Medicare Fraud with Austin Caton
2025-02-14 10:00 - 11:00 (America/New_York) | Hybrid: In-Person at PUMC & via Zoom, 2810 Providence Rd, Charlotte, NC, 28211, United States
TOPIC: Medicare Fraud
SPEAKER: Austin Caton, Aging Program Coordinator, Centralina Area Agency on Aging
Austin is an Aging Program Coordinator for the Digital Navigation Program providing assistance with technology and training for older adults in our region.

NOTE: Attend in-person at PUMC, no registration required. Attend via Zoom, please register with the Zoom link above.

New Member Orientation - February 14
2025-02-14 09:00 - 09:30 | Providence United Methodist Church (PUMC) – Wolfe Hall, 2810 Providence Rd, Charlotte, North Carolina, 28211
All members old and new are invited to attend our New Member Orientation meeting in person.
Learn more about the organization including how to meet people, join events and how you can help the organization – the best way to meet new people!
In person meeting, in Room 106 in PUMC.
Click the RSVP button for an email to tell us you’re coming!

Curriculum Committee Meeting - February 12
2025-02-12 13:15 - 14:00 | Zoom Registration Required
Curriculum Committee Meetings are open to Membership.
Join our monthly Curriculum Committee meetings, via Zoom, to hear about upcoming speakers/events or to suggest speakers you know (or have heard speak) and believe would be of interest to your fellow Senior Scholars.
These meetings are always held on the Zoom platform.

2025 Homecoming & Reunion
2025-02-08, 2025-02-07 | Sarah Belk Gambrell Center for the Arts, 2319 Wellesley Ave, Charlotte, 28207, United States
Two Campus Traditions, One Royal Weekend
More Details: View Event Page »

The Future of US-China Relations with Keren Zhu
2025-02-07 10:00 - 11:00 | Hybrid: In-Person at PUMC & via Zoom, 2810 Providence Rd, Charlotte, NC, 28211, United States
GREAT DECISIONS TOPIC: The Future of US-China Relations
SPEAKER: Keren Zhu, Assistant Professor, Davidson College
U.S.-China relations have emerged as the most consequential dynamic in contemporary international relations, profoundly influencing global politics, economics, and security. This lecture will explore the evolution of U.S.-China relations since 1949, examine the key factors shaping the future of this relationship, and analyze how their competition extends to and impacts other regions.

BIOGRAPHY
Dr. Keren Zhu is an Assistant Professor of Political Science at Davidson College. She teaches courses on Asia Pacific international relations, the rise of China, and policy analysis. Her research focuses on Chinese foreign policy, the Belt and Road Initiative, and global infrastructure development. She holds a B.A. from the Chinese University of Hong Kong, an M.Sc. from the University of Oxford, and a Ph.D. from the Pardee RAND Graduate School.
Dr. Zhu has published extensively on China’s global engagement and U.S.-China relations. She also co-hosts “The Belt and Road Podcast” and is currently working on a book about the global impact of Chinese infrastructure projects. Prior to Davidson, she held academic and research positions at the RAND Corporation, University of Southern California, Boston University Global Development Policy Center, and The New School India China Institute.

NOTE: Attend in-person at PUMC, no registration required. Attend via Zoom, please register with the Zoom link above.

What did you say? Communication, Problem-solving, and Intelligence in Birds with Jeffrey Thomas
2025-01-31 10:00 - 11:00 | Hybrid: In-Person at PUMC & via Zoom, 2810 Providence Rd, Charlotte, NC, 28211, United States
TOPIC: What did you say? Communication, Problem-solving, and Intelligence in Birds
SPEAKER: Jeffrey Thomas, Professor of Biology, Queens University of Charlotte
Birds, especially songbirds, say a lot. But what do we know about what they’re saying to each other? And how do they use their communication to negotiate interactions with each other, find food, and learn about their surroundings? Birds offer a rich and fascinating opportunity to explore and define animal intelligence and the complexity of communication systems.
From mockingbirds to ravens to vultures, birds show a remarkable breadth of intelligence, but research is beginning to shed light on the connections between vocal behavior and problem solving.

BIOGRAPHY
Dr. Jeffrey Thomas is a professor of biology and the director of general education at Queens University of Charlotte. His research and teaching examine the intersection of ecology and evolutionary processes on animal communication systems. He has also served on the board of Carolina Raptor Center.
In his spare time, he travels, cooks, and takes his dog for long walks.

NOTE: Attend in-person at PUMC, no registration required. Attend via Zoom, please register with the Zoom link above.

Distinguished Leaders in Action Lecture Series
2025-01-28 18:00 - 19:00 | Sykes Learning Center, 1926 Selwyn Ave, Charlotte, 28274, United States
Featuring: Dr. Kandi Deitemeyer
Free Event: 6 pm to 7 pm
Sykes Learning Center, Ketner Auditorium
1928 Selwyn Avenue, Charlotte, NC 28274
More Details: Views Event Page

International Holocaust Remembrance 2025
2025-01-27 19:00 - 21:00 | Sarah Belk Gambrell Center for the Arts, 2319 Wellesley Ave, Charlotte, 28207, United States
Starts: 7 pm
Sarah Belk Gambrell Center for the Arts and Civic Engagement
2319 Wellesley Ave, Charlotte, NC 28207
More Details: View Event Page

What a Rush! A Brief History of Mining in North Carolina with Valerie Reynolds
2025-01-24 10:00 - 11:00 | Hybrid: In-Person at PUMC & via Zoom, 2810 Providence Rd, Charlotte, NC, 28211, United States
TOPIC: What a Rush! A Brief History of Mining in North Carolina
SPEAKER: Valerie Reynolds, Department of Earth, Environmental, and Geographical Sciences UNC Charlotte
From the first gold discovered in the United States to the ultra-pure quartz fueling the semiconductor industry, mining has played an essential role in North Carolina’s economy for centuries. This presentation will provide a brief history of mining in North Carolina as well as the geologic conditions responsible for forming such valuable mineral deposits.

BIOGRAPHY
Dr. Reynolds earned her PhD from the University of Tennessee, then worked as a Research Assistant at the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History for 2 years before beginning her teaching career. She taught at The University of the South (TN) and Colby College (ME) before arriving at UNC Charlotte in 2012. In addition to teaching, Dr. Reynolds is the Undergraduate Coordinator for the Geology and Earth & Environmental Sciences programs and is a faculty advisor for the student-led GEO club.

NOTE: Attend in-person at PUMC, no registration required. Attend via Zoom, please register with the Zoom link above.

How Music Impacts Society with Joe Kendrick
2025-01-17 10:00 - 11:30 | Providence United Methodist Church (PUMC) – Wolfe Hall, 2810 Providence Rd, Charlotte, North Carolina, 28211
TOPIC: Songs of Solidarity, Songs of Protest, Songs of Hope Amidst Struggle: A Brief Survey of the Impact of Music on the Radio for Social Movements
SPEAKER: Joe Kendrick, Director of Programming and Operations Manager, WNCW
An overview of songs, artists, genres and eras of music on radio that reflect and have impacted various social movements in America.

BIOGRAPHY
Public radio programmer, music host, writer, podcaster, college instructor, public speaker, event producer
My role is to envision and develop the sound and image of WNCW, create original programming and manage round the clock operations. I recruit, develop and manage our programming staff. Also I host and produce weekly music shows and a bi-weekly podcast, Southern Songs and Stories. I represent WNCW in person as well as virtually worldwide to donors and industry partners. Additionally, I am part of the team that produces the annual Earl Scruggs Music Festival in Tryon, NC.

NOTE: Attend in-person at PUMC, no registration required. Attend via Zoom, please register with the Zoom link above.

New Member Orientation - January 17
2025-01-17 09:00 - 09:45 | Providence United Methodist Church (PUMC) – Wolfe Hall, 2810 Providence Rd, Charlotte, North Carolina, 28211

Concert: The Testament of Freedom
2025-01-12 15:00 - 16:30 | Sarah Belk Gambrell Center for the Arts, 2319 Wellesley Ave, Charlotte, 28207, United States
Free Event: 3 to 4:30 pm
Location: Sandra Levine Theatre
More Details: View Event Page

Behind the Curtain with Laura Little
2025-01-10 10:00 - 11:00 | Hybrid: In-Person at PUMC & via Zoom, 2810 Providence Rd, Charlotte, NC, 28211, United States
TOPIC: Behind the Curtain
SPEAKER: Laura Little, Executive Producer, Laura Little Theatricals
Laura will speak about what it takes to put up a theatrical production at the community theatre and regional levels and the difference between Broadway, Off-Broadway, and Off-Off Broadway.
She’ll explain the difference between the roles of the artistic director, executive director, producer, and general manager.
You’ll hear the many ways producers find a show and the process used to determine the trajectory of taking it to Broadway and whether it should move on to a national tour.
And finally, the audition process. Possibly concluding with a mock audition.
NOTE: Attend in-person at PUMC, no registration required. Attend via Zoom, please register with the Zoom link above.

BIOGRAPHY
Laura Little – Executive Producer / Artistic Director of Laura Little Theatrical Productions
Laura Little produced All Is Calm off-Broadway as well as the PBS special of the same show. She co-producer the Tony Award winning Come From Away on Broadway, Toronto, London, Australia, and National Tour. Other Broadway credits include: co-producer of the five time Tony Award winning Peter and the Starcatcher and First Date starring Zachary Levi.
Current Broadway Production: Our Town starring Jim Parsons, Katie Holmes and Richard Thomas
Broadway investing partner: Tony Award winning Parade and Swept Away.
In Charlotte she produces cabarets at Middle C Jazz Club and in 2023, the Radio City Music Hal style show Need a Little Christmas.
Laura is the past Executive Director of Coeur d’Alene Summer Theatre and Executive/Artistic Director of CYT Spokane and founder of LLL Talent Agency (now MAM).
Current:
Member the LIG Rotary Club of Charlotte-part of Charlotte Rotary Club.
Advisory Board for PBS Charlotte
Past:
Past President and member of Coeur d’Alene Sunrise Rotary
Past member of the Coeur d’Alene Noon Rotary
Past President and member of Idaho Public Television
Past Salvation Army Kroc Center’s Advisory Board
Awards:
She was honored to be a Soroptimist Woman of Distinction recipient in 2015
2020 Girls Scouts of America Women of Distinction Award

Curriculum Committee Meeting - January 8
2025-01-08 13:15 - 14:00 | Zoom Registration Required

Holiday Luncheon - December 4, 2024
2024-12-04 11:30 - 14:00 | Maggiano’s, 4400 Sharon Rd, Charlotte, NC, 28211, United States
HOLIDAY LUNCHEON
Join your fellow members at our end of year luncheon filled with entertainment and a speaker.
Date: Wednesday, December 4, 2024
Time: 11:30 am – 2 pm (serving starts at 12 noon)
Location: Maggiano’s Little Italy. 4400 Sharon Rd (Southpark). Maggiano’s Little Italy, Southpark
Price per Attendee: $50. Buy Tickets Here
You can “Buy Tickets” via the link here or at the weekly meetings beginning October 18.
Or you can also mail a check payable to Senior Scholars:
Senior Scholars at Queens; ATTN: Nancy Stancill; 1900 Selwyn Avenue MSC 1409; Charlotte, NC 28274.

Menu:
Family style serving at tables seating 10. Each table will receive all the following items:
• Appetizers: Balsamic Tomato Bruschetta and Stuffed Mushrooms
• Italian Tossed Salad
• Entrees: Chicken Marsala, Mom’s Meat Lasagna and Mushroom Ravioli
• Desserts: Gigi’s Butter Cake and Tiramisu
• Ciabatta Rolls
• Beverages: Coffee, Iced Tea, Water and Soft Drinks
• Alcoholic Beverages: May be purchased at bar in the luncheon

Speaker: Mark Washburn, former senior reporter and columnist for the Charlotte Observer; Topic: “Miracle on the Hudson: the reporter who covered the story looks back.” More info on Mark Washburn below.
Entertainment: Holiday music provided by Randy Broome on trombone and Pierce Howard on B flat and Piccolo trumpets.
Other Business: Introduction of 2025 Officers and Members of the Board of Directors
Mark Washburn is a semi-retired journalist who spent his career at newspapers in the South. At the Miami Herald, he rose to State Editor, responsible for coverage of Florida outside Miami and Fort Lauderdale. In 1999 he transferred to the Charlotte Observer, both owned by Knight Ridder Newspapers.
At the Charlotte Observer, he was a writer and columnist until his retirement in 2017. With Knight Ridder, he served on three teams that won the Pulitzer Prize for Public Service, for Hurricane Andrew in Miami, the 1997 Red River Flood in North Dakota and Hurricane Katrina on the Gulf Coast. He also covered the invasions of Afghanistan and Iraq and served on the bureau’s investigative team during the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. He also served two tours as a war correspondent in Iraq.
He lives in Davidson with his wife, Betsy
NOTE: The last day for online registration/payment is Monday November 25. Checks mailed to the Queens’ mailbox must be received by Friday November 22.

Earl Scruggs Center with Mary Beth Martin
2024-11-22 10:00 - 11:00 | Hybrid: In-Person at PUMC & via Zoom, 2810 Providence Rd, Charlotte, NC, 28211, United States
TOPIC: Earl Scruggs Center in Shelby
SPEAKER: Mary Beth Martin, Executive Director of the Earl Scruggs Center, Shelby, NC
The Earl Scruggs Center combines the life story of legendary five-string banjo master and Cleveland County native, Earl Scruggs, with the unique and engaging story of the history and cultural traditions of the region in which Mr. Scruggs was born and raised. It was in the nearby Flint Hill community where Mr. Scruggs learned to play banjo and began the three-finger playing style that has come to be known around the world as “Scruggs Style.”
The Earl Scruggs Center explores Mr. Scruggs’ innovative career and the community that gave it shape while celebrating how he crossed musical boundaries and defined the voice of the banjo to the world. Mr. Scruggs embraced tradition while also adapting to the changing times and looking toward the future—themes which resonate throughout the Center. Engaging exhibits, special event space and rich programming provide a uniquely rich experience for visitors.
BIOGRAPHY
Mary Beth Martin has served as the Executive Director of the Earl Scruggs Center in Shelby, NC, since 2018. During her time at the Center, Mary Beth has established ongoing programming including Musical Explorations for local children, the Center Stage Concert Series, instrument camps, and K-12 educational opportunities with the Bluegrass Ambassadors. She has been instrumental in founding and producing the Earl Scruggs Music Festival, which has been nominated for the International Bluegrass Music Association’s Event of the Year Award.
She holds an M.B.A. from Gardner-Webb University and a B.A. in Political Science from North Carolina State University. She is a graduate of IMBA’s Leadership Bluegrass program and Leadership Cleveland County.

NOTE: Attend in-person at PUMC, no registration required. Attend via Zoom, please register with the Zoom link above.

MakerSpace Charlotte: Enabling & Celebrating Human Creativity with Steven Gray
2024-11-15 10:00 - 11:00 | Hybrid: In-Person at PUMC & via Zoom, 2810 Providence Rd, Charlotte, NC, 28211, United States
TOPIC: MakerSpace Charlotte: Enabling & Celebrating Human Creativity
SPEAKER: Steven Gray, Makerspace Board Member
This talk will present an overview of makerspaces as a means of providing affordable access to a wide variety tools, equipment and training to the general public both nationally and across the globe. In particular it will highlight MakerSpace Charlotte’s offerings and its impact on the local community and discuss how the space envisions it role going forward to support the arts, local non-profits, and lifelong learning in the Charlotte community and beyond.
NOTE: Attend in-person at PUMC, no registration required. Attend via Zoom, please register with the Zoom link above.

BIOGRAPHY
Steven Gray is a founder and the current executive director of MakerSpace Charlotte — a role which he has held for the past 7 years. During his tenure the organization has grown from 13 memberships and 800 sf of space to over 500 memberships and 33,000 sf.
Prior to helping establish MakerSpace Charlotte, he operated a small custom electronic design business for nearly two decades servicing clients ranging from fortune 500 companies to struggling artists and everything in between.
He also worked on Wall Street for 5 years between undergraduate and graduate studies at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Curriculum Committee Meeting - November 13
2024-11-13 13:15 - 14:00 | Zoom Registration Required

An Untold Story of the US Involvement in Afghanistan...And Its Aftermath...A Personal Journey with George Forsythe
2024-11-08 10:00 - 11:00 | Hybrid: In-Person at PUMC & via Zoom, 2810 Providence Rd, Charlotte, NC, 28211, United States
TOPIC: An Untold Story of the US Involvement in Afghanistan…And Its Aftermath…A Personal Journey
SPEAKER: George Forsythe, Brigadier General, U.S. Army (retired)
George will discuss the establishment of the National Military Academy of Afghanistan from 2003-2005…its strategic implications and lessons learned. George will also discuss how his translator and their family immigrated to the US and settled in the heartland and how they help resettle Afghan families after 2021.

NOTE: Attend in-person at PUMC, no registration required. Attend via Zoom, please register with the Zoom link above.

BIOGRAHPHY
GEORGE B. “BARNEY” FORSYTHE, Ph.D.
Brigadier General, U.S. Army (retired)
BG (ret) George B. Forsythe was born at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, on November 13, 1948. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree from United States Military Academy at West Point in 1970, and an M.A.C.T. degree in Social Psychology and a Ph.D. in Education from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He spent thirty-five years on active duty in the United States Army, serving in command and staff positions before returning to West Point’s Department of Behavioral Sciences and Leadership in 1984 as an Academy Professor. In 1991 he was promoted to Professor of Psychology and Leadership, and in 1996 he was appointed Professor, USMA, and Vice Dean for Education, a position he held until his retirement in 2005. Upon retirement, he was advanced to Brigadier General.
While at West Point, General Forsythe supervised the core and electives courses in leadership, designed and taught in the Eisenhower Graduate Program in Leader Development, consulted on West Point’s Cadet Leader Development System, advised the LA Police Department and the Bangladesh Military Academy, and conducted several major leadership research projects as Director of the Center for Leadership and Organizations Research. In 2003, he led an international team that wrote the concept plan for the National Military Academy of Afghanistan
Following his retirement from the Army, General Forsythe was selected to be the Senior Vice President and Dean of Faculty at Westminster College in Missouri, and in February 2008, he was appointed Westminster’s 20th President. Under his leadership, the College designed and implemented the Westminster 2020 strategic plan, internationalized and diversified the campus community, expanded academic programs, integrated academics and student life around the Concept for Student Development, created and implemented a system for assessing student learning, modernized the campus infrastructure, and enhanced the College’s national reputation, with 95% of graduates in fulltime employment or graduate school within six months of graduation. General Forsythe retired as Westminster’s President in 2015, and he now serves as a faculty member with the Thayer Leadership Group at West Point, where he does corporate leadership training.
General Forsythe’s scholarly achievements comprise over forty publications and presentations on leadership and student development, post-secondary education, and assessment. He has received three awards for Best Paper by an Established Investigator from the Division on Education in the Professions of the American Educational Research Association. In 2011, General Forsythe was honored with the Missourian Award for outstanding contributions in the areas of business, civic leadership, and the arts. In 2015, he was named by Ingram’s Kansas City Business Magazine as 50 Missourians You Should Know. He is a Professor Emeritus at both West Point and Westminster College.
He and his wife, Jane, reside in Beaufort, South Carolina. Jane is a retired early childhood educator. They have two grown children and three grandchildren.

New Member Orientation - November 8
2024-11-08 09:00 - 09:45 | Providence United Methodist Church (PUMC) – Wolfe Hall, 2810 Providence Rd, Charlotte, North Carolina, 28211
All members old and new are invited to attend our New Member Orientation meeting in person.
Learn more about the organization including how to meet people, join events and how you can help the organization – the best way to meet new people!
In person meeting is in Room 106 in PUMC.
Click the RSVP button for an email to tell us you’re coming!

A Latvian Exile Comes to America with Joseph Ellis
2024-11-01 10:00 - 11:00 | Hybrid: In-Person at PUMC & via Zoom, 2810 Providence Rd, Charlotte, NC, 28211, United States
TOPIC: Karlis Leyasmeyer and the Baptist Speaker’s Circuit: A Latvian Exile Comes to America
SPEAKER: Joseph Ellis, Professor of Political Science, Assistant Dean of Arts and Sciences, Wingate University
In 1949, a little known Latvian refugee named Karlis Leyasmeyer would arrive with his family in Philadelphia, after several years spent at a displaced persons camp in Germany. In less than a year, Leyasmeyer was traveling North America as a highly desired speaker in evangelical circles, speaking on the evils of communism and the glory of God. How did Leyasmeyer — a recent political exile — achieve such notoriety in such a short period of time, and what does this tell us about anti-communist movements in the 1950s among recent refugees? And what became of his life after, the final thirty years of which he spent in North Carolina, settling in Boone, and attending a small, country church in relative obscurity?

NOTE: Attend in-person at PUMC, no registration required. Attend via Zoom, please register with the Zoom link above.

BIOGRAPHY
Joseph M. Ellis is a Professor of Political Science at Wingate University in Wingate, North Carolina. He received his B.A. from Winthrop University and his M.A. and Ph.D from Temple University, all in the discipline of political science. His research interests include the Baltic States, Scandinavia, and Russia. His wife, Joanna, is a school counselor, and he has three children, Lena (14), Beau (12), and Dean (9).

A History of the Baltic States, by Andres Kasekamp
The Latvians: A Short History, by Andrejs Plakans
American Latvians: Politics of a Refugee Community, by Ieva Zake

Ruth Bader Ginsburg: On Being American with Suzanne Reynolds
2024-10-25 10:00 - 11:00 | Hybrid: In-Person at PUMC & via Zoom, 2810 Providence Rd, Charlotte, NC, 28211, United States
TOPIC: Ruth Bader Ginsburg: On Being American
SPEAKER: Suzanne Reynolds, Dean and Professor Emerita, Wake Forest Law
RBG expanded our concept of who and what was included in the concept of being American. As a lawyer for the ACLU’s Women’s Project, she advocated for an expansive theory of equal protection that eventually she would enshrine as an associate justice on the Supreme Court.
BIOGRAPHY
Suzanne Reynolds is widely respected for her scholarship and teaching about family law and for her public service.
She was a principal drafter of statutes that modernized the law of both alimony and of adoption, and she co-founded a domestic violence program that received national recognition by the ABA for providing legal assistance to the poor. Suzanne authored a three-volume treatise on North Carolina family law that has become the authoritative source for law students, lawyers, and judges.
Her empirical work has focused on outcomes in high conflict custody disputes. She was the recipient of a Distinguished Woman of the Year award presented by Governor Hunt in 1998 and of the Gwyneth B. Davis award for Public Service presented by N.C. Association of Women Attorneys in 1996.
Suzanne was a candidate for the North Carolina Supreme Court in November 2008, narrowly losing her bid for that seat. Before teaching, she practiced civil litigation at Smith, Moore, Smith, Schell & Hunter (now Smith Moore Leatherwood.) She and her husband, Robert (Hoppy) Elliot, who is a partner in the law firm of Elliot Morgan Parsonage, have three adult children: Michael, Caroline, and Lillie.

NOTE: Attend in-person at PUMC, no registration required. Attend via Zoom, please register with the Zoom link above.

Field Trip: Sullenberger Aviation Museum
2024-10-22 10:00 - 13:00 | NC
DATE: October 22, 2024; Time: 10 am – 1 pm
COST: $17 Buy Tickets Here
ADDRESS: 4108 Minuteman Way, Charlotte, NC 28208
CARPOOLING: Carpooling will be available in the parking lot of the Queens Sports Complex on Tyvola Road. Please park near the lion statue.
At Sullenberger Aviation Museum, we strive to leverage the wonder of flight to inspire, educate, and elevate future generations to pursue careers in aviation and aerospace. Our vision is to positively impact economic mobility, provide compelling experiences for all visitors, strengthen Charlotte as a destination, promote community participation, and drive economic development near our home on Charlotte’s West Side.
SAM aspires to make aviation come alive, so visitors of all ages can experience the wonder of flight. Leveraging an extensive collection of aviation artifacts and stories, visitors deepen their understanding of the diverse people, innovations, and opportunities in aviation. Our programs offer immersive, interactive learning experiences that will have you inspired by the world of aviation and aerospace.
Sullenberger Aviation Museum

Lunch Bunch - October 18
2024-10-18 12:00 - 14:00 | NC
We have booked Calle Sol restaurant for Friday, October 18, 11:45 a.m.
Limited space available!
If you register and find you can’t attend, please email LunchBunch@SeniorScholars.net so that we can offer your seat to another member.
Calle Sol
3100 Apex Drive
Charlotte, NC 28211

Lighting a Pathway for Young Artists with Corey Mitchell
2024-10-18 10:00 - 11:00 | Hybrid: In-Person at PUMC & via Zoom, 2810 Providence Rd, Charlotte, NC, 28211, United States
TOPIC: Lighting a Pathway for Young Artists
SPEAKER: Corey Mitchell, Founder of Theater Gap Initiative
Mitchell will talk about his journey as an arts educator spreading the message of excellence and helping to create a pathway for young artists to have a career and change their trajectory.
The Theatre Gap Initiative (TGI), founded by longtime Charlotte educator Corey Mitchell, is a nonprofit college-prep program for high school grads who aspire to apply for Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) and conservatory programs. TGI’s programming is focused on helping students of color successfully navigate the process of applications, prescreens and auditions.
It was founded on the principle that equity means more than the distribution of wealth. It is access to systems that people of color have been historically excluded from. By collaborating with local, collegiate, and national Arts Institutions, TGI wants to help to dismantle those systems.
Theater Gap Initiative
BIOGRAPHY
Tony Award winner Corey Mitchell is the inaugural recipient for Excellence in Theatre Education. He was selected as a top 50 Finalist for 2017 Global Teacher Prize and was named North Carolina Outstanding Theatre Arts Educator by the North Carolina Theatre Conference. Most recently, he was selected as the first recipient of the Stephen Schwartz Musical Theatre Teacher of the Year Award, presented by the Educational Theatre Association and the ASCAP, and also received The Cato Lifetime Achievement in Teaching Award from the Arts and Science Council of Charlotte. Corey has twenty-five years’ experience in the classroom, including twenty years as Theatre Arts Educator at Northwest School of the Arts in Charlotte, NC.
Corey is active as a director, actor, keynote speaker, educational consultant, and workshop presenter in Charlotte and throughout the country. He advocates for arts education through his work on the Board of Directors for the North Carolina Theatre Conference and Brava Theatre Company, and the Charlotte Mecklenburg Community Foundation for the Carolinas. Corey’s past and present students are performing, writing, and composing for community, university, and regional theatre, as well as theme parks, independent and studio films, the West End, national tours, and Broadway musical-theatre productions.

NOTE: Attend in-person at PUMC, no registration required. Attend via Zoom, please register with the Zoom link above.

New Member Orientation - October 18
2024-10-18 09:00 - 09:45 | Providence United Methodist Church (PUMC) – Wolfe Hall, 2810 Providence Rd, Charlotte, North Carolina, 28211

The Amazing Gift of Language with Steve Clark
2024-10-11 10:00 - 11:00 | Hybrid: In-Person at PUMC & via Zoom, 2810 Providence Rd, Charlotte, NC, 28211, United States
TOPIC: The Amazing Gift of Language
SPEAKER: Steve Clark, Professor Emeritus, Moody Bible Institute
What is language? This presentation will provide an overview of something we rarely consider because it is so automatic: language, the ability to express to others anything we can think of. After looking at what actually happens when we speak, we will summarize eight facts about language, such as its diversity, its productivity, how we learn it, etc. A variety of illustrations and demonstrations will be used to add interest. The goal is to encourage a deeper understanding of, and appreciation for, this uniquely human gift.

NOTE: Attend in-person at PUMC, no registration required. Attend via Zoom, please register with the Zoom link above.

BIOGRAPHY
Steve retired in 2019 after serving as professor of linguistics at a college in Chicago for 23 years. Prior to that, he and his family lived for 11 years in a remote area of Papua New Guinea, where he analyzed and became fluent in the Sio language, which is spoken by fewer than 3,000 people and had never been studied before.
He did a linguistic analysis of the language, created an orthography, collected oral texts, developed a literacy program, and translated portions of the Bible into the language. He holds graduate degrees in linguistics (University of North Dakota) and education (University of Kansas).
He currently lives in Indian Land, SC, and keeps busy teaching English to recently arrived immigrants, and officiating track and field meets at colleges and universities across the Carolinas.

Fall Expo - Part 2
2024-10-11 09:00 - 10:00 | Hybrid: In-Person at PUMC & via Zoom, 2810 Providence Rd, Charlotte, NC, 28211, United States
2nd Annual Fall Expo!
Loads of exhibitors and information for seniors on medical plans, hobby groups and clubs, volunteer opportunities and much more!
October 11, 2024
9-10 am before speaker event
Exhibitors include:

Writers Club
Quilters Club
Kristan Smith
Nancy Stancil
Theatre Charlotte
Shepherd’s Center
Charlotte-Meck Library
Carolina Living Benefits
Ronald McDonald House
The Barclay at Southpark
CMS HeartMath Tutoring
Mecklenburg Parks & Recreation
NC SHIIP (State Seniors Health Insurance Information Program)

Curriculum Committee Meeting - October 9
2024-10-09 13:15 - 14:00 | Zoom Registration Required
