On Thursday, February 13^th from noon to 1:30pm, the Lake Norman Chamber’s Diversity Council will present a program to celebrate the historic contributions of our African American citizens when it host an insightful discussion of “Leadership Development for Black and Indigenous People of Color.” The program, sponsored by the Town of Davidson, will be held at The Ada Jenkins Center. The speaker is Dan Houston, past chair of the Diversity Council, and President & CEO of the 1750 Group.

The site of the” Lunch and Learn” is extremely significant. In the 1930’s, fire destroyed a small wooden schoolhouse in the Mock Circle area of Davidson. Despite the Great Depression and limited funding from the Mecklenburg County Board of Education, local schoolteacher Ada Jenkins rallied the community to raise enough funding to build the Davidson Colored School. It was renamed the Ada Jenkins School after Mrs. Jenkins’ death in 1955.

The program will be held in the Dining Hall located in the Ada Jenkins Center at 212 Gamble Street in Davidson and anyone interested in attending, must RSVP to the Lake Norman Chamber at 704-892-1922. It s limited to the first 35 people who register online at: February Lunch and Learn.

Cherese Spand, the 2025 Chair of the Chamber’s Diversity program, is excited about this month’s program the Diversity Council is hosting. Spand shares, “The event, in partnership with the Town of Davidson, Ada Jenkins, Legacy on the West Side, and the Chamber will explore leadership development, professional growth, and community impact. Dan Houston is an international diversity and leadership coach and we are thrilled to have him share with our group as we celebrate the contributions of our black community.”

About the Lake Norman Diversity Council

Founded in 2008, the Lake Norman Diversity Council empowers businesses and individuals from diverse backgrounds through community engagement, collaboration, and meaningful discussions that address regional challenges.