I Joined Twitter Today, Follow Me @HollidayInk

I joined Twitter this afternoon about the same time we felt the effects of the earthquake in Virginia. I'd been avoiding joining the social networking/microblogging site, despite at least once a week a friend or colleague telling me I should be on it or them being appalled when I said I wasn't. I have nothing against Twitter; in fact I often read the timelines of some of my favorite celebrities and of a few friends and colleagues. I just didn't want another social media tool to have to maintain and manage--I'm already on Facebook, YouTube, LinkedIn, and I have two blogs, Grown People Talking and Dusk Till Dawn (Charlotte nightlife). But it's primarily because I have a third blog launching in September that I realized that Twitter would be the best way for me to share links to my content because, those blogs coupled with the magazines I write for that post the stories online, I'm cranking out a good bit of content into the World Wide Web.

Follow me @HollidayInk.

My hope is that Twitter will provide a seamless and effortless way to share information with you. But I know, of course, what also comes along with Twitter is the retweeting, direct messages, and strategies to build followers, all of which can become time consuming (as if I don't have enough unread emails in my inboxes). But I've taken the leap and you can't put that genie back in the bottle. Perhaps I'll grow to love Twitter, and hopefully people will follow me @HollidayInk.

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Urban League Recruiting for Jobs Training Program; Men Who Care Global to Present Community Report

There are two separate community meetings taking place tomorrow morning (Wednesday, August 24) that are providing valuable services and information to the Charlotte area.

The Urban League of Central Carolinas is recruiting for its highly acclaimed 21st Century Jobs program. The program offers free national certifications in career fields such as heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) and fiber optics/broadband. Classes are set to begin September 12 at the Urban League, 740 W. Fifth Street, Charlotte. An information session for the 21st Century Jobs program will be held tomorrow at 10 a.m. at the Urban League. Instructors and former students will be on hand to answer any questions, and applications will be accepted. Class size is limited and open on a first-come first-served basis. For more information, call 704-373-2256 ext. 218 or email info@urbanleaguecc.org. www.urbanleaguecc.org

Men Who Care Global, whom you may have learned about when the organization was planning a Fourth of July rally in Uptown in response to a previous incident involving hundreds of misguided African-American youth ("'Men Who Care' Want to Save Our Youth"), is holding a press conference tomorrow at 11 a.m. to present their community report. The press conference will be held at the office of Charlotte businessman and founder of Men Who Care, Ron Leeper, at R.J. Leeper Construction, 601 Morris Street. For additional information or questions, contact Colin Pinkney at cpinkney@urbanrestoration.org or 704-391-0022 ext. 39.

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'The Hunger Games' Exclusive Sneak Peek Airing on MTV During VMAs, Look for Charlotte

You've likely seen news reports, Facebook posts, and/or Twitter updates about celebrities and movie trucks spotted around Charlotte the last few weeks (I think Woody Harrelson and Lenny Kravitz have been seen the most). As I blogged about last month, this local Hollywood action is because The Hunger Games movie was setting up shop to film its Capitol scenes in Charlotte and Concord ("'Hunger Games' Movie Filming Headed to Charlotte"). Now, thanks to MTV, on Sunday night we'll get to see the very first footage from the movie that's not scheduled to be released until March.

Jennifer Lawrence as Katniss in The Hunger Games.
Photo by Murray Close/Lionsgate Entertainment via MTV.com.

According to MTV News, actress Jennifer Lawrence will introduce the exclusive preview during the 2011 MTV Video Music Awards, which airs Sunday at 9 p.m. After the show, The Hunger Games clip will be available on MTV.com.

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Back-to-School Community Events Saturday and Monday in Charlotte

If I was a kid, this would be the time of year I would dread--end of summer break and back-to-school time. But if you're an underprivileged kid, you have bigger reasons to worry about going back to school. Thankfully, there are several organizations and companies in Charlotte that are giving their time and resources to help make getting back into the classroom an easier, happier, and more exciting time for all children, fortunate or less fortunate.

Here are a few events and causes you should support by bringing your kids (or neighbors' kids) or by making donations.

 Saturday, August 20

School Tools Postal Collection Day
All month long, WSOC-TV's 9 Family Focus, in partnership with Communities In Schools and Classroom Central, has been leading a community outreach project to collect school supplies for children. And this Saturday, you can contribute and barely have to leave your house. U.S. Postal Service letter carriers will collect school supplies left at residential mail boxes on August 20. Supplies donated in your county will stay in your county and help local children succeed in school. Participating counties are: Mecklenburg, Anson, Cabarrus, Cleveland, Gaston, Iredell, Lancaster, Lincoln, Richmond, and Rowan. Click here for a full list of participating zip codes, www.wsoctv.com/school-tools/index.html.

Back-to-School Festival at Druid Hills Academy
Now expanded from a K-5 to a K-8 school, Druid Hills hosts this annual event Saturday to welcome students back by providing a fun-filled day of games, prizes, food, and more. It will also unite the school's community partners and allow them to display the many resources they provide for local families. Several community organizations, faith-based groups, and local businesses are participating, including: Altrusa International of Charlotte (primary sponsor), the Johnston YMCA, Carolinas Medical Center, Domino's Pizza, Rita's Italian Ice, Power 98 FM, Charlotte Children's Choir, Communities In Schools, A Child's Place, Smart Start, Target, CMPD, and more. If you have any questions, contact Joseph Allen, CIS site coordinator at Druid Hills Academy, 980-343-5515, joseph1.allen@cms.k12.nc.us. 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Free. Druid Hills Academy, 2801 Lucena St., www.cischarlotte.org.

Family Options Fair
This event provides a fun family atmosphere where the community can learn about organizations that are available to provide mentoring, tutoring, after-school programs, life skills, and leadership development for the youth in the Charlotte area. Participating organizations include: the City of Charlotte, Urban League, YMCA, CMPD, Girl Talk Foundation, and more. There will be free pizza from Mr. Jim’s Pizza and other refreshments. And No Grease Barber Shop will be giving out vouchers for free haircuts. You’ll also have the opportunity to meet local elected and public officials. 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Free. Stratford Richardson YMCA, 1946 West Blvd., www.facebook.com/centercityymcas.


Monday, August 22

Cuttin' Class - Community Hair Cutting and School Supply Day Presented by The IT Factor Media Group, LLC and No Grease Barber Shop, I've seen this annual event do great things for the community for about three years now. On Monday, they're giving back to the children in the community by providing free haircuts, school supplies, and 1,000 book bags to school-age children in the Charlotte-Mecklenburg area. Plus, Charlotte Bobcats forward Tyrus Thomas and New Jersey Nets shooting guard Anthony Morrow will be on-site during the event to sign autographs and take pictures with the children. Complimentary refreshments will be served. For more details, contact Felisha Fletcher, The IT Factor Media Group, 919-247-5973, ff@theitfactormedia.com. 1-7 p.m. Free; RSVP requested for large organizations. No Grease Barber Shop, 1531 Central Ave. www.theitfactormedia.com, www.nogrease.com.

Charlotte Contributes: Project Classroom Come out Monday, have a drink, mix and mingle, and don't forget to bring some school supplies. This charity event for Classroom Central is asking for pencils, pens, one-subject notebooks, dry-erase markers, glue sticks, construction paper, index cards, colored pencils, magic markers, etc. Bring any of the following needed supplies and Charlotte Contributes will buy you a draft beer. Email japrilsmith@gmail.com if you have any questions. 6 p.m. Free. Top Shelf Rooftop Bar at Whiskey Warehouse, 1221 The Plaza, www.classroomcentral.org, www.whiskeycharlotte.com.

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Presenters Announced for TEDxCharlotte 2011

Details went out this week about the more than one dozen speakers who will present at TEDxCharlotte 2011, which takes place October 15 at Queens University of Charlotte. With the conference themed “Risk-takers and Dream-makers,” the diverse lineup of presenters ranges from space to installation art, from 365 days of intimacy to label-maker. They include:

• Dr. Mark Moore, NASA Scientist
• Susan Page and Juan Logan, Artists
• Charla Muller, Author of 365 Nights
• Loan Tran, Human Rights Advocate/Student
• James Adams, Community Leader and Human Rights Activist
• Scott Swimmer, Founder, DRUMSTRONG
• Max Wallace, Hackerspace Charlotte
• Dolph Ramseur, Founder, Ramseur Records
• Rebekah Ferguson, Documentary Filmmaker
• Clay Presley, CEO Carolina Pad/Humanitarian
• Kirsten Hemmy, Poet/Educator
• JD Lewis, Jackson Lewis, and Buck Lewis, Founders, Twelve in Twelve
• David Johnson, Photographer/Founder, Silent Images
• Manny Ohonme, Sports Hero/Founder, Samaritans Feet

Visit www.tedxcharlotte.com/speakers to read each presenter's bio.

An open house held in June at Dolce Vita brought out dozens of locals interested in TEDx.
Photo by Deborah Triplett.

You have a week left to apply to attend TEDxCharlotte. The application deadline was extended to August 25 so that prospective attendees would know who the scheduled speakers are. Confirmed applicants will be notified the first week of September. Visit www.tedxcharlotte.com/attend to apply.

Also, if you'd like to get more familiar with this second-year conference, watch all of the TEDxCharlotte 2010 speakers and performances online at www.youtube.com/TEDxCharlotte.

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