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👑 The Future Crown — Where Youth Stay Connected
Welcome to The Future Crown, your go-to space to stay tapped in, inspired and ahead of what’s next across Charlotte. Whether you're exploring new opportunities, building your skills, or finding your voice, this is where it all connects.
Built by youth, for youth, The Future Crown is more than just a newsletter. It’s your platform to explore what’s next and make your mark. ✨
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Beyond the Game: Exploring Careers in Sports 🏀
In Partnership with the University of North Carolina at Charlotte (UNC Charlotte)
This month, the Office of Youth Opportunities partnered with UNC Charlotte to give young people an inside look at the wide range of career opportunities available within the sports industry.
Through this career exploration experience, participants discovered that a career in sports can extend far beyond the field or court. Youth explored pathways in areas such as sports management, marketing, communications, event operations, business, media, and other behind-the-scenes roles that help bring the sports industry to life.
The experience encouraged participants to think about how their own interests, skills, and talents could connect to future opportunities in sports while gaining valuable exposure to the variety of professionals who contribute to the industry.
By connecting youth with professionals and real-world career exposure, OYO continues to help young people explore what's possible, expand their career awareness, and begin building pathways toward their future.
A special thank you to UNC Charlotte for partnering with us to provide this career exploration experience for Charlotte youth!
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🗣️Voices of the Crown
Charlotte Youth: We Want to Hear From You!
What would make Charlotte a safer, more welcoming, and more engaging city for young people?
Sugar Creek junior Harmoni Moorer is inviting youth across Charlotte to share their perspectives through a youth-created survey focused on issues and experiences that directly impact young people in our community.
The survey asks young people to share their thoughts on topics including youth safety, Charlotte's youth ordinance, teen activities, and the need for more “third spaces” — safe and welcoming places outside of home and school where teens can gather, connect, participate in activities, and build community.
Responses from the survey will help further inform recommendations Harmoni and her team are developing for City of Charlotte and Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department (CMPD) leaders. Their work focuses on how young people and community leaders can work together to help shape a framework and strategy around youth safety, the youth ordinance, and spaces and activities for teens.
This is an opportunity for young people to do more than hear about decisions affecting them, it's a chance to contribute their own experiences, ideas and perspectives to the conversation.
Youth will also be invited to participate in an upcoming youth-led discussion to continue exploring these and other topics affecting young people across Charlotte.
If you're a young person in Charlotte, take a few minutes to share your perspective. Your experiences and ideas can help inform important conversations about the future of youth safety, spaces, activities, and opportunities in Charlotte.
TAKE THE YOUTH SURVEY
Speak up. Share your perspective. Help shape the conversation.
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OPPORTUNITIES SPOTLIGHT 🌟
Charlotte Country Club Is Hiring!
Charlotte Country Club Is Hiring!
Looking for a part-time job with a flexible schedule? Charlotte Country Club is currently hiring Youth Activities Counselors!
If you enjoy working with children, creating fun and engaging activities, and being part of a team, this could be a great opportunity to gain experience while balancing school and other commitments.
Charlotte Country Club has previously welcomed Mayor’s Youth Employment Program (MYEP) participants into this role, and former MYEP students have continued to thrive as members of the team.
Whether you're looking for your first job or your next opportunity, this is a chance to earn work experience, strengthen your résumé, build professional skills, and continue preparing for your future.
Ready to make your next move?
VIEW POSITION & APPLY
SYNC-UP 4 GOOD Fellowship
Turn Your Ideas Into Impact with SYNC-UP 4 GOOD
Have an idea that could make a difference in your community? Or are you interested in using photography, video, journalism, social media, or design to tell meaningful stories?
The Sion James Foundation, in partnership with the City of Charlotte’s Office of Youth Opportunities (OYO) and My Brother’s Keeper Charlotte-Mecklenburg (MBK), is launching the SYNC-UP 4 GOOD Fellowship, a youth leadership experience designed to give high school students the resources, mentorship, and support to create meaningful change in their communities.
The fellowship is open to students in grades 9–12 attending schools in the Charlotte area throughout Mecklenburg, Union, Gaston, or Cabarrus counties.
💡 Community Fellowship
Have an idea for a social impact project? Community Fellows can receive a $2,000 grant to help bring their idea to life, along with mentorship from community leaders and subject matter experts, leadership development, and ongoing project support.
APPLY FOR THE COMMUNITY FELLOWSHIP
📸 Media Fellowship
Interested in photography, videography, journalism, social media, graphic design, or digital storytelling? Media Fellows will help document the work of Community Fellows while developing professional portfolios, receiving mentorship, and gaining hands-on storytelling experience.
APPLY FOR THE MEDIA FELLOWSHIP
📅 Important Dates
Applications Open: September 8–October 19, 2026
Fellows Announced: Week of November 9, 2026
Kick-Off: Week of January 11, 2027
Whether you have an idea you’re ready to bring to life or a story you’re ready to tell, SYNC-UP 4 GOOD is an opportunity to turn your interests into impact.
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College Corner 🎓
October Is College Application Month!
College application season is here! October marks the start of NC Countdown to College, a statewide initiative designed to help students take important steps toward college, including completing residency requirements, exploring financial aid, and submitting college applications.
One week North Carolina high school seniors will want to mark on their calendars is College Application Week, October 19–25, 2026. During this special week, many participating North Carolina colleges and universities will waive their application fees, which can help students save money when applying to multiple schools. To ensure the fee waiver is applied at participating institutions, students should begin their applications through the CFNC Application Hub.
👑 Future Crown Tips to Get Application-Ready:
🎓 Build your college list. Research schools and programs that match your interests, career goals, and needs.
📝 Start your applications early. Don't wait until College Application Week to begin gathering information. Use September and early October to prepare so you're ready to submit.
✍️ Work on your essays. If your schools require essays or personal statements, give yourself time to write, review, and make revisions.
📨 Ask for recommendations early. Give teachers, counselors, coaches, or mentors plenty of time if you need a recommendation letter.
📅 Know your deadlines. Admission, scholarship, financial aid, housing, and honors program deadlines may all be different.
💰 Look beyond application costs. Research scholarships and financial aid opportunities while you're applying, you don't have to wait until you're accepted.
Ready to get started? Visit CFNC's College Application Hub to explore North Carolina colleges, work on applications, send official high school transcripts, and find additional college-planning resources.
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👑From Our Team to You — End of September Message
September may be coming to an end, but your year is just getting started.
Maybe this month you settled into a new school, joined a new club, started your first job, submitted an application, stepped outside of your comfort zone, or simply began thinking a little more seriously about what you want your future to look like.
Those steps matter.
Growth doesn't always happen through one big moment. Sometimes, it's the small decisions you make every day — showing up, asking questions, trying something new, meeting someone new, or saying yes to an opportunity you might have passed up before.
And as we head into October, there are even more opportunities to keep that momentum going.
Maybe you'll start your college applications. Maybe you'll apply for a job. Maybe you'll explore a career you've never considered before. Maybe you'll share your voice on an issue that matters to you. Or maybe you'll discover an opportunity you didn't even know existed.
Whatever your next step looks like, take it.
The Office of Youth Opportunities will continue working to connect you with experiences that help you explore careers, build skills, develop as a leader, make your voice heard, and discover what's possible.
So don't just wait for your future to happen.
Explore it. Build it. Be part of it.
Stay curious. Stay ready. Stay connected.
We'll see you in October. 👑
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