Author: Jheri Hardaway

Jheri Hardaway is a staff writer for The Carolinian whose reporting explores the intersection of activism, politics, and community life across North Carolina. Drawing on her own experience and history in political organizing and civic engagement, Hardaway focuses on political coverage that highlights grassroots movements, public policy, and the voices of communities often overlooked in traditional media. Through thoughtful storytelling and analysis, she brings attention to the people and issues shaping the region’s political and social landscape.

‘Educate, Engage, Empower’: Johnston County NAACP Convenes Nonpartisan Candidate Forum in Smithfield

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By Jheri Hardaway Staff Writer Smithfield, NC - As the countdown to the general election narrows to days, community members packed the Wood Building at Johnston Community College on Friday evening for a nonpartisan candidate forum organized by the Johnston County Branch of the NAACP. Convening under the banner of "Educate, Engage, Empower," the October 9th gathering brought together candidates across federal, state, and county races from the U.S. Senate
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Old Hillside Bourbon Company Honors America’s First Black Generals

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By Jheri Hardaway Staff Writer Celebrity culture has taken our world by storm and distracted local communities from the amazing people and things happening inside of our respective communities. The leaders, innovators, and tastemakers among us deserve way more celebration than untouchable folks who frame careers around selling concert and movie tickets and merchandise to people they do not respect or value past the purchase. Let's take a moment to
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The Evolution Of Education In The Social Media Era

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By Jheri Hardaway Staff Writer The North Carolina Department of Justice reported last week that Meta, which owns Instagram and Facebook, will pay up to $645 million, with a guaranteed minimum of $451 million, to North Carolina and make major child safety upgrades to its apps in a landmark settlement with Attorney General Jeff Jackson and 51 bipartisan attorneys general. Meta will pay up to $17.1 billion to the states
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Rising Underemployment Remains Unreported

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By Jheri Hardaway Staff Writer The North Carolina Department of Commerce released August County and Area Unemployment figures on September 30th. We learned that unemployment rates (not seasonally adjusted) decreased in 91 counties in August 2026 and remained unchanged in nine. Edgecombe County had the highest unemployment rate at 5.4 percent while Currituck County had the lowest at 2.7 percent. Twelve of the state's metro areas experienced rate decreases, and
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The Ballot Box Revolt: Why Our Elders Are Saying “No” to School Bonds in the Era of Vouchers

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[caption id="attachment_20354" align="alignnone" width="1760"] Ely Portillo/Ann Doss Helms / WFAE[/caption] By Jheri Hardaway Staff Writer As a mobile notary public, my seal often grants me an intimate window into our community's quietest moments. Recently, as mail-in absentee ballots began arriving at kitchen tables across our state, I sat with several elderly neighbors and seniors. Several of these Wake County-based voters experienced the challenges of school integration, affirmative action, and made
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Reclaiming Self-Love in a Culture of Artificial Perfection

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By Jheri Hardaway Staff Writer Our world is entangled in conflict. Across the globe, geopolitical warfare claims lives and destabilizes regions. Closer to home, a tech battle for our attention wages constantly in the palms of our hands. Algorithms are engineered to capture our attention, commodify our time, and distract us from our presence. Yet perhaps the quietest, most destructive conflict is taking place within the human spirit: the internal
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North Carolina NAACP 83rd Annual State Convention

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By Jheri Hardaway Staff Writer High Point, NC - Delegates, youth organizers, veterans, and civic leaders from across the state assembled at Congdon Yards on September 25-26, 2026, for the 83rd Annual State Convention of the North Carolina State Conference of the NAACP. Convening under the theme "We the People," the gathering confronted systemic racial disparities, the protection of voting rights, healthcare inequities, and the deliberate transfer of political and
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The Historic Perry’s School Receives Major Grant Funding From Reynolds

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By Jheri Hardaway Staff Writer Louisburg, NC - The historic Perry's School educational complex in rural Franklin County is still moving forward. Standing as a monument to African American resilience, faith, and community determination, this sprawling site is a profound piece of North Carolina history. The Perry's School Alumni Association is a recent grant partner of the Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation. The organization was selected as one of 34 community
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America 250: Should We Update the Constitution? Thomas Jefferson Said Yes

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By Jheri Hardaway Staff Writer As we approach the tail end of our America 250 celebrations, we have a ripe opportunity to explore our founding documents and ideals. Thomas Jefferson, a man of many perspectives, shared one in particular that has been glossed over yet remains relevant now more than ever. Jefferson was a staunch proponent of the idea that constitutions should not be treated as permanent, untouchable scripture. Our
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North Carolina Business Continuity & Employee Ownership Conference

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By Jheri Hardaway Staff Writer Raleigh, NC - Across North Carolina, a quiet demographic shift is heading toward Main Street. Dubbed the "Silver Tsunami," more than 82,000 business owners in the state are age 55 or older, facing an inevitable crossroads: how to exit their life's work without shuttering storefronts or displacing the workforces that built them. At the recent North Carolina Business Continuity and Employee Ownership Conference, regional business
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