“Voter Ed” and George Soros’ hard left come to NCCU

Let’s remember in early October NCCU balked at a proposal to establish a constitutional law center at the NCCU law school headed by former state Supreme Court Justice Bob Orr when faculty and alumni expressed concern that almost $600,000 in startup funds would come conservative businessman Art Pope.

Aren’t you glad to know that NCCU and ICESC are doing a good job of being evenhanded and keeping politics off campus?

On Wednesday the Institute for Civic Engagement and Social Change (ICESC) at North Carolina Central University announced it is hosting a conference this weekend to create “ a statewide network of students dedicated to voter empowerment in the 2012 election and beyond”.

According to a news release describing the event:

The Student Engagement and Empowerment Network, made up students from 10 historically black colleges and universities in North Carolina will hold its inaugural conference November 10-12 at NCCU. The mission is to allow students to share ideas, communication and training on how to mobilize young voters. Community organizing will center on the individual campuses, but it will also spread to adjacent communities with a special focus on black and Latino youth who are not in college.

Those who attend will be able to hear William Barber give the talk “Students Make the Difference: 2012 Election and Beyond.”  In addition to break out sessions there will be panel discussion on Hip Hop Politics: Mobilizing and Raising Consciousness.  Panelists include Dr. Maya Rockeymoore of Global Policy Solutions and Dr. Pierce Freelon.

So do you think participants will hear a balanced presentation on voter education and community engagement?

ICESC was founded in April 2006 to “promote civic engagement on campus, the surrounding community, and the state in order to engender social change.  Therefore, the Institute seeks to increase the community’s level and quality of participation in civic affairs and, thus, its efficacy in addressing racial, gender, economic, and other social injustices.”

The ICESC web site says to accomplish its goals the organization will be involved in research, action, policy analysis and community participation. Curiously, the only reports of ICESC’s work listed on the web site are from 2009 and 2008.

ICESC is headed by Professor Jarvis Hall. According to Professor Hill’s bio, he serves on the boards of the North Carolina Center for Voter Education, the North Carolina American Civil Liberties Union, and the Carolina Justice Policy Center. Hill also “works with several political and policy organizations on progressive policy issues.”

Those who attend the conference will hear from William Barber and Dr. Maya Rockeymoore. Who is Maya Rockeymoore? She is President and CEO of Global Policy Solutions of Washington DC.  GPS is global consulting firm specializing in policy, health, education and income security. According to the GPS web site, the firm also specializes “in linking these issues to progressive advocacy strategies.” Prior to her position with GPS served with the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation and as Chief of Staff to Congressman Charles Rangel (D-NY).

A Durham Herald Sun story  reported earlier this week that the conference was being funded by a $75,000 grant from Open Society Institute.  The Open Society Institute – now known as the Open Society Foundation is the foundation started in 1993 by liberal billionaire international financier, George Soros. (For more information on OSI and its work see Discoverthenetworks.org )

OSI has over $1 billion in assets. OSI supports a wide range of leftist organizations including: Tides Foundation, National Organization for Women, Feminist Majority, American Civil Liberties Union, People for the American Way, and NARAL Pro Choice American, Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now (ACORN) and MoveOn.org.

It’s good to know NCCU won’t accept Art Pope’s money, but they are more than happy to take it from George Soros.