CRC Member Spotlight
By Sam Smith, CRC Member
The Community Relations Committee (CRC) is structured with several subcommittees where CRC members work to advance issues impacting residents’ lives, including intercultural relations, education, police-community relations, programming and communications.
Recently, the CRC has organized ad hoc working groups to commemorate the Juneteenth holiday and to assess City and County ordinances to identify opportunities for greater inclusion and equity in government services.
As new CRC members are welcomed, they have the opportunity to contribute in various ways through their work at-large and on subcommittees. In the first half of 2020, CRC welcomed several new members including Braxton G. Becoats, who works for Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools (CMS).
Where is your hometown and how long have you been in Charlotte?
My hometown is Baltimore, Maryland. I have been in Charlotte off and on since I was two years old. I moved around a lot due to my father’s job. I have been in Charlotte consistently since December 2017.
Describe Charlotte in one word: Developing
What sparked your interest to join the CRC, and what has your experience been so far since joining the CRC?
I was interested in joining the CRC in order to help build a diverse and harmonious Charlotte-Mecklenburg community. Since joining six months ago, my experience with the CRC has been extremely positive. I was able to immediately get to work on issues that directly affect the Charlotte-Mecklenburg community.
What are you most looking forward to doing as a member of the CRC?
I am looking forward to advocating to City Council & County Commissioners to create policies that ensure that the City of Charlotte & Mecklenburg County are diverse, not only in principle but in practice through policies/ordinances created.
What would you recommend to other community leaders that are interested in being a part of the CRC?
Do it! Join the CRC. Leaders are not supposed to sit still but be active in the community. You cannot expect the community to get better unless you actively participate in the community’s betterment.
[Just for fun] What is your favorite restaurant and hangout spot in Charlotte:
Ink & Ivy to eat! And honestly, my church — The Park Church — is my favorite hangout spot. I really enjoy spending time with my church family.
