🏘️ Charlotte Celebrates Community at National Night Out 2024

On August 6, Charlotte neighborhoods came together to celebrate another National Night Out (NNO). Over 40 neighborhoods participated in this annual event, dedicated to enhancing community bonds and deepening our connection with local law enforcement.

The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department, Charlotte Fire Department, and various city, county, and elected officials all participated. Additionally, the HNS team provided valuable insights into our community programs and helped neighborhoods host attendees.

🏘️ 120 Affordable Senior Units Open in West Boulevard: A Milestone for Charlotte

120 units of permanently affordable housing for seniors have opened in the West Boulevard community in Charlotte.

A grand opening celebration was held in July for the Legacy at Carr Heights, an affordable housing complex for seniors. The development offers 120 units for seniors aged 55 and older, specifically for those earning between 30 and 80% of the Area Median Income (AMI). The project is the result of public-private partnerships, and collaborations between developers, lenders, residents, and community organizations.

The Community Benefits Agreement (CBA), signed by Paces Foundation and Soho Housing Partners in collaboration with the West Side Community Land Trust, as the long-term ground lessor, and the West Boulevard Neighborhood Coalition, as the standard-bearer for the CBA, ensures the development provides tangible benefits to the local community. The CBA allowed the community to have a say in the development, including the selection of paint colors and artwork. And with the involvement of West Side Community Land Trust as the long-term ground lessor, the CBA ensure that the land remains under community control. This represents the first community benefits agreement executed in the city of Charlotte.

Financial backing came from Fifth Third Bank, Raymond James, Barings, the Charlotte Housing Opportunity Investment Fund, the City of Charlotte Housing Development Fund, and others.

At the event, Charis Blackmon of the West Side Community Land Trust highlighted the historical significance of the land, originally owned by Nathaniel Carr, a Black farmer and developer in the early 20th century when black people couldn't own land. The land trust’s involvement ensures the community remains affordable for seniors in perpetuity.

In addition, Councilwoman Tiawana Brown and local officials emphasized the project's role in addressing Charlotte’s affordable housing crisis. Assistant director for affordable housing Warren Wooten noted, "I've never worked for a local government that has been more passionate from their elected officials about making these types of investments and championing affordable housing in their community."

🍽️ Discover Charlotte's Housing Trust Fund: Lunch & Learn Recap

Thank you to everyone who joined us for our latest Faith in Housing Lunch & Learn event! Following the success of our Faith and Housing Summit, we dove deeper into the topic of affordable housing in Charlotte with a focus on the Housing Trust Fund.

Our participants enjoyed a presentation on how public funds are utilized to foster affordable housing, along with an engaging discussion that followed. The event was an excellent opportunity for beginners to learn more about the development process and have their questions answered by experts in the field.

We’ve captured some highlights from the event—check out the photos above!

Stay tuned for more events like this, and don’t forget to visit our website for more information on the Faith in Housing initiative.

🎓 13 CMS Graduates Join the City of Charlotte, Including Five New Hires at CharMeck 311

Photos from Signing Day, recognizing the new hires as full-time city employees.

As part of the Education 2 Employment initiative with the City of Charlotte and Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools, 13 recent graduates signed on as full-time city employees. Among these new city employees, five have joined CharMeck 311 (within our Housing & Neighborhood Services department) as Customer Service Representatives, each bringing unique talents and backgrounds to the team.

Levi, originally from the Congo (DRC), has been in the U.S. for 14 years. A recent graduate of Rocky River High School and current student at UNCC, Levi brings his passion for cars, particularly the Corvette C7 ZR1, along with experience as a sales associate at AutoZone. His love for reading and learning new things will serve him well in his new role.

Jesly, a Charlotte native with roots in Honduras and Mexico, graduated from Hawthorne Academy and is currently pursuing medical studies in Tampa, Florida, while also studying nursing at Central Piedmont. With two years of retail experience, Jesly is committed to making her family proud as a first-generation college student, bringing a strong work ethic and dedication to her position.

Nevaeh, originally from Norfolk, Virginia, is a recent graduate of Julius L. Chambers High School. She has previous customer service experience from her time working at Popbar and enjoys painting and listening to R&B music. Nevaeh’s creativity and service-oriented mindset make her a valuable addition to the CharMeck 311 team.

Noor, born and raised in Charlotte with Syrian heritage, is pursuing a Business Administration degree at CPCC and attending real estate school. Her experience in retail, combined with her passion for fitness and volleyball, equips her with the skills and energy needed to excel in her new role.

Xzavier, also a Charlotte native, graduated from East Mecklenburg High School. He previously worked at a car wash, where he managed customer calls and resolved membership issues. Xzavier’s adventurous spirit—having gone skydiving and aspiring to own a motorcycle—along with his experience, makes him well-suited for his new position.

These five individuals represent Charlotte's diversity and are now embarking on their careers with the City of Charlotte at CharMeck 311.

👏 MYEP Closing Ceremony 2024: Celebrating Youth Achievement and Community Partnerships

Thank you to all of this year’s Mayor’s Youth Employment Program (MYEP) and Job & Career Readiness Training (JCRT) participants, host employers and partners!

The MYEP celebrated its closing ceremony on August 1. It was a celebration of the young people who spent the summer gaining valuable work experience and job skills. Hosted by FlyTy and Jacinda, the event highlighted the achievements of participants, ambassadors, host employers, and the MYEP team. Through programs like MYEP and Job & Career Readiness Training, Charlotte’s youth are empowered to explore the workforce, build connections, and discover career opportunities.

MYEP participants spent nine months in rigorous training, including the Job & Career Readiness program, video interviews, and orientations. Deputy Director of Housing and Neighborhood Services Raquishela Stewart underscored the broader benefits of youth engagement, calling the program’s partners “champions for the city of Charlotte youth.”

This year, MYEP provided 457 paid work-based learning opportunities and trained over 1,400 youth through the Job and Career Readiness Training program, with more than 500 of those participants from the city’s Corridors of Opportunity. Collectively, the participants worked more than 35,000 hours. Virtual pathway participants connected with industry leaders and subject matter experts, developing Capstone projects aligned with the Charlotte Future 2040 Comprehensive Plan.

Kieth Cockrell, President of Bank of America, delivered an inspiring message, urging the interns to “Dream a big dream. Dare to be great.” He noted that Bank of America, a partner of MYEP for nearly 20 years, has hired many program graduates from Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools (CMS).

This year’s host employers included organizations such as the Mecklenburg County Clerk of Superior Court, Coca-Cola Consolidated, Charlotte Regional Visitors Authority, Teach For America Charlotte, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department, and many others.

Dawn Hill was recognized as the MYEP Person of the Year for her 22 years of dedicated service.
  

🩺 MYEP Interns Explore Virtual Pathways in Healthcare and Energy

This summer, 141 interns participated in two exciting virtual pathways Industry Days as part of the Mayor's Youth Employment Program (MYEP). At Atrium Health, interns dove into hands-on experiences at the Simulation Center, where they engaged in surgical simulations and observed operations in an OR room. They also had the chance to ask questions and learn from a panel of healthcare professionals. Over at Duke Energy, interns explored diverse career opportunities by touring the Innovation Center, participating in interactive networking sessions, and engaging in a vision board workshop and personal strength analysis.

✈️ MYEP Interns Gain Hands-On Experience with Charlotte Fire Department and American Airlines

This summer, we caught up with two MYEP interns who each spent 8 weeks gaining hands-on experience—one with the Charlotte Fire Department and the other with American Airlines. Their time with these teams opened new doors and expanded their career horizons. A huge thanks to Charlotte Fire and American Airlines for making this possible!

🗳️ Charlotte Youth Summit: Shaping Future Leaders Through Civic Engagement

The Youth Summit, organized by the City of Charlotte in partnership with the Hughes Elite Scholars Upward Bound Summer Program, took place on July 10 at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. The event was designed to empower high school students from Charlotte and the surrounding areas to become active participants in civic engagement.

60 students participated in the summit, which highlighted the participation of youth in collaboration, leadership, and community involvement.

One of the highlights was a facilitated session where students provided valuable input into Charlotte Future 2040 Comprehensive Plan, ensuring that their voices are heard in shaping the city’s future. Additionally, The Relatives initiated a volunteer project where students created custom donation bags, promoting civic engagement through acts of charity.

🍳 Alternatives to Violence Hosts Second Culinary Day with INLIVIAN

We're excited to share a video of the second culinary event from the Alternatives to Violence team, hosted by our partner INLIVIAN for their youth residents! Chef Geo (Greg Jordan) from Urban Sauce Connection led a hands-on culinary day at The Gaston at North End, where young participants got to step into the shoes of sous chefs and explore their passion for cooking. This event is just one example of the unique opportunities available to residents. HNS is happy to support experiences that help young people in our community discover and expand their interests. Check out the video to see these future chefs in action!

🏙️ Housing & Neighborhood Services Comes to Your Community!

The 311 On the Go team, along with House Charlotte and Code Enforcement, has been actively engaging with the community throughout June and July, representing the Housing & Neighborhood Services division at several key events. One of the highlights was the Housing Resource Fair hosted by Charlotte-Mecklenburg Community Relations on July 11 at the Belmont Regional Center. This event brought together representatives from various organizations, including House Charlotte, Code Enforcement, and CharMeck 311, to provide attendees with valuable information about homeownership, down payment assistance programs, and tenant rental resources.

In addition to the Housing Resource Fair, the 311 On the Go team participated in other significant community events, such as Councilmember Molina’s Townhall at the Charlotte Center for Legal Advocacy and celebrations at several Mecklenburg County Libraries, including the Summer Break Finale at the Mountain Island Library.

For more information on the Housing Resource Fair, email fairhousing@charlottenc.gov.

🌳 Join the KCB Clean Streets Cleanup: Help Keep Charlotte Beautiful

Join us for the Keep Charlotte Beautiful Clean Streets Cleanup on Saturday, August 10, from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. at 2157 West Blvd, Charlotte. We'll be cleaning up West Blvd and Tyvola Rd to help keep our community beautiful. Plus, enjoy a free lunch provided by the city’s Corridors of Opportunity Team! Your participation makes a difference. Sign up today!

💰 Unlock $1,000+ in Homeowner Savings! Apply for the HOMES Program Grant by November 22!

Don't miss out on valuable savings! If you qualify as a Mecklenburg County homeowner, you could save up to $648 this year through the HOMES program grant. If you live within the Charlotte city limits, you might be eligible for additional grant funding of up to $369, bringing your total savings to as much as $1,017! Apply by November 22! Visit www.MeckNC.gov/4HOMES or call 980-314-4663 to learn more. 

🍂 Code Enforcement Tip of the Month

Leaves and other yard waste should not be blown into the street.  All yard waste must be bagged in paper bags or open containers and placed at the curb no earlier than the day prior to collection.