An Evening with Isabel Wilkerson - December 1

Levine Museum of the New South, Harvey B. Gantt Center for African-American Arts + Culture, and the Mint Museum are presenting a talk and reading by critically acclaimed author and Pulitzer Prize winner Isabel Wilkerson. "An Evening with Isabel Wilkerson" will take place this Thursday, December 1, 7 p.m. in McGlohon Theater at Spirit Square (345 N. College St.).

A former national correspondent and bureau chief at The New York Times, Wilkerson is the first black woman in American history to win a Pulitzer Prize in journalism. Inspired by her parents’ migration from the South, she devoted fifteen years to the research and writing of her first book, The Warmth of Other Suns. The result is a critically acclaimed best-seller and the first major work chronicling the decades-long migration of some six million African-Americans who fled the South. The Warmth of Other Suns follows the intimate and moving stories of three African–American families who left the only place they'd ever known—the rural, small town South—to find a better life in the urban North and West. Wilkerson's book made it onto President Obama's summer reading list, and Tom Brokaw described it as "An epic for all Americans who want to understand the making of our modern nation."

You can hear Wilkerson discuss her book and career in person at this upcoming event. There will be a book signing following her talk. CAABJ member Mary C. Curtis, who used to work with Wilkerson at The New York Times, will moderate the event.

Tickets are $12, and are on sale through the NC Blumenthal Performing Arts Center Box Office: carolinatix.org or 704-372-1000.

CAABJ's Wine Tasting a Success! Thank You

CAABJ's second annual wine tasting, held September 30 at Press Wine/Food, was a huge success. CAABJ member Alexis Mitchell, who was the lead planner for the event, gives a recap below.

The atmosphere of the tasting was awesome. Press Wine/Food is located in the heart of Uptown Charlotte and has a laid-back, winery feel. The mood of the event was enhanced by live jazz played by trombonist Buff Dillard. He kept our guest tapping their feet and singing tunes.

Photo by CAABJ member Jon Strayhorn, of MAC 330. Click here to see more.

At this year’s tasting, we added a new element, by introducing a silent auction. Businesses who participated--Perry’s Estate Jewelry, Brownlee Jewelers, Sirius XM, Chima Brazilian Steakhouse, and more--supported our event overwhelmingly with donations. To see everyone placing their bids on items was amazing. We set a new record in fundraising. A large portion of the money collected will go to the CAABJ Scholarship Fund, which benefits a college journalism student in our area.

On behalf of the Charlotte Area Association of Black Journalists, we thank all of you who came out to support the Jazzy Wine Tasting, especially our host venue, Press. If you missed the tasting, then you missed a treat. We hope to see you at next year’s event.

CAABJ's Jazzy Wine Tasting - September 30

Charlotte Area Association of Black Journalists (CAABJ) Presents

A Jazzy Wine Tasting

A Scholarship Fundraising Event

Friday, September 30, 2011

7 p.m.

Press Wine/Food

Mix, mingle, and enjoy good drinks and food at one of Uptown Charlotte’s trendiest wine bars. There will also be a special raffle/silent auction with items from Perry's Estate Jewelry, Chima's Brazilian Steakhouse, and many more. Proceeds from this event will benefit CAABJ’s college scholarship. Cost is $20 per ticket. Free parking available in gated parking deck at W. Trade and S. Mint streets. Press Wine/Food, 333 W. Trade St., presswinefood.com.

The Heat Is On: Summer Talk Series Finale with Police Chief Rodney Monroe on August 25

Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Chief Rodney Monroe will be the third and final speaker in our summer talk series on Thursday, August 25, at 6:30 p.m. The event will be held at Showmars Restaurant, 2004 East Seventh Street. Chief Monroe will discuss crime, use of Tasers, DNC safety, and other topics as well as take our questions. Please arrive promptly because the chief will speak at 7 p.m. A brief CAABJ meeting will follow.

Click here to RSVP for the August 25th event on Facebook.

Dedrick Russell Elected NABJ Region III Director

Congratulations to CAABJ President Dedrick Russell on being elected Region III Director of the National Association of Black Journalists during the 2011 NABJ Convention, held August 3-7 in Philadelphia. Dedrick, who is the education reporter for WBTV, is now an NABJ board member for the next two years and will help guide the professional and student NABJ chapters in the seven states that make up Region III: Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee.

Dedrick succeeds Ken Knight, of The Tampa Tribune, who served Region III well for several years. To learn more about Dedrick's recent election and his plans for Region III and the national chapter as a whole, click here to read this interview with him by Glenn Burkins for Qcitymetro.com.

NABJ was founded in 1975 and, currently with 3,500 members across the country, is the largest organization of journalists of color in the nation. The Charlotte Area Association of Black Journalists (CAABJ) has been a professional chapter of NABJ since relaunching in 2006. CAABJ will be holding its own 2012 board elections in coming months, so members--those interested in running for office and those who will be voting--should be on the lookout for details.