U.S. representative to keynote annual MLK celebration

January 3, 2017
Categories: General News Tags: Student Affairs, Student Life

U.S. Rep. Alma Adams (NC-12) will present “Revolutionizing the Dream,” celebrating the life, work and legacy of Martin Luther King Jr., at 3:30 p.m., Tuesday, Jan. 17, in the Cone University Center, McKnight Hall. This event is free and open to the public.

“We are excited to have Congresswoman Adams address our campus community for this year’s MLK celebration,” said Kim Turner, director of the UNC Charlotte Multicultural Resource Center. “She has dedicated her life to public service, helping shape local communities as well as influencing policy on the national level.”

Adams’ long and distinguished career in public service began at an early age. She graduated from North Carolina A&T State University in 1968 and received her master’s degree in art education in 1972. She went on to earn a Ph.D. in art education and multicultural education from Ohio State University in 1981.

For 40 years, Adams taught art history at Bennett College in Greensboro. Her political career began in the 1980s when she became the first African American woman elected to the Greensboro City School Board. She went on to serve nine years on the Greensboro City Council, working to create safe and affordable housing and to revitalize neighborhoods.

In 1994, Adams was appointed to represent the North Carolina House District 26. During her 10-term tenure, she rose to become the chair of the North Carolina Legislative Black Caucus and was instrumental in passing legislation that improved the climate for quality affordable health care in the state.

Adams was elected to represent North Carolina’s 12th Congressional District in 2014. She sits on the Committee on Education and the Workforce, the Agriculture Committee, the Small Business Committee and the Joint Economic Committee. She is the ranking member of the Small Business Subcommittee on Oversight. Founder of the first-ever Congressional Bipartisan HBCU Caucus, Adams is part of the Women’s Caucus, Congressional Progressive Caucus, Diabetes Caucus, Congressional Black Caucus, Historic Preservation Caucus, AIDS/HIV Caucus, Hunger Caucus, Medicaid Expansion Caucus, and the Art Caucus.

For more information about UNC Charlotte’s MLK celebration, contact the MRC.