02/03/2025
About the Sarah Stevenson Tuesday Morning Forum:
The Sarah Stevenson Tuesday Morning Forum stands as a cornerstone of civic engagement and advocacy in Charlotte, carrying a legacy of over four decades of empowering the city’s African American community. Established in the late 1970s, the Forum emerged as a vital space for dialogue, resource-sharing, and political discourse, ensuring that issues affecting Black Charlotteans remained at the forefront of public consciousness. Its longevity and influence have made it one of the most respected platforms for community leaders, policymakers, and residents to exchange ideas and mobilize for change. Even through the disruptions of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Forum adapted, first shifting to virtual meetings before resuming its in-person gatherings, demonstrating its resilience and enduring relevance.
At the heart of the Forum’s prestige is Sarah Stevenson, the trailblazing leader whose vision and commitment shaped its foundation. Alongside civic figures such as Jim Richardson, Rev. Bob Walton, and Mary Brooks, Stevenson helped establish the Forum as a space where critical conversations could take place, guided by facilitators dedicated to curating meaningful discussions. For decades, she presided over the gatherings, ensuring that the Forum remained not just a meeting place, but an institution of influence. Even as she gradually transitioned leadership to others, she remained a steadfast presence until late 2019. Recognizing her extraordinary contributions, the Forum was officially renamed in her honor in January 2022, cementing her place in Charlotte’s history. With her passing in September 2023, her legacy endures in the Forum’s continued mission—one that embodies empowerment, access to knowledge, and the elevation of Black voices in the civic landscape.
