Last week, I hosted partner organizations in the fight against hunger here in Charlotte for my quarterly Adams Hunger Initiative to celebrate the opening of the new Nourish Up Hunger Hub in West Charlotte. Nourish Up, formerly known as Loaves and Fishes/Friendship Trays, works to better address all levels of food insecurity in Charlotte, Mecklenburg County, and throughout the state.  

Nourish Up's Hunger Hub received $850,000 in community project funding that Congressman Jeff Jackson and I were able to secure. This money has been used to expand the organizations capacity to distribute fresh food and meals and increase its physical footprint to 90,000 square feet. This new facility boasts almost ten times more cold storage that the organization’s prior location, a teaching kitchen to provide demonstrations on how to prepare donated food, and the future site of an in-house commercial kitchen to enhance the Meals on Wheels program.  

Community Project Funding is one way I’ve been able to ensure that my work is worthwhile, and so I’m grateful that Jeff and I could team up once again to support this project and help to close the meal gap. No one — no child, no family — should go to bed hungry.

While applications will not officially open until September, please fill out this form to ensure that you receive the application information! 

Every year, a cohort of activists ages 20-45 comes together to form the RESULTS Fellowship. These emerging leaders spend 11 months growing their advocacy skills to end poverty and oppression. Fellows meet with lawmakers, work with the media, and engage with their communities to affect change. Advocates with lived experience of poverty are especially encouraged to apply. 

I am so pleased to announce that Charlotte has been chosen as one of six locations for the establishment of a new U.S. passport agency.

The 2024 NDAA authorization, which I proudly voted for, tasked the Bureau of Consular Affairs with providing improved in-person and emergency passport services to residents living in a significant population center more than a five-hour drive from a currently established passport agency. After careful study and consideration, Charlotte along with Cincinnati, Kansas City (Missouri), Salt Lake City, Orlando, and San Antonio has been determined to satisfy the NDAA requirements.

This office will give residents in our community better access to rapid passport services! 

Jordynn Holley is our communications intern in the Charlotte District Office!

She is a driven individual with an impressive array of accomplishments and experiences. She hails from Charlotte, NC, and is a trailblazer as a first-generation college student. In 2024, she graduated from North Carolina A&T State University with a major in Journalism & Mass Communications and concentration in Mass Media Productions.

Throughout her college career, Jordynn excelled academically, earning spots on both the Dean’s List and Chancellor’s List. Her dedication to her studies was recognized with several scholarships, including the TRIO Summer Bridge Program Scholarship, two Thurgood Marshall College Scholarships, and an NBC Universal Scholarship. Notably, she was also selected for the Ronald E. McNair Post Baccalaureate Achievement Program, highlighting her commitment to scholarly research and achievement.

Beyond academics, Jordynn was actively involved in campus life. She contributed her talents and leadership to various organizations such as the National Council of Negro Women, the National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ), the National Society of Leadership and Success, the NAACP, Aggie Filmmakers, the JOMC Student Advisory Council, and We Evolve. These experiences not only enriched her skills but also underscored her dedication to community engagement and leadership development.

In the summer of 2023, Jordynn served as a media intern for Congresswoman Alma S. Adams, where she showcased her professionalism and videography skills by producing high-quality content for the 12th District. Her contributions were noted for their impact and excellence.

Post-graduation, Jordynn accepted a position as a press intern for the 12th District, continuing her work in media and communications. Her responsibilities include creating digital content, editing video clips, managing communications databases, providing administrative support, and contributing to various projects within the communications team. Her attention to detail and previous professional experience makes her an asset in her role.

Looking ahead, Jordynn aims to pursue a career in media production and videography with a specific aspiration to become a film and television producer in the entertainment industry. Her journey so far reflects her passion for storytelling, media creation, and community service, setting a strong foundation for her future endeavors in the field.

Two years ago this week, the Republican-packed Supreme Court decided to strip American Citizens of one of their most important civil rights: bodily autonomy.

For nearly a half century, women in America maintained the right to terminate a pregnancy when they felt that it was what was best for them, their families, and their health. My granddaughter, who just graduated high school, now has less rights— less bodily autonomy— than her mother did when she was the same age.

Not only did this decision strip women of their fundamental right to bodily autonomy, it has exacerbated a Maternal Health Crisis that disproportionately impacts women of color. Yet, my colleagues on the other side of the aisle want to pass a federal ban on Abortion.

If there is one thing I know for sure about the Women of America, it is that we are not going to sit back in silence and we are going to fight tooth and nail to make Roe v. Wade the law of the land again.

Today, I am just as committed to protecting abortion rights as I was when I brought that coat hanger to the floor of the North Carolina House 11 years ago, and I will not let up!

That's where I will lay my hat this week. 

God Bless,