes” were not admitted to “white colleges”.

Because of the historical commitment of educators in the African American community, it was

determined that we must have institutions of higher education to enable our students to become educators,

nurses, physicians, astronauts, engineers and the best of the best”. Today, HBCUs continue to produce the

majority of African Americans who are professionals across the country. Most graduate students in the

STEM disciplines who are African Americans received their undergraduate education at HBCUs. However,

HBCUs have become racially and ethnically diverse as have many of our other colleges and universities.

Press Conferences and Media Appearances

Once a shining example of the progressive direction of the South, the Republicans

in North Carolina have done everything in their power to revert to the darker days in our

history. A common and hypocritical theme that defined the 2013 session: no government

for those who need it, and too much government for those who don’t. How else do you

explain cutting unemployment benefits, yet mandating that our children be taught that

abortions lead to premature births? Or rejecting federally funded Medicaid that would not

cost the state a dime, yet requiring every voter to have a photo ID?

This session brought us many press conferences and meetings. These press confer-

ences let our constituents know, that in spite of what was happening and the mean-spirited

laws that were being passed, we were still here fighting for them and their families.

Fighting for those who do not have a voice and the least among us.

Town Hall Meetings

What’s Up: Taking Back Our State

Elizabeth City

Raleigh

Triad Area

Hamlet

Lumberton

Durham

Wilmington

Charlotte (2)

Rocky Mount

Wagram

New Bern

Fayetteville

Town Hall Meetings

Moral Mondays at the General Assembly

Bus Trip to Capitol Hill

The NCLBC traveled to Washington, DC to lobby for the Amended

Voting Rights Act of 2014. The visit to Washington included members

and former members like The Honorable Linda Coleman. Members of

the NCLBC met with members of the Congressional Black Caucus,

Congressman G.K. Butterfield, Congresswoman Kay Hagen,

Congressman Howard Coble and Richard Burr.

This was a great meeting! Met new folks and networking is so

critical to all of our success.

-Winnie W. Morgan

Early Childhood Faith Initiative Coordinator

Durham's Partnership for Children & End Poverty Durham

Poverty and Economic Development Town Hall Meetings

2014 marks the 50th anniversary of the beginning of the War on Poverty. The poverty gap

continues to widen and we thought this would be a good time to refocus our attention on

the thousands of North Carolinians who are the working poor,” said Representative Gar-

land Pierce, Chairman. The caucus launch a series of Town Hall meetings with several

community partners to advance the message of the poverty gap and educate them on why

it is getting wider and what we can do collectively to close that gap.

2014 and Beyond

This 2-day event was hosted by the North Carolina Legislative Black Caucus, Alliance of NC

Black Elected Officials and Caucus of Black School Board Members. Speakers included con-

gresswoman Marcia Fudge, Chair of the NC Legislative Black Caucus and Congresswoman

elect– Alma Adams, Ph.D.

The 2014 And Beyond Leadership Conference distilled strategies and tactics to enhance

communication and coordination between organizations and institutions for more robust

advocacy. A trademark of the Leadership Conference is a professionally facilitated dialogue

and exchange of ideas. Each participant is respected regardless of office or position in the

community.