About CAS

The Capital Area Section (CAS) of the National Council of Negro Women, Incorporated, was founded in February 1997 by Mrs. Christine B. Jones and Mrs. Frances B. Grant. A candlelight charter ceremony was held on   April 24, 1999, at Shaw University in Raleigh, North Carolina with 68 members.​ The keynote speaker was Dr. Manderline Scales, N. C. Convener. Ms. Christine B. Jones served as president until 2002.

 

Throughout the years, the CAS has been blessed with many talented, dedicated, and committed members who strongly embrace the needs of the community and work to advance the growth of African American women. This has been accomplished through committees and programs which include:

• The Women’s Center of Wake County - sponsoring annual luncheons, clothes drives, adopting single families, and supporting them with monetary gifts and volunteer services.

• The AME Men’s Shelter - providing lunches and household items, and donating sweaters at Christmas.

• Loaves and Fishes (an afterschool program) - volunteering, and providing school supplies and meals.

• African American Cultural Complex - assisting with its functions and events.

• The MATCH Program (Mothers and Their Children) - providing financial support so that children can visit their mothers who are incarcerated, donating books, and volunteering to monitor children’s visits.

• The Family Circle Elder Care, (an adult daycare center), donating gifts and uplifting the elderly’s spirits by devoting time for games and fellowship.

• Raleigh Rescue Mission Daycare - providing support to their daycare and supporting their Hearts for Hope Luncheon.

• Salvation Army’s Mommy and Me - serving meals and providing gifts to families in transition in honor of Mother’s Day.

• Martin Luther King Holiday participating in the annual celebrations.

• Capital Area Section Legislative Affairs - Supporting the Legislative Greek Day activities.

• Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk by Duke Cancer Institute Walk - (fundraiser for research, screening, and education to help reduce breast cancer risk and provide early detection) – Participating as a team; recently exceeded the goal of $1000, (Raised $1410).

• Meals on Wheels - delivering hot, nutritious meals to homebound and disabled neighbors.

• Other Additional programs - Conducting health fairs, initiating and supporting disaster relief projects, promoting and attending black history celebrations, and attending local church services

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The NCNW – CAS continues to participate in many other fundraising projects to successfully enhance operational, cultural, and social programs and activities beneficial to community outreach and mission such as Stay-at-Home Tea, Auto-Bell Car Wash Tickets, and Fashion Shows. On September 16, 1999, the Town of Princeville, NC, the oldest town in the nation to be incorporated by freed slaves in 1865, was devastated by Hurricane Floyd which destroyed almost 700 homes.

 

As part of its Black History Month observance, CAS initiated a fundraiser and on February 18, 2001, presented a relief check for $4,400 to the Princeville Town Manager. The CAS hosts Harambee, its annual February awards luncheon fundraiser event, that honors women in service to the community. Some of the themes for Harambee have been: “The Continuation of the Family Torch through Leadership, Community Outreach Services and Education”, “Change: Through Progress, Education, Communication, and Unity, “Always Remembering Our Heritage”, “NCNWCapital Area Section Honors Christian Couples”, “Honoring Women of Excellence in Community Service”, “Diamonds are Forever: A Legacy that Shines”, “Women on Fire: Celebrating MultiGenerations”, and for 2018, “Hidden Figures: Breaking Barriers”. Some of the speakers for the Harambee events included Tamara Gibbs, Anchor, WTVD ABC News, Tisha Powell, Anchor, WTVD ABC News, Cassandra Deck-Brown, Chief of Raleigh, NC Police Department, Honorable Cheri Beasley, Associate Justice of the NC Supreme Court, Dr. E. B. Palmer, Founder and Curator of the African American Cultural Complex, Raleigh, NC., Monika Johnson-Hostler, Chair, Wake County School Board, Andrea Harris, Senior Fellow, The Policy Center, and for 2018 Harambee – Venessa Harrison, President of AT&T of N.C.

 

In October 2015, CAS partnered with Delta Teachers Efficacy Campaign (DTEC) and the Brilliant and Beautiful Foundation to host a town Hall forum at Athens High School, Raleigh, NC, to help at-risk students. In 2015 and 2016, NCNW-CAS hosted a luncheon for the Bethune/Height Recognition Program. These were highly successful fundraising events to help strengthen and broaden the financial base of the NCNW national office. Capital Area Section NCNW-CAS Co-Founders Christine B. Jones and Frances B. Grant were awarded the Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune Illuminated Scroll, the NCNW Highest Service Award by the national office of National Council of Negro Women at the Bethune Recognition Luncheon in 2016.

 

On April 9, 2017, the CAS held a candlelight Charter Ceremony for the Shaw University Collegiate Section in Shaw’s historic Estey Hall. Twenty students were inducted as charter members and the theme was “Women United: Activate the Legacy”. The welcome was given by the president of the Capital Area Section, Ms. Myra Stewart. Ms. Marilyn Godette, NCNW Member-At-Large, NC Co-Convener, and member of the Cape Fear Area Section, provided remarks for the occasion. Dr. Manderline Scales, State Convener of North Carolina Coalition for NCNW, Inc. gave the Prayer for Unity. The keynote speaker for the ceremony was Ms. Sharon Campbell of the CAS and CEO of Synergy Development & Training Group. The Charter of the Shaw University Section was given by Ms. Blanche Radford Curry, Ph.D. of the Fayetteville Section. Ms. Alexis Lundy was named the president of the Shaw University Collegiate Section.

 

The NCNW-CAS remains true to the legacy and values of NCNW and Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune’s vision by adopting and embracing our motto. In 2017, the CAS hosted the collective meeting of all State Presidents at the State Coalition Meeting at Saint Augustine’s University, Raleigh, NC. The CAS continues to embrace change and is moving into the digital age. During 2016 and 2017, the CAS established a website, a dedicated phone number, an active email address. A Facebook page for CAS has also been launched.

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OUR PLEDGE​

It is our pledge to make a lasting contribution to all that is finest and best in America, to cherish and enrich her heritage of freedom and progress by working for the integration of all her people regardless of race, creed, or national origin, into her spiritual, social, cultural, civic and economic life and thus, aid her to achieve the glorious destiny of a true and unfettered democracy.

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