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.

The Unaffiliated Majority: North Carolina’s Independent Voters Rewrite the Political Playbook

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By Jheri Hardaway Staff Writer For decades, North Carolina's political story was written in shades of deep red and classic blue. A traditional battleground defined by the push and pull between registered Democrats and Republicans. Today, the state's political map is being quietly reconfigured by a different group altogether: the unaffiliated voter. This voter is an unpredictable, often hard-to-read wild card. Representing nearly 40% of the state's total electorate, unaffiliated
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TBJ Corridors of Opportunity: How Harnett and Lee Counties Are Navigating Tech, Trade, and Transformation

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By Jheri Hardaway Staff Writer SANFORD, NC - Business leaders, elected officials, and regional developers gathered last Thursday for the Triangle Business Journal's "Corridors of Opportunity" panel, focusing on the rapid transformation taking place in the Greater Triangle's southern frontier: Lee and Harnett Counties. Once defined primarily by manufacturing and agriculture, the region is rapidly transitioning into a high-tech and biomanufacturing hub. However, as escalating land prices and suburban spillover
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COMTO North Carolina 2026 Welcomes Its New Board

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By Jheri Hardaway Staff Writer Raleigh, NC - Transportation leaders, public agency officials, private industry partners, and emerging professionals gathered on Hillsborough Street last Thursday, July 23, for the Conference of Minority Transportation Officials (COMTO) North Carolina 2026 Summer Social. The evening combined networking, community investment, and a pivotal milestone for the chapter's leadership: the official swearing-in of the incoming Executive Board of Directors. The evening opened with recognition for
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Harnett Co. NAACP 5473B Is Active 

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[caption id="attachment_18939" align="alignnone" width="1585"] Screenshot[/caption] By Jheri Hardaway Staff Writer Lillington, NC - Under the leadership of President Benita Harrington, the Harnett County NAACP 5473B has maintained a consistent and influential presence in local governance, with representatives attending meetings ranging from the Board of Elections to the County Commission. The branch's impact is evidenced by its high engagement levels, including a recent sold-out Martin Luther King Jr. Day breakfast featuring
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Campbell Faces Community Pushback Over River Park Clear-Cutting Plan

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By Jheri Hardaway Staff Writer Buies Creek, NC - On a webpage dedicated to ending Campbell University's River Park Clear-Cutting Plan, a citizen shared the following: "I remember walking through the woodlands of Campbell University's River Park, a place that seemed to hold history under its canopy. Those 380 acres along the Cape Fear River were where I, along with countless others, learned to read a landscape, connect with nature,
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“Africa to Carolina” Public Art Installation Is Unveiled at Brunswick Town

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By Jheri Hardaway Staff Writer Winnabow, NC - Amidst the heavy, sun-drenched air of the lower Cape Fear, history and art converged at the Brunswick Town Fort Anderson State Historic Site on Thursday, July 16. Dozens of community members, historians, and state officials gathered for the historic unveiling of the "Africa to Carolina" public art installation. Commissioned by the North Carolina African American Heritage Commission (NCAAHC) and funded through the
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Fayetteville Newsmakers Event Highlights War Innovation 

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By Jheri Hardaway Staff Writer Fayetteville, NC - On Wednesday, July 15, Fayetteville State University's Rudolph Jones Student Center became the epicenter for critical regional discourse as it hosted the inaugural "Fayetteville Newsmakers" civic dialogue. Co-organized by The Assembly Network and the News Foundation of Greater Fayetteville, the editorially led forum brought together a formidable panel of state officials, local policymakers, and entrepreneurial leaders-including Fayetteville Mayor Mitch Colvin, Cumberland County
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The Hidden Tariff Racism: Racial Inequity Stifles American Economy

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By Jheri Hardaway Staff Writer When economists discuss the "bottom line" of American industry, the conversation often centers on interest rates, supply chains, and consumer spending. Yet, a growing body of research from the Federal Reserve, Citigroup, and the Brookings Institution points to a much older, more corrosive factor: the "hidden tariff" of systemic racism. The roots of this economic drag are not modern; they are foundational. Recently uncovered correspondence
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Self-Titled “Urban Explorers” Target Saint Augustine University’s Campus

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By Jheri Hardaway Staff Writer Raleigh, NC - The Carolinian received an anonymous tip that "Urban Explorers" are breaching security to trespass on Saint Augustine's University, which is already grappling with a fragile financial recovery and a complex federal bankruptcy process. Saint Augustine's University (SAU) is now facing a new threat after dark. Self-styled "urban explorers" and internet video creators are infiltrating the historic campus, documenting their trespassing on social
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Part 2: Gwendolyn White, A House Not A Home 

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By Jheri Hardaway Staff Writer Raleigh, NC - When we first brought you the story of Gwendolyn White, our community was forced to confront a deeply uncomfortable reality: a citizen can call for help, waving a flag of distress, only to find herself met with absolute institutional silence and corruption. When a citizen is trapped in a nightmare, the standard advice is always the same: call the police. Trust the
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