The year 2011 marks the 50th anniversary of the civil campaign the Freedom Rides. In the summer of 1961, a group of courageous young activists endured bloody mob violence, suffered police arrests, and stood down death threats in a fight for human dignity. For the first time ever their story is told in the compelling American Experience documentary "Freedom Riders." In this edition of Black Issues Forum, join host Deborah Holt Noel at the North Carolina Museum of History in Raleigh for a taped panel discussion about civil rights demonstrations and fairness in public transportation.

Black Issues Forum 2010 - 2011

2616 | Remembering the Freedom Riders

2620 | Penetrating the Old-Boy Network

Life in a small town changes for better when a local DJ takes a stand against apathy. Hear how Leon Gatewood's started a movement with a party and is now CEO of the non-profit organization HOLLA, Helping Our Loved-Ones Learn and Achieve. Also hear from the President of Kate B. Reynolds foundation on funding to help HOLLA fight obesity.

2623 | HOLLA!

Matthew Lewis has been a resident of Thomasville for over 20 years and even served as a staff photographer for the Thomasville Times after a stellar career as a photographer and Assistant Managing Editor at the Washington Post. groupshot He has photographed every subject from rock stars and presidents to everyday people like a teacher hugging a schoolgirl, and having worked through the era of Civil Rights his photography has captured both the best and worst of America. In this episode of "Black Issues Forum," he shares with Natalie Bullock Brown the stories behind the images and some of his own rich history as a member of four generations of photographers.

2622 | Civil Rights Photographer Matthew Lewis

North Carolina is replete with both historic spaces whose rich pasts have been beautifully preserved, and those spaces whose preservation efforts never move past a photo album. In this episode we explore what's involved in historic preservation and look at some success stories. While the idea of creating a lasting monument to the past is a noble one, those who pursue historic preservation and renovation without good information can quickly become frustrated and give up. We're going to try to arm you with some of that good information in today's discussion as we look at several Rosenwald Schools. The Rosenwald Schools were part of a rural school building initiative conceived by Booker T. Washington in 1912 and funded by Julius Rosenwald, an American clothier who became part owner of Sears, Roebuck and Company. Over the course of 20 years the Rosenwald Fund contributed more than 28.4 million dollars to construct over 4900 schools and other buildings for black children in the South. The program guests are very familiar with efforts to preserve the history of these schools. Our guests include Claudia Brown, Acting Administrator and Architectural Survey Coordinator with the North Carolina State Historic Preservation Office in the Department of Cultural Resources. From that same office working in the North East region, we have Reid Thomas, a Restoration Specialist. Addistionally, we have Mrs. Ella Wilder Perry, a 1936 alumna of the Panther Branch Rosenwald School in Wake County, also referred to as the Juniper Level School, and President of the Juniper Level Alumni.

2621 | Historic (Vacant) Property Makeovers

Politics and the Way You Live 2: Education

2619 | Politics and the Way You Live 2: Education

Reflecting on North Carolina's newly passed 2011-13 biennial budget and cuts in health and human services, state Senator Eric Mansfield and Rep. Nelson Dollar talk with host Deborah Holt Noel about More at Four, Smart Start, Planned Parenthood, Medicaid, and jobs.

2618 | Politics and the Way You Live 1: Health & Human Services

It could be called North Carolina's hidden gem among historical sites. A monument to the fascinating story of a young black woman who started with just $1000 and built one of the most renowned preparatory schools in the nation to educate blacks during the Jim Crow era, the Palmer Memorial Institute today still stands in Sedalia, North Carolina. Learn more about Dr. Charlotte Hawkins Brown and the Palmer Institute as host Mitchell Lewis talks to a former student of the school and the current manager of the historic Palmer Memorial Institute historic site.

2617 | Treasures: Charlotte Hawkins Brown

2616 | Remembering the Freedom Riders Extended version

Join Deborah Holt Noel at Union Independent School in Durham as she hosts the second part of a panel discussion taped before a live audience at the launch of an innovative 7 million dollar project called Bridge to Success. The project, created by Dr. Jim Johnson of the Kenan-Flagler Business School and funded by the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, is designed to intervene in the lives of minority males and provide research on constructive ways to help them succeed in school and beyond.

2615 | Bridges to Success pt. 2

Join Deborah Holt Noel at Union Independent School in Durham as she hosts a panel discussion before a live audience at the launch of an innovative 7 million dollar project called Bridge to Success. The project, created by Dr. Jim Johnson of the Kenan-Flagler Business School and funded by the W.K. Kellogg Foundatio, is designed to intervene in the lives of minority males and provide research on constructive ways to help them succeed in school and beyond.

2614 | Bridges to Success pt. 1

Continuing the conversation program guests what they learned about the Ghana economy and culture as producer Thomas Todd presents feature stories on their participation in an Arican naming ceremony trip to the Kakum National Park which boasts the world's longest suspended canopy and visit to ï»¿the Saint Peter's International School. GUESTS Fern Cotton - Trip Coordinato and member of the New Bern 300th Anniversary Committee's African American History Civil War program subcommittee. Bernard George - a Historian of Eastern Carolina history and member of the New Bern 300th Anniversary Committee. Camille Simmons - a Junior at Jones Senior High School in Jones County.

2613 | New Bern & Ghana: Discovering our Connections - Part 2

In celebration of New Bern's 300th birthday a group of resident adults and students visited Ghana in west Africa to reconnect with North Carolina's African Heritage. ï»¿ Program guests share what they learned about the Ghana economy and culture as producer Thomas Todd presents feature stories on their visits to Ghana markets ï»¿the National Museum in Accra Ghana the art gallery of the Golden Tulip Hotel and other stops on their tour. GUESTS Fern Cotton - Trip Coordinato and member of the New Bern 300th Anniversary Committee's African American History Civil War program subcommittee. Bernard George - a Historian of Eastern Carolina history and member of the New Bern 300th Anniversary Committee. Camille Simmons - a Junior at Jones Senior High School in Jones County.

2612 | New Bern & Ghana: Discovering our Connections - Part 1

According to the American Association for Retired People (AARP) 22.4 million households provide care to a family member over fifty. And a report on assisted living by a Georgia State University professor reveals nearly 93 percent of African American seniors are cared for by children or relatives living at home. Meanwhile many older Americans living on their own struggle to cover expenses for basic needs like food and tolerable indoor temperatures during the cold winter- and hot summer-months. AARP says about10 million adults age 65 and older are "low income and the National Council on Aging reports nearly one-third of Americans over 60 are living at or below the federal poverty level. For older black women the number is as high as 50 percent. With these numbers it's important to know what services are available to help. Program guests talk about services available through Community Action Agencies to help meet the needs of families from the oldest members to the youngest. GUESTS Marie Watson - Executive Director of Johnson-Lee-Harnett Community Action and Board member for the North Carolina Community Action Association. Dr. Marlee Ray Executive Director of WAGES (Wayne Action Group for Economic Solvency Inc.) NORTH CAROLINA COMMUNITY ACTION ASSOCIATION

2611 | Community Action Agencies Helping Families

Public radio is a trusted source of information on world events social issues and popular culture and one of it's most recognized voices is from the long running series "All Things Considered." Meet Michele Norris as she shares stories about her father and growing up black during the dismantling of segretation from her published memoir "The Grace of Silence." GUEST Michele Norris - Journalist Author and host of NPR's "All Things Considered."

2610 | NPR's Michele Norris on Grace Silence & Family

Each week, Black Issues Forum presents a diverse panel of guests discussion topics on an unlimited number of topics including politics, social concerns, health, education, justice, entertainment, technology, public policy, media and who’s who. Through weekly discussions, viewers are provided information they can use to hopefully improve their lives and the world around them. The goals of BLACK ISSUES FORUM are to: a) provide a vehicle for a balanced exchange of views on topics of vital importance to the black community, b) research solutions to problems in the black community, c) inform and educate the target and general audience about solutions and issues that might positively impact the quality of living in North Carolina and the nation. Watch Online