>> COMING UP ON BLACK ISSUES FORUM, WE'LL MEET THE FIRST BLACK CHAIR OF THE STATE DEMOCRATIC PARTY, GET VIEWS FROM LEADERS OF BOTH THE NCAE AND NORTH CAROLINA PTA LEADERS ON THE RETURN TO IN-PERSON LEARNING, AND SEE HOW YOUNG FARMERS ARE SOWING THEIR FUTURES AFTER CENTURIES OF SYSTEMIC DISCRIMINATION.

STAY WITH US.

♪ HELLO AND THANKS FOR JOINING US ON BLACK ISSUES FORUM I'M DEBORAH HOLT-NOEL.

TODAY WE'RE TALKING WITH SOMEONE WHO JUST MADE POLITICAL HISTORY IN OUR STATE.

DOCTOR BOBBIE RICHARDSON IS NOW THE CHAIR OF NORTH CAROLINA'S DEMOCRATIC PARTY, THE FIRST BLACK PERSON TO HOLD THAT ROLE.

DOCTOR RICHARDSON, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE.

>> THANK YOU.

DEBORAH APPRECIATE THE INVITATION LOOKING FORWARD TO OUR CONVERSATION.

>> WE HAVE HEARD REPEATEDLY THROUGHOUT THIS PANDEMIC ABOUT THE DISPARITY BETWEEN BLACK AND WHITE AND BROWN COMMUNITIES IN TERMS OF THE TREMENDOUS IMPACT WE DO TALK ABOUT SOME OF THE LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES THAT ARE GOING TO ADDRESS SOME OF THE EQUITIES THAT HAVE COME AS A RESULT OF COVID.

>> I WILL SHARE AS MUCH AS I KNOW.

LEGISLATORS HAVE JUST PASSED A PACKAGE THAT DID NOT TOTALLY MEET THE GOVERNOR'S APPROVAL.

IT DID NOT DO ENOUGH FOR SOCIAL DISTANCING AND FOR UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS, NOR WAS HE SATISFIED WITH THE LACK OF BONUSES FOR TEACHERS WHO HAVE BEEN WORKING IN THE TRENCHES SO HARD BECAUSE IT IS SUCH A TREMENDOUS TASK THAT THEY HAVE TO UNDERGO NOW.

SO BUT WE ARE GRATEFUL THAT THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY HAS FINALLY TAKEN THE FIRST STEP TOWARD BRINGING RELIEF TO THE CITIZENS OF NORTH CAROLINA AND WE CERTAINLY HOPE THAT THEY WILL CONTINUE TO STAY AT THE TABLE AND CONTINUE TO NEGOTIATE AND MAKE THE BEST DECISIONS FOR THE CITIZENS OF NORTH CAROLINA BECAUSE THAT IS WHAT GOVERNMENT IS SUPPOSED TO DO.

IT SUPPOSED TO HELP CITIZENS WHEN THEY CANNOT HELP THEMSELVES.

>> WELL AS YOU MENTIONED EVERYTHING CERTAINLY THAT THE DEMS WANTED IN THIS PACKAGE ARE NOT INCLUDED, AND SOME ARE SAYING THAT THE SURPLUS CAN BE USED TO COVER SOME OF THOSE NEEDS.

WHILE OTHERS IN THE LEGISLATURE SAY NO THERE'S NO NEED TO DIP INTO THE SURPLUS RIGHT NOW, NOT BECAUSE THIS IS NOT AN EMERGENCY TIME, BUT BECAUSE MORE RELIEF IS ON THE WAY.

WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THAT?

>> I THINK THAT IS TRULY A POOR LACK OF LEADERSHIP AND JUDGMENT ON THE LEGISLATIVE PART, BECAUSE THAT IS THE PURPOSE OF THE RAINY DAY FUND.

AND MANY OF THE FAMILIES IN NORTH CAROLINA ARE NOT JUST FACING A RAINY DAY FUND.

THEY ARE FACING FLOOD TYPE SITUATIONS.

THEY ARE IN LINES FOR FOOD THAT THEY CANNOT AFFORD TO PUT ON THE TABLE, THEY'RE SUFFERING FROM THE FACT THAT THEY'RE NOT ABLE TO PAY THE BILLS, AND ALSO SUFFERING WITH THE FACT THAT THE COVID PANDEMIC HAS CREATED US ANOTHER SET OF ISSUES, SO SICKNESS AND HEALTH AND DEATH IS EVEN IMPACTING OUR COMMUNITIES.

SO I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE RAINY FUND IS FOR IF IT'S NOT FOR CONDITIONS LIKE WHAT WE'RE FACING NOW.

THE CRISES THAT OUR FAMILIES ARE UNDERGOING AND EVEN THOUGH OTHER FUNDS THAT COMING ALONG, WE NEED TO PUT AS MUCH SUPPORT OUT THERE NOW AND THEN WHEN THOSE OTHER FUNDS GET HERE, THERE'S ALWAYS A WAY TO SIT DOWN AND NEGOTIATE HOW THOSE FUNDS WILL ALSO SUPPLEMENT THE NEEDS OF THE CITIZENS OF NORTH CAROLINA.

>> LET'S TALK ABOUT THE RETURN TO SCHOOL CERTAINLY PEOPLE ARE ANXIOUS TO GET KIDS BACK INTO SCHOOLS, YOU YOURSELF ARE A FORMER TEACHER EDUCATOR CAN YOU TALK ABOUT THE DISPARITIES THOUGH THE INEQUITIES THAT AFRICAN-AMERICAN KIDS ARE FACING IN OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS, CURRENTLY AND THAT HAVE BEEN EXACERBATED BY COVID-19 AND EXPOSED BY COVID-19.

WHAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN TO TRY TO CLOSE THE ACHIEVEMENT GAP AND CREATE GREATER EQUITY FOR BLACK KIDS IN SCHOOLS?

>> BROADBAND IS A MAJOR CHALLENGE FOR OUR RURAL COMMUNITIES AND OUR COMMUNITIES OF COLOR.

WE DEFINITELY NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY HAVE ACCESS.

IT'S VERY DIFFICULT TO BE IN A LEARNING ENVIRONMENT AND NOT HAVE ACCESS TO THE LEARNING EXPERIENCE.

I'VE NOTICED IN FRANKLIN COUNTY WE HAVE A MOBILE BUS THAT HAS ACCESSIBILITY ON IT AND IT DRIVES TO CERTAIN PORTIONS OF THE COMMUNITY, 80 AND PARENTS HAVE TO DRIVE UP TO THIS PARTICULAR SPOT TO ACCESS BROADBAND.

WE ALSO KNOW THAT STUDENTS MISSING CLASSES DOES IMPACT THEIR LEARNING ABILITY BUT IF STUDENTS ARE ILL AND THEIR PARENTS ARE ILL THEN THEY STILL WILL NOT BE ABLE TO ACCESS EDUCATION SO I THINK THAT WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT THE SUMMER PROGRAM THAT THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY IS OFFERING, SIX WEEKS, IS PROBABLY NOT LONG ENOUGH.

WE PROBABLY NEED TO CONTINUE IT MUCH LONGER.

WE PROBABLY NEED TO DO SOME ADDITIONAL AFTERNOON TYPE PROGRAMS.

BUT OUR AFRICAN AMERICAN COMMUNITIES AND COMMUNITIES OF COLOR ARE USUALLY THE ONES THAT HAVE LESS RESOURCES THEIR PARENTS ARE WORKING AND NOT ABLE TO BE HOME MANY TIMES TO HELP THEM WITH THEIR LEARNING ENVIRONMENT BECAUSE THERE IN THE ESSENTIAL JOB POSITIONS MOST OF THE TIME SO THERE IS A DISPARITY, BROADBAND IS ONE ASPECT, YES.

>> AND DOCTOR RICHARDSON JUST VERY QUICKLY, IS THERE MORE THAT YOU HOPE WILL BE DONE TO TRY TO ADDRESS THE GREAT THE INCREASED GAP THAT WILL HAVE OCCURRED AS A RESULT OF COVID?

HELPING THESE KIDS TO CATCH UP?

>> I CERTAINLY HOPE THERE IS I CERTAINLY HOPE THAT THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY IS LOOKING AT ALL KINDS OF OPPORTUNITIES OF FUNDING AND I KNOW OUR SUPERINTENDENTS AND OUR PRINCIPALS, I'M JUST WAITING FOR THOSE TOOLS TO PUT IN PLACE TO MAKE SURE THAT STUDENTS.

WILL HAVE EXTRA TIME AND WILL BE ABLE TO CLOSE THE LEARNING GAP AND WE WILL PROBABLY BE FACING A EXTENDED SCHOOL YEAR WHICH IS WHAT I THINK WE NEED.

WHETHER IT'S SUMMER OR WHETHER IT'S AFTERNOON.

>> DOCTOR BOBBIE RICHARDSON, THANK YOU AGAIN FOR SPENDING YOUR TIME WITH US.

>> THANK YOU HAVE A GREAT DAY.

AS THIS UNIQUE SCHOOL YEAR CONTINUES, MANY STUDENTS AND TEACHERS AROUND THE STATE ARE PREPARING FOR THE RETURN TO IN-PERSON LEARNING.

LAWMAKERS AND NOW MOST RECENTLY HEALTH OFFICIALS SEEM TO AGREE, THIS IS A NECESSITY.

>> LEARNING IN PERSON IS CRITICALLY IMPORTANT TO STUDENTS.

I LOOK FORWARD THIS WEEK TO MORE ACTION TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT HAPPENS IN A SAFE WAY.

BUT THERE'S STILL FRICTION ON HOW TO DO THAT.

GOVERNOR COOPER RECENTLY VETOED A BILL THAT WOULD'VE REQUIRED DISTRICTS TO OFFER IN-PERSON LEARNING OPTIONS.

MANY ARE ALREADY DOING THAT.

AND ON THURSDAY, THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION APPROVED NEW GUIDANCE FOR REOPENING - WHILE ALSO URGING SCHOOLS TO GET STUDENTS IN THE CLASSROOM.

HERE TO BRING US SOME PERSPECTIVE IS TAMIKA WALKER KELLY, PRESIDENT OF THE NORTH CAROLINA ASSOCIATION OF EDUCATORS.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME THIS MORNING.

>> TAMIKA I WANT TO ASK YOU DO, TEACHERS FEEL HEARD IN THE POLICY CHANGES THAT ARE BEING MADE AND ESPECIALLY THE BUDGET AS WELL.

>> SO DURING THIS TIME, OUR ORGANIZATION NCAE HAS CONTINUED TO HEAR FROM EDUCATORS ALL ACROSS THE STATE IN DIFFERENT DISTRICTS RURAL, URBAN, AND SO WE HAVE HEARD OUR EDUCATORS SAY LOUDLY THAT MANY OF THEIR CONCERNS, THEIR HOPES FOR THIS SCHOOL YEAR HAVE NOT BEEN ADEQUATELY HEARD EITHER ON THE LOCAL LEVEL ON THE STATE LEVEL.

AND SO THAT IS ONE OF OUR GOALS OF OUR ORGANIZATION IS TO CONTINUE TO ELEVATE EDUCATOR VOICE INTO THIS DISCUSSION BECAUSE THEY ARE A CRITICAL PART OF STUDENT SUCCESS AND OUR WHOLE SCHOOL COMMUNITIES.

>> HELP COMMUNICATE THAT VOICE, WHAT ARE EDUCATORS FEELING RIGHT NOW IS THEIR EXCITEMENT TO RETURN TO THE CLASSROOM BECAUSE THEY UNDERSTAND, AND I THINK WE ALL HAVE IN MIND.

THE BUT THE INTEREST OF THE STUDENTS OUT THERE, BUT WHAT ARE TEACHERS FEELING.

>> SO I THINK 8 YEARS AND I SCHOOL STAFF THEY ARE VERY EXCITED TO RETURN TO WAR IN PERSON INSTRUCTIONS.

EDUCATORS LOVE BEING IN THE CLASSROOM WITH THEIR STUDENTS IN SEEING THOSE LIGHT BULB MOMENTS IN SEEING THOSE FACES AND THEIR SMILES.

BUT WE ARE STILL IN THE MIDDLE OF A GLOBAL PANDEMIC ONE THAT HAS COST THE LIVES OF AT LEAST 15 EDUCATORS HERE IN OUR STATE AND SO SAFETY IS A HUGE CONCERN FOR EDUCATORS NOT ONLY FOR THEMSELVES.

BUT FOR THEIR STUDENTS AND THEIR ENTIRE COMMUNITIES AND THEIR IN THEIR OWN FAMILIES AS WELL.

AND SO IT CONTINUES TO BE A POINT THAT EDUCATORS WILL RAISE WE KNOW AND WE'RE GLAD THAT EDUCATORS HAVE BEEN ABLE TO GET THE VACCINE.

BUT WE KNOW THE VACCINE IS JUST ONE LAYER OF PROTECTION.

THAT IS NEEDED WITH MANY DIFFERENT.

THERE'S SAFETY STRATEGIES AND MITIGATION STRATEGIES TO KEEP OUR SCHOOL COMMUNITIES AND OUR ENTIRE COMMUNITY SAY.

>> WELL WE'VE HAD A YEAR NOW SINCE COVID HIT US TO KIND OF LEAN BACK I WOULD SAY AND EVALUATE HOW THE CLASSROOM IS CONSTRUCTED HOW SCHOOLS OPERATE AND IF WE GO BACK TO THE NORMAL THAT WAS BEFORE WHAT WE DO KNOW IS THAT AFRICAN-AMERICAN STUDENTS ARE LAGGING BEHIND ACADEMICALLY SO THAT'S NOT THE NORMAL THAT I WOULD IMAGINE WE WANT TO RETURN TO WHAT WE LEARNED DURING THIS TIME AND WHAT DO YOU HOPE WILL BE DIFFERENT ABOUT CLASSROOM, LEARNING IN THE FUTURE.

>> SO YOU ARE ABSOLUTELY CORRECT.

IT IS ALMOST BEEN A YEAR SINCE WE HAVE HAD ANY SORT OF NORMALCY WHEN I WALKED OUT OF MY CLASSROOM ON MARCH, THE 13TH I NEVER IMAGINED THAT I WOULD NEVER GO BACK TO THAT SPACE IN A WAY THAT WE HAVE EXPERIENCED IT BEFORE.

AND SO YOU ARE ALSO RIGHT THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC HAS EXPOSED IN EQUITIES THAT HAVE LONG FACED PUBLIC SCHOOLS, PARTICULARLY.

STUDENTS AND COMMUNITIES OF COLOR.

SO NO, WE CANNOT RETURN TO NORMAL BECAUSE WHAT WAS NORMAL WAS NOT WORKING FOR EVERY STUDENT IN OUR SCHOOL.

AND IT IS OUR JOB AS NCAE TO MAKE SURE THAT ALL OF OUR STUDENTS HAVE HIGH QUALITY ACCESS TO PUBLIC EDUCATION, PARTICULARLY IN OUR HISTORICALLY UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES, SO WE HAVE LEARNED MANY LESSONS WE HAVE LEARNED THAT COMMUNITIES OF OUR UNDERSERVED STUDENTS NEED ADDITIONAL RESOURCES AND SUPPORT.

WE KNOW THAT THE LEANDRO RECOMMENDATIONS THAT CAME FROM THE WESTEND REPORT ARE CRITICAL IN RESTORING EQUITY AND ACCESS TO ALL OF OUR STUDENTS AND SO WE HAVE TO TAKE THOSE LESSONS AND APPLY THEM IN POLICY AND PRACTICE IN FUNDING FROM THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY IN ORDER TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE AFTER THE NEW WAY FORWARD FOR EDUCATION FOR ALL OF OUR STUDENTS.

>> AND SOME PEOPLE SEE -- SOME FOLKS SEE THE PATH FORWARD THROUGH PRIVATE EDUCATION AND THEY SEE VOUCHERS AS A WAY TO DO THAT, BUT YOU DISAGREE.

CAN YOU SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON VOUCHERS AND WHY THAT IS NOT NECESSARILY A CHOICE IN YOUR OPINION FOR PARENTS WHO ARE NOT GETTING WHAT THEY WANT OUT OF THE PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM.

>> SO WE KNOW OUR STATE CONSTITUTION MANDATES THAT EVERY STUDENT RECEIVES A SOUND BASIC EDUCATION AND OUR IT'S OUR CONSTITUTION, IRISH GENERAL ASSEMBLY, THEY KNOW THAT THEY HAVE BEEN ADEQUATELY FUND THE SCHOOL SYSTEM THAT THEY ARE CONSTITUTIONALLY MANDATED TO DO AND SO THERE'S NO WAY TO ADEQUATELY FUND TO SEPARATE SCHOOL SYSTEMS.

WE KNOW THAT MANY FAMILIES ARE AWAY HERE THAT ARE PRIVATE SCHOOLS ARE DOING THAT HAVE THE SAME ACCOUNTABILITY STANDARDS FOR TESTING CURRICULUM OR EVEN WHO THEY DEEM TO BE EDUCATORS IN THEIR SYSTEM AND SO WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERY CLASSROOM HAS A HIGH CAULIFLOWER CERTIFIED EDUCATOR AND THAT'S WHAT PUBLIC SCHOOLS CONTINUE TO OFFER.

SO YES, WE DO THAT WE DO NOT AGREE THAT PUBLISHED THAT PRIVATE SCHOOLS AND VOUCHERS OR THE WAY TO GO WE KNOW THAT INVESTMENTS IN OUR PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEMS WHO EXCEPT EVERY SINGLE STUDENT ARE THE BEST FOR NORTH CAROLINA FAMILIES.

>> TAMIKA WALKER KELLY, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>> WE KNOW THAT TEACHERS ARE NOT THE ONLY STAKEHOLDERS IN THIS CONVERSATION.

A YEAR OF REMOTE LEARNING IS ALSO HAVING A HUGE IMPACT ON PARENTS.

HAROLD DIXON HEADS UP OUR STATE'S PARENT TEACHER ASSOCIATION.

HAROLD THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING BLACK ISSUES FORUM.

THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

CAN YOU SHARE WITH US WHAT SOME OF THE LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES ARE FOR THE PTA, ESPECIALLY AS IT CONCERNS COVID RELIEF AND GETTING THESE KIDS BACK IN SCHOOL SAFELY?

>> YES, WELL FIRST OF ALL, OUR PRIORITY IS MAKING SURE THAT STUDENTS ARE SAFE.

WE ADVOCATE -- WE KNOW THAT PARENTS ARE STRUGGLING SO WE ADVOCATE THAT EVERY SCHOOL DISTRICT WORK TOGETHER WITH THEIR LOCAL OFFICIALS AND TO MAKE SURE THAT WHATEVER THEIR NUMBERS ARE DUE TO COVID IS IN YOUR AREA IS CONDUCIVE FOR KIDS TO GO BACK TO SCHOOL SAFELY IN YOUR AREA.

WE KNOW THAT THAT'S NOT THE CASE OVER THE ENTIRE STATE SO IT'S BY BY COUNTY BY DISTRICT.

SO WE'RE ADVOCATING FOR THAT BUT WE'RE MAKING SURE THAT SCHOOL DISTRICTS HOPEFULLY HAVE THE ADEQUATE FUNDING TO ENSURE SAFETY MEASURES ARE TAKEN IN THE SCHOOLS, LIKE BEING ABLE TO SANITIZE THE CLASSROOMS TO GO BUS DRIVERS BEING ABLE TO SANITIZE THE BUS, MAKING SURE THEY HAVE THE BASIC SUPPLIES THAT THEY NEED TO MAKE SURE THE STUDENTS SAFE.

>> DO YOU THINK THAT THE CURRENT BUDGET IS OFFERING ENOUGH TO SUPPLY THAT?

>> THEY HAD TO RE ALLOCATE SOME FUNDS I DO KNOW THAT CAUSE, FOR EXAMPLE, THE FUNDING THAT WE HAVE SET ASIDE FOR THE FREE REDUCED - FOR THE FREE BREAKFAST FOR EVERY STUDENT IN THE STATE HAD TO BE REALLOCATED.

THOSE FUNDS HAD TO BE RE ALLOCATED FOR THE FOOD SITES THAT YOU SAW THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY WHILE THE SCHOOLS WERE CLOSED.

SO THERE WAS SOME SHIFTING OF THE FUNDS SO I CAN'T HONESTLY SAY THAT THE ENTIRE BUDGET IS ADEQUATE, BUT I DO KNOW THAT THEY DID SOME SHIFTING OF FUNDS TO ACCOMMODATE HELPING SCHOOLS GET PREPARED FOR THE SAFE RETURN AND ALSO MAKE SURE THAT THE STUDENTS WERE SAFE.

>> WELL THE STATE PTA IS RESPONSIBLE FOR A LOT THAT IT PROBABLY DOESN'T GET CREDIT FOR LIKE FREE AND REDUCED LUNCH PROGRAMS AND HERE YOU ARE WITH THE EFFORT TO TRY TO GET BREAKFAST AND SCHOOLS AS WELL, BUT THERE'S YET ANOTHER EFFORT THAT YOU'VE BEEN WORKING ON AT THE FOREFRONT OF AND THAT IS COMMUNITY PTA TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT HOW THOSE WORK AND WHAT YOUR PLAN WAS FOR THAT.

>> SO RIGHT BEFORE THE PANDEMIC WE HAD A FORUM IN DURHAM NORTH CAROLINA.

IT WAS A SYMPOSIUM.

AND WE TALKED ABOUT ISSUES IN THE COMMUNITY.

SO WHEN YOU THINK OF THE PTA MOST PTAs ARE CENTERED IN THE SCHOOL.

THEY DO FUND RAISING, THEY ADVOCATE FOR THINGS INTO SCHOOL ING THOSE COMMUNITIES.

>> AND THERE'S A PROFILE, THERE'S A MYTHICAL PROFILE OF WHO IS INVOLVED.

>> YES, BECAUSE NORMALLY SAY PTA AUTOMATICALLY YOU THINK SUBURBAN, HOUSEWIVES, STAY AT HOME MOMS, SOCCER MOMS, RIDING AROUND IN THE TENNIS OUTFITS AND THOSE ARE PERCEPTIONS THAT WE HAVE, BUT THEN SOMEBODY LIKE ME SHOWS UP ON THE SCENE AND THAT BREAKS THAT [LAUGHS] >> YOU'RE ROCKING IT.

YOU'RE ROCKING THE MYTH.

EXACTLY SO THE COMMUNITY PTAs THEY FOCUS MORE ON THE ISSUES OUTSIDE OF THE SCHOOL.

SO FOR EXAMPLE, WHAT THE STUDENTS ARE FACING AFTER THE SCHOOL BELL.

WHAT ARE THEY GOING HOME TO?

IN SOME CASES, WE TELL TEACHERS YOU CAN SEND HOMEWORK HOME EVERY NIGHT.

IT WOULD NEVER EVER EVER GET DONE BECAUSE OF THE ISSUES THAT STUDENTS ARE DEALING WITH WHEN THEY LEAVE THE SCHOOL SO THE ISSUES HOME ARE IMPACTING THE SCHOOLS.

SO THE COMMITTEE PTA'S WILL FOCUS MORE ON THE ISSUES OUTSIDE OF THE SCHOOL VERSUS THINGS GOING ON IN THE SCHOOL WHAT YOUR NORMAL PTAs FOCUS ON.

>> WELL, COVID AS YOU SAID INTERRUPTED THAT, BUT NOW THAT WE'RE GETTING BACK ON TRACK, WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE FOR THE PUBLIC TO KNOW ABOUT THESE COMMUNITY PTAs AND HOW TO BE INVOLVED HOW EFFECTIVE THEY CAN BE WITH THAT INVOLVEMENT?

>> SO WE'RE TRYING TO RE-ENERGIZE THE COMMUNITY PTA CONCEPT.

WE ARE HOPEFULLY GOING RE- ESTABLISH OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH THE GENERAL BAPTIST STATE CONVENTION.

THERE ARE SEVERAL OTHER ORGANIZATIONS, HOUSES OF WORSHIPS THAT WAS INTERESTED IN PARTNERING WITH US, SO STAY TUNED, HOPEFULLY THERE'LL BE SEVERAL COMMUNITIES PTA SITES ACROSS THE STATE.

WE WERE ALSO PARTNERING WITH THE HOUSING AUTHORITY IN DIFFERENT CITIES TRYING TO ESTABLISH THOSE COMMUNITY PTA UNITS ON THOSE PROPERTIES, SO THAT PARENTS WHO CANNOT GET TO THE SCHOOL BUILDING HAVE ACCESS TO AT LEAST A PTA IN THE COMMUNITY.

THEY CAN STILL SUPPORT THEIR CHILDREN WITH FAMILY ENGAGEMENT.

>> WELL, IT SOUNDS THAT LIKE THAT'S GOING TO BE VERY KEY.

WE APPRECIATE THE WORK THAT YOU'RE DOING WITH THE PTA.

HAROLD DIXON THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

MY PLEASURE.

>> ONE OF THE MANY ISSUES THAT COVID-19 HAS PUT FRONT AND CENTER IS FOOD SECURITY, AND THOUGH THEY OFTEN DON'T GET THE ATTENTION, OUR FARMERS PLAY A HUGE ROLE IN PROVIDING THE FOOD THAT WE EAT.

BUT WHERE EXACTLY DO BLACK FARMERS FIT IN?

THEY'VE SLOWLY DISAPPEARED OVER THE LAST CENTURY, AT ONE POINT OWNING MORE THAN 14% OF THE COUNTRY'S FARMS NOW THAT NUMBER IS LESS THAN 2%.

A USDA REPORT SAYS INTIMIDATION AND UNFAIR POLICIES CAUSE MUCH OF THAT LOSS.

IT'S A SIMILAR STORY IN OUR STATE, BUT SOME ARE LOOKING TO TURN THAT AROUND WHILE ALSO HELPING THE COMMUNITY.

TO HELP US DIG MORE INTO THIS CONVERSATION WE HAD JULIUS TILLERY, FOUNDER OF BLACK COTTON, KAMAL BELL FOUNDER OF SANKOFA FARMS AND KENDRICK RANSOM OWNER OF GOLDEN ORGANIC FARM.

GUYS, FARMERS, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE.

THIS IS SUCH A HUGE ISSUE, NOT ONLY FOOD SECURITY, BUT JUST LIKE THE PLIGHT OF BLACK FARMERS THEMSELVES AND WANT TO START WITH YOU JULIUS.

YOUR GREAT GREAT GRANDFATHER WAS BORN FREE IN NORTH CAROLINA JUST A FEW YEARS AFTER THE CIVIL WAR BECAME A HOG AND A CROPS FARMER AND HELD ON TO A 125 ACRES OF LAND AND NOW TODAY YOU ARE FARMING DIFFERENT CROPS, INCLUDING COTTON, CREATING BEAUTIFUL JEWELRY AND OTHER PRODUCTS OUT OF IT AND I JUST WANT TO ASK YOU HOW DO YOU THINK THE BLACK FARMERS HAVE FARED THROUGH COVID-19 AND THE FEDERAL RELIEF PROGRAMS THAT WERE PROVIDED?

>> IN REGARDS TO HOW BLACK FARMERS FARED DURING THIS COVID-19 PERIOD, A LOT OF BLACK FARMERS STRUGGLED.

A LOT OF FARMERS FOUND IT HARD TO QUALIFY FOR SOME OF THE RELIEF PROGRAMS, AND WITH A LOT OF AGING FARMERS NOT UNDERSTANDING HOW TO USE THE TECHNOLOGY TO CONNECT TO USDA AND LESS PEOPLE BEING AVAILABLE TO GO TO THE OFFICES, IT'S BEEN TOUGH FOR OUR AGING FARMING GROUP AND FOR THE YOUNGER FARMERS WHICH WE'RE FEATURING TODAY, WE'RE NOT IN A SITUATION WHERE WE QUALIFY FOR THE PROGRAMS BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE THE HISTORY OR AVAILABILITY TO QUALIFY FOR THE FINANCES.

SO ONE THING YOUNG FARMERS HAD -- THEY SPEND THIS TIME ORGANIZING AND PUTTING OURSELVES OUT THERE ONLINE AND SOCIAL MEDIA.

THROUGH OTHER KINDS OF MEDIA AND WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO GALVANIZE ENERGY AND MOMENTUM THROUGH THIS TIME BECAUSE MORE PEOPLE HAVE BEEN AFFECTED WITH THE ISSUES OF COVID-19 SO PEOPLE WANT TO CONNECT TO THE SOURCES AND THAT'S BEEN GREAT FOR US SO IT'S BEEN SOME GOOD AND SOME BAD.

>> WE'RE DEFINITELY GOING TO TALK ABOUT SOME OF THE GOOD BUT I DO WANT TO GET YOUR COMMENTS ALSO KENDRICK, ON WHAT YOU EXPERIENCED IN TERMS OF RELIEF DURING COVID BOTH THE HIGHS AND THE LOWS BECAUSE THERE WAS ATTENTION AFTER THE PROTESTS ON SUPPORTING BLACK BUSINESS, BUT IT DIDN'T SEEM TO LAST LONG.

>> WE EXPERINECED A LOT OF ISSUES OUT OF COVID-19, A LOT OF STRESS THAT CAME WITH IT JUST FLUCTUATING THROUGH THE MARKET.

WE TOOK A HUGE DECREASE IN OUR NUMBERS FOR THE MARKETS.

BUT WE STAND STAND RESILIENT TO THIS WORK AND WE DEFINITELY WANT TO ADD MORE CREATIVITY.

WE'VE LAUNCHED OUR ONLINE WEBSITE AS WELL SO PEOPLE CAN ORDER DIRECTLY ONLINE THAT WAY WE CAN CONTINUE TO SOCIAL DISTANCE AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE.

WE'RE ALSO DOING THE CSA MODEL WHERE WE ARE DELIVERING BOXES TO FAMILIES AS WELL AS HAVING DROP OFF POINTS SO JUST TRYING TO CONTINUE TO BEING CREATIVE ALONG THIS JOURNEY, ALONG OUR FLIGHT DEALING WITH OTHER SYSTEMIC RACISMS AND THE LACK OF ACCESS TO THESE PRODUCE.

SO WE'RE JUST CONSTANTLY TRYING TO CREATE SOLUTIONS IN ORDER TO BETTER OUR COMMUNITIES.

>> KAMAL LET'S TALK ABOUT SOME OF THOSE SOLUTIONS SO WE KNOW THAT FARMERS IN GENERAL AND CERTAINLY BLACK FARMERS SUFFERED AS A RESULT OF COVID-19 AND ALSO THROUGH THE RELIEF PACKAGING WHICH MANY, MOST OF THEM ACTUALLY WERE LEFT OUT OF.

CAN YOU TALK ABOUT THE TRANSITION FROM WHAT THE IMPACT OF COVID-19 HAS BEEN AND HOW YOU'RE RECOVERING.

>> YES, SO WHENEVER WE TALK ABOUT THE STORY OF SANKOFA AND HOW WE'RE ADJUSTING IN THIS CHANGING DYNAMIC, I ALWAYS LIKE TO REFERENCE THE WHOLE ASPECT OF SUSTAINABILITY AND WHAT WE'VE HAD TO DO IS JUST TRY TO FOCUS ON TRAINING A SUSTAINABLE INFRASTRUCTURE, SO THAT WHEN WE DO HAVE TIMES LIKE THIS, WE CAN ADJUST.

SO AS FAR AS BLACK FARMERS, THIS HAS BEEN A TOUGH TIME FOR ALL OF US, BUT I THINK JUST LIKE KENDRICK SAID, OUR RESILIENCY AND JUST BEING US BEING ABLE TO ADAPT HAS REALLY HELPED US THROUGH THIS TIME.

>> LET'S TALK ABOUT SOME OF THE SPECIFIC WAYS, BECAUSE PEOPLE WHO ARE WATCHING CAN BE SUPPORTIVE AND CAN HELP.

CAN YOU SHARE, JULIUS TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THESE COMMUNITY SUPPORTED AGRICULTURE BOXES THAT HAVE BEEN CREATED.

WE TALKED A LITTLE BIT ABOUT IT ON BLACK ISSUES FORUM EARLIER IN THE SEASON.

BUT TELL US MORE ABOUT HOW THAT WORKS.

>> WELL COMMUNITY SUPPORTED AGRICULTURE IS A GREAT TOOL FOR FARMERS AND GROUP OF FARMERS WORKING TOGETHER.

ONE EXAMPLE HAS BEEN SHOWN WITH TALL GRASS BOX IN DURHAM, NORTH CAROLINA, YOU CAN GOOGLE THEM AND YOU'LL FIND OUT INFORMATION.

KENDRICK IS ACTUALLY DOING A GREAT JOB WITH CSA BUT WHAT THE IMPORTANT THING ABOUT IT IS IT GETS THE FUNDING TO THE FARMER EARLY SO THEY CAN BE IN THE PLAN THEIR PRODUCTION.

AND WITH COVID-19, PRODUCTIONS CYCLES AND PRODUCTION SUPPLY ONLINE HAVE BEEN AFFECTED SO IT'S VERY IMPORTANT FOR THE FARMER TO GET THE MONEY UP FRONT, SO WE COULD BE ABLE TO WORK EFFECTIVELY, ESPECIALLY WITH BLACK FARMERS WHO ARE LIMITED CAPITAL RESOURCES.

>> AND WE ONLY HAVE ABOUT 30 SECONDS EACH FOR YOU KAMAL AND ALSO KENDRICK BUT SHARE WITH US WHAT SOME OF THOSE DIFFERENT OPPORTUNITIES ARE, SPECIFICALLY MAYBE THE BLACK FARMERS MARKET, AND SLIDING SCALE FARMS KENDRICK?

>> THE BLACK FARMERS MARKET HAS BEEN A GREAT TOOL.

WE UTILIZED THEIR MARKET THIS YEAR.

IT WAS ABLE TO SELL OUT QUITE OFTEN AND ALSO JUST TO CSA YOU KNOW GOING BACK TO WHAT BROTHER JULIUS WAS SAYING, IT'S A GREAT WAY TO PAY THE FARMERS FIRST SO THAT THE COMMUNITY IS ABLE TO SUSTAIN A A GREAT QUALITY PRODUCT.

>> YES, AND THE BLACK FARMERS MARKET HAS HELPED AS WELL.

WE VENDED THERE, WE PLAN ON VENDING THERE AGAIN THIS YEAR AS WELL.

AND ALSO WORKED OF DISTRIBUTIONS IN THE AREA WHERE THEY'VE KIND OF CREATED THE CSA MODEL WHERE THEY'LL WHOLESALE BUY PRODUCE FROM SANKOFA OR OTHER FARMS AND THEN DISTRIBUTE THEMSELVES SO THE FARMERS DON'T HAVE TO TAKE ON THAT EXTRA ADDED STRESS OF PLANTING THE FOOD AND THEN ALSO DISTRIBUTING AS WELL SO THOSE ARE SOME OF THINGS THAT WE'VE SEEN DURING THIS TIME THAT HELPED OUR FARM.

>> GENTLEMEN, I WISH WE HAD MORE TIME, I'M ACTUALLY GOING TO TAKE OUR CONVERSATION OFFLINE AND WE'RE GOING TO TALK A LITTLE BIT MORE THERE'S MORE TO SHARE AND YOU HAVE MORE TO OFFER, BUT I THANK YOU FOR THESE FEW MINUTES OF BEING ON BLACK ISSUES FORUM TODAY.

REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR TIME.

>> THANK YOU EVERYONE.

>> NO PROBLEM.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH TO EACH OF TODAY'S GUESTS.

YOU CAN FIND ALL OF OUR CONTENT INCLUDING MORE DISCUSSION WITH THE GENTLEMAN, YOU JUST HEARD FROM ON PBSNC.ORG/BLACKISSUESFORUM >> I'M DEBORAH HOLT- NOEL, THANK YOU FOR WATCHING.

♪ >> QUALITY PUBLIC TELEVISION IS MADE POSSIBLE THROUGH THE FINANCIAL CONTRIBUTIONS OF VIEWERS LIKE YOU WHO INVITE YOU TO JOIN THEM IN SUPPORTING PBSNC.