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Crisis Assistance Ministry

Crisis Assistance Ministry

Charlotte, NC

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Black History Month Focuses on Right to Vote

As February ushers in this year’s national Primary season, it’s important to remember the sacrifices and historic milestones that brought each of us (at different times, through differing means) the right to vote. One way to celebrate history is to educate yourself on the issues and the candidates – from the most local offices to the White House – and make a plan for when and how you will vote.

February 20, 2020

The Association for the Study of African American Life and History has declared “African Americans and The Vote” as the theme for this year’s Black History Month.

It isn’t just because there’s a high-stakes national election going on.

The year 2020 marks the centennial of the Nineteenth Amendment and the culmination of the women’s suffrage movement. This year also marks the sesquicentennial of the Fifteenth Amendment (1870) and the right of black men to the ballot after the Civil War.  Still, those events didn’t immediately ensure people of color could exercise their rights at the ballot box.  

In fact, the hard-fought struggle continues.

Voting rights campaigns and legal suits marked much of the twentieth century. While the Voting Rights Act of 1965 allowed more black Americans to cast their ballots, the fight for voting rights is still the subject of legal battles in 2020.

Local History Highlights Public Service

Here in Charlotte-Mecklenburg, many of our community’s black history milestones are related to elections and public service –  from Fred Alexander’s election to City Council in 1963 to Harvey Gantt’s election as Charlotte’s first African American mayor in 1983 to Vi Lyles’ installation as the same city’s first black female mayor in 2017.

Did you know that the Mecklenburg County seal was designed by Harvey Boyd, a black graphic designer who worked at The Charlotte Observer at the time? After a successful career, he now lives in his childhood home in the Crestdale community in Matthews.  You can read his reflections in this week’s profile in the Matthews Mint Hill Weekly.

Honor History By Planning To Vote

As February ushers in this year’s national Primary season, it’s important to remember the sacrifices and historic milestones that brought each of us (at different times, through differing means) the right to vote.

So many of the challenges facing individuals served here at Crisis Assistance Ministry can only be solved through systemic change. Changing those systems starts with the ballot box – where the voices of those most affected must be heard – in 2020 and in every election.

One way to celebrate history is to educate yourself on the issues and the candidates – from the most local offices to the White House – and make a plan for when and how you will vote.  

In Mecklenburg County, you can check your voter registration, polling places, sample ballot, and early voting options online here.  Any North Carolina voter can do the same via the state’s Board of Elections website.

These resources are available to everyone for every election – in 2020 and beyond.

Filed Under: Advocacy Tagged With: ASAALH, Black History Month, Fred Alexander, Harvey Boyd, Harvey Gantt, Mecklenburg County, Vi Lyles, voter registration, Voting Rights

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Crisis Assistance Ministry

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    500-A Spratt St.
    Charlotte, NC 28206
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crisisassistmin

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We had an unusual 🐿️ visitor this morning. While we DO specialize in stabilizing families through emergency basic needs and financial empowerment, our services are designed for neighbors of the human variety! 🤣 
Fortunately, our little squirrel buddy has been successfully relocated to the outdoors where they can continue to take care of their family too 😁 🎉

crisisassistmin

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Pulitzer Prize-winning author Matthew Desmond’s thought-provoking message will help us understand the systemic issues contributing to poverty and inspire us to be part of the solution here in our own community. Tickets are free, but required. Seating is Limited. <Link in Bio>

crisisassistmin

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We aren't throwing a big party, but we ARE asking friends and neighbors to make a direct contribution to help stabilize families facing a financial crisis. Your help with this Non-Event will make more stories like this one possible. Join us with a gift to help neighbors avoid eviction and loss of utilities and to empower more people with the tools to rebuild financial stability for themselves. Don't Save a Date . . . Save A Future.

crisisassistmin

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We love sharing our mission with corporate #volunteers like this team from @humana today. Thanks to their help, families will find essentials like clothing, shoes, school supplies, and household goods—free of charge— in our store while they continue to build financial stability. #thankful

crisisassistmin

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Instead of planning a fancy gala, we're inviting you to skip the party (and all those costs) and instead make a direct contribution to stabilize families experiencing financial crisis right here in Charlotte-Mecklenburg.
It's our NonEvent 2023, and your gift will help hardworking neighbors escape the threat of eviction or loss of utilities while empowering families with the resources to stabilize their families . . . and their future.
SAVE A FUTURE: https://crisisassistance.org/mobility

crisisassistmin

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What a wonderful day to welcome #volunteers from @DukeEnergy during their Summer of Service. Nearly 100 Duke employees spent part of their day helping with everything from painting barrels to inspecting donations and stocking the store. A GREAT way to spend a Friday here in the Queen City!

crisisassistmin

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This might look like a #Barbie appreciation post, but actually it is a shout out to Team @duke_energy and the 100+ folks who spent their day as #volunteers here today!

crisisassistmin

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Starting the day with a wonderful snack ministry from @elevationchurch for day 6 of #loveweek2023! Thank you for making sure families seeking help today have a little nourishment along the way.

crisisassistmin

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Today's LOVE WEEK 2023 #volunteers from @elevationchurch created no-sew blankets for families who shop here free of charge, staffed the checkout counters in the store, and prepared newly arrived clothing from corporate donors for future shoppers. With help like this, more than 80 people per day find essentials to help stabilize their families when they visit our Free Store. #thankful #loveweek2023

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