Dr. Carla L. James Lecture Series
About this series:
The Dr. Carla L. James Lecture Series is an annual forum dedicated to addressing critical social issues. Named in honor of Dr. Carla L. James, this series recognizes her longstanding commitment to the Roanoke Higher Education Center (RHEC) and her dedication to expanding access to education and community resources.
Throughout her tenure, Dr. James has played a pivotal role in strengthening RHEC’s mission, ensuring that individuals from all backgrounds have opportunities to learn, grow, and succeed. This lecture series seeks to continue her legacy by fostering thoughtful discussions, inspiring action, and strengthening community partnerships.
Upcoming sessions:
A Future for Every Child — Addressing the Foster Care Crisis
Date/Time: May 13, 2025 | 12:00 p.m. – 1:30 p.m.
Location: Roanoke Higher Education Center, Room 409
Facilitator: Renee Brown, LPC, CSAC, President and CEO of DePaul Community Resources
Focus: Discussing the current state of foster care, identifying barriers to stable placements, and exploring collaborative approaches to support foster families and youth aging out of the system.
Nourishing Our Community — Addressing Food Insecurity
Date/Time: September 2, 2025 | 12:00 p.m. – 1:30 p.m.
Location: Roanoke Higher Education Center, Room 409
Facilitator: Pam Irvine, President & CEO of Feeding Southwest Virginia
Focus: Examining the root causes of food insecurity, identifying barriers to food access, and discussing collaborative strategies to improve nutrition, food distribution, and community-based solutions.
Registration forthcoming.
Aging with Dignity — Building Support Systems for the Elderly
Date/Time: December 2, 2025 | 12:00 p.m. – 1:30 p.m.
Location: Roanoke Higher Education Center, Room 409
Facilitator: Eric Beasley, Senior Regional Director of Business Development at InnovAge PACE
Focus: Understanding the growing needs of the elderly population, identifying gaps in healthcare and social services, and exploring integrated care models and community-based support systems.
Registration forthcoming.