The North Carolina Community Development Initiative

Abdul Sm Rasheed
Chief Executive Officer

When the General Assembly adjourned last summer, a number of high-profile pieces of legislation had been adopted. But few have the potential to change our state’s political landscape more than the new statute governing lobbying and ethics.

Among other things, these new laws prohibit lobbyists from making financial gifts directly to lawmakers and candidates. It also limits greatly what sorts of gifts lobbyists can offer. From the perspective of the legislators, they now are under the strictest guidelines in our state’s history for following rules requiring ethical behavior. The law sheds new light on what lawmakers can receive, including small gifts and meals that until now have been a routine part of life in the Capital City during a legislative session.

I mention all this for a few reasons: First, this is important information that all citizens should be aware of. In addition, more and more of us in the CDC community are spending time at the Legislature, acting as lobbyists. Now listen up: If you are engaging in any activities aimed at influencing the decisions of a lawmaker — on budget issues or any others — as part of a job for which you receive financial compensation, you are lobbying. As such, you must register as a lobbyist with the Secretary of State’s office, something you can do easily by downloading the forms online. (Visit www.sosnc.com for more information.)

As a lobbyist, you must restrict your giving and care-fully monitor your activities in Raleigh as never before.

Here at the Initiative, we’re taking these sweeping changes very seriously. I think you should too. It’s easy to register as a lobbyist. And once you understand the law, it should be easy to follow the new rules. Let’s all do what we can to protect the reputation and integrity of the CDC community. This is a good place to start.

Health Clinic Opens in Washington, NC
offering first-rate health care to all

With support from the Initiative, the Metropolitan Housing and Community Development Corporation has opened a much-needed health clinic in the Beaufort County town of Washington.

During a May ceremony including local elected officials, volunteers and representatives from the CDC community, the Agape Community Health Clinic opened in 15,000 square feet of space that once was as a grocery store and bowling alley.

Now the space will serve as a health clinic designed to treat low-income residents with early stages of illness, before their conditions worsen to the point that they need hospital treatment. The Rev. David L. Moore says the center should take pressure off of Beaufort

County Hospital, which has struggled to serve the low-income population while also staying in the black.

“It’s a win-win situation,” said Moore. “Metropolitan is delighted to be able to make a difference for the people of Washington. We owe gratitude to the Initiative for seeing the merits of our plans. This represents probably the closest thing to universal health-care the United States. It’s a wonderful partnership.”

Ebonie Alexander, president of the Initiative, said the Metropolitan project illustrates what is possible in communities like Washington.

“This is what it’s all about,” she said. “When our partners like Metropolitan flourish, we flourish. This is what makes it all worthwhile.”

The Agape Community Health Clinic, which opened its doors in
May of 2006, has become a beacon of hope in Washington, NC.