Quarterly Community Engagement Newsletter - November 2020
Welcome to the first edition of the Housing & Neighborhood Services Community Engagement newsletter! You are receiving this because you have previously expressed interest in Community Engagement's volunteer-driven programs including the Mayor's Mentoring Alliance, Keep Charlotte Beautiful, and Neighborhood Matching Grants. This newsletter will provide information on program spotlights, upcoming events and other important information about these programs.
Featured Program: Keep Charlotte Beautiful $5,000 Beautification Grant
The pre-application period is still open for the Keep Charlotte Beautiful $5,000 Beautification Grant! This competitive grant offers a chance to improve your own community and supports the innovative and creative projects of neighborhoods, merchant organizations, non-profits, and individuals within the city limits. Learn more about the criteria and considerations here.
Previous Grant Recipient: Galilee Ministries of East Charlotte
The Galilee Center serves as a meeting place for refugees, immigrants, and other residents of the city. The Ministry hosts a variety of non-profits who provide vital services to our community, including English classes, citizenship classes, life skills classes, after-school programs, a food pantry, cross-cultural counseling services, and provide fresh vegetables from their community garden.
They used the majority of the Beautification Grant to install a new chain link fence to safely secure the perimeter of the community garden. They also installed several picnic tables and trash receptacles in the area they distribute prepared meals to community members in need.
Ready to get started on a project in your community? Submit a Letter of Intent (LOI) by Wednesday, November 18 via email to Keep Charlotte Beautiful, or call 704-432-4802 for questions and alternative submittal options.
Service Area Spotlight: Northwest Charlotte
Charlotte's Northwest Service Area (NWSA) is bound by Beatties Ford Road, Morehead Street, Wilkinson Boulevard, Ashley Road and I-85 and has a unique blend of historic landmarks, commercial nodes, residential wedges, schools, universities, parks and a greenway system.
This area makes up parts of Council Districts 1, 2, 3, and 4. There are nearly 156,000 residents within 182 established neighborhoods that call this area of Charlotte their home. The NWSA Team works to innovate and renew the already vibrant communities that make the Northwest so special.
Up & Coming: The Five Points Public Plaza
As part of the West Trade/Rozzelles Ferry Community Neighborhood Investment Plan (CNIP), The Plaza is the first new city-owned public space in over 25 years. This area will serve as hub for community life, a place where residents will have access to amenities such as a splash pad, amphitheater, public art, food trucks, concerts, and wifi. More importantly, it will be a signature place where residents, working in partnership with the City, will determine what kind of public programming would best reflect the area’s culture, identity and diverse history.
Drafted Model of Front Trade Street Plaza
On October 29, over 50 community members and stakeholders came together to discuss partnering in the programming and management of the space based on a community-requested grassroots model of management. This will be one of many engaging conversations set to take place before its opening next summer. Please contact Erin Chantry if you're interested in the programming of The Plaza.
Contact Randy Harris, Northwest Community Engagement Manager or visit the Comprehensive Neighborhood Improvement Program website to learn more about other Northwest CNIP programs.
Award Nominations Open: Mayor's Mentoring Alliance
The 2021 Mayor’s Mentoring Alliance (MMA) Awards nominations are now open. These awards are given to deserving individuals or organizations that have made a difference in the lives of Charlotte children and youth through commitment to mentoring. Categories for this year’s nominees include Mentor of the Year, Mentee of the Year, Peer Mentor of the Year, Best Collaboration in Mentoring, Grassroots Mentoring Organization of the Year, First Responder Mentor of the Year, and Educator Mentor of the Year.
The MMA educates mentoring organizations about best practices and mentoring standards through trainings and workshops, ignites impactful and enduring mentor-mentee relationships, and connects Charlotte's mentoring community. Mentors not only provide their mentee with someone who cares about them, but they also help them improve academic and social skills, set career goals, improve self-esteem, stay in school, deal with day-to-day challenges and more. Mentoring is linked to enhanced academic, social and economic prospects for youth. Each January, the MMA participates in National Mentoring Month to showcase the importance of mentoring in Charlotte. The MMA Awards showcase and honor mentoring excellence in our community. Nominations for the 2021 MMA Awards will close at 11:59 p.m. on Monday, November 30, 2020. Due to COVID-19, the 2021 MMA Awards will be hosted virtually in January.
Know a mentor who deserves to be nominated? Click here for the nomination form.
Charlotte Neighborhoods Awarded $138,825 This Fall!
Charlotte’s Neighborhood Matching Grants (NMG) program awards up to $25,000 to eligible neighborhood-based organizations to encourage relationship building through support of community enhancement projects including art, public safety, beautification, signage, festivals, sustainability, community gardens, recreational features and more. Funds granted are matched with neighborhood commitment of volunteer hours, or a combination of volunteer hours, cash and in-kind contributions. Applications are accepted March 1, June 1 and September 1, annually. Over 97% of requests are funded and your neighborhood could be next.
Congratulations to our recent grantees: Amber Leigh Homeowners Association, Avalon at Mallard Creek Townhomes, Brookstone Homeowners Association, Cambridge HOA, Hamilton Green Home Owners Association, Heather Glen Neighborhood Association, Highland Creek HOA, Huntington Ridge HOA, Mallard Trace HOA, Monroe Road Advocates (MoRA), Pine Valley HOA, Stonington Townhomes, The Reserve at Back Creek HOA and The Timberlands. The Timberlands. Our neighborhoods are the best part of Charlotte!
Learn more about the Neighborhood Matching Grants program.
Neighborhood Trainings
If your HOA or neighborhood association is interested in participating in our next Neighborhood Board Retreat, please visit here and complete the interest form.
Visit our Training on Demand Page to access workshops such as HOA Basics, Digital Communications for Neighborhood Groups or even take a tour of the Charlotte Community Toolbank.
Keep Charlotte Beautiful: America Recycles Day
In honor of this year’s America Recycles Day, Keep Charlotte Beautiful (KCB) is hosting a live webinar and public Q+A on November 16 with speakers representing Goodwill Industries of Southern Piedmont, Crown Town Compost, Envision Charlotte, and both Mecklenburg County and Charlotte SWS. They will be discussing the impact of wishful recycling and how to curb it in our local communities.
This webinar will take place via Zoom. All registrants will receive login information via email prior to the event. You can register here. To get involved with other ARD events happening across Mecklenburg County throughout the week, click here.
Want to stay up to date with Keep Charlotte Beautiful? KCB is on Instagram & Facebook!
