CRC Newsletter | August 2022
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Certified Welcoming Place
By Justin Lyons and Arun Nair, CRC Members
In May 2022, Charlotte officially became a Certified Welcoming place. Welcoming America, a national nonprofit organization, bestows this recognition to local jurisdictions that have demonstrated their commitment to immigrant inclusion through their policies and programs. The City of Charlotte is the first city in North Carolina and in the southeastern U.S. region to receive this designation.
According to the 2020 U.S census, 17.2 percent of Charlotte’s residents were born outside of the United States. As Charlotte-Mecklenburg’s immigrant population has significantly grown over the last three decades in particular, it is critical for inclusion to be a priority in our community. While the work of equity and inclusion never ends, achieving the Welcoming Place certification highlights the City of Charlotte’s commitment in this ongoing pursuit.
In order to become #CertifiedWelcoming, communities must meet rigorous requirements around matters including education, government leadership, safety, civic engagement, equitable access and more. There are 15 Certified Welcoming places, including Charlotte, which joined Detroit, Michigan, and San Jose, California in receiving the recognition so far in 2022.
The announcement of the Certified Welcoming Place designation took place at the start of the annual Welcoming Interactive conference, where Charlotte Mayor Vi Lyles attended and received the certification. Two leaders of the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Community Relations Committee’s (CRC) Intercultural Relations subcommittee, Arun Nair and Antony Foreman, joined more than 450 community leaders and elected officials at the event, which highlights successful practices and inspiring stories about immigrant inclusion.
Welcoming Interactive began with a special Welcoming Tour. Participants selected one of five Charlotte bus tours around the Power of Partnerships, Telling Our Story, Arts and Advocacy, Do It Together, and Place of Welcoming. Exceptionally qualified presenters, who successfully implemented community programs, provided invaluable information about Charlotte and its history. Staff from the Office of Equity Mobility and Immigrant Integration shared the importance of moving from language access to language justice.
The event provided great opportunities for participants to interact with fellow attendees from around the world. Nair reflected on a conversation with the Chief Inspector of Police in Gainesville, Florida, regarding gun violence as well as a conversation regarding the ongoing conflict with Ukraine with a Russian-origin attendee who is married to a Ukrainian.
“I felt like this was a great opportunity to listen and learn from people with such different perspectives. I look forward to finding ways we can bring back these lessons to the CRC in the coming year.”
The open conversations between the attendees, without feeling judged because of the national origin or other variants, felt truly special for Nair and that type of dialogue is what will help Charlotte continue to be a welcoming city.
Teen Resources at the Charlotte Mecklenburg Library
By Laura Leftwich, CRC Member and Holly Summers, Sr. Program Manager — Teen Services, Charlotte Mecklenburg Library
For teens already preparing for back-to-school and those wanting summer to never end, the Charlotte Mecklenburg Library system has plenty to offer. In addition to their usual services like free Wi-Fi and study areas, the Library offers engaging and meaningful teen programs throughout the year that range from book clubs to STEAM projects to gaming. For school-ready teens, it’s easy to get a head start on career planning and tutoring. Teens can also sign up to participate in various events and become a VolunTeen to earn community service hours.
Programs like Community Service Project and Teen Advisory Council, offer community service hours for teens who participate. Teens seeking community service hours (up to 20 hours) can also contribute content for the libraries by writing a review of a book, movie, or other resource the library offers. These reviews can be filmed for the chance to be added to the Library’s teen Instagram account as well. There’s also an opportunity for teens to create more content to be featured on @cmlibraryteens with eight projects to choose from! Teens should follow them to stay in the know and be a part of the conversation.
The Library also offers two teen-authored newsletters out of their Davidson and West Boulevard branches. These are centered around teen accomplishments and aims to promote the work of the impressive local community. Be on the lookout for more branches to offer these newsletters including South County Regional Library.
For older teens thinking about the decisions ahead, the Library has plenty of resources available. Teens can fill out a My Next Step form to get help with their next step when planning for their future after high school. Teens can also register for a My Next Step session to get 1-on-1 support from a friendly Library staff member. The Library also offers podcasts on career and college exploration. With 47 episodes featuring colleges around the country, teens are sure to get a firsthand listen into what the school is like and if it could be a good fit for them. They will also learn about different career paths. There are interviews with an engineer at NASA, an actor, a zoo videographer, and more. And once school is back in session, don’t forget about all of the free online resources the Libraries offer, such as Tutor.com that provides up to 10 free tutoring sessions every week for grades K-12. A friendly reminder that all CMS students have a ONE Access card with the Library, so check it out for more details on how to get started.
So, for teens looking for volunteer hours, college and career readiness, an outlet to publish some creative work, or just looking for somewhere to get out of the house and explore their local community, the Library is hard at work to be a cool and beneficial place to spend your time.
Turning Passion Into Purpose
By Dr. Scott Gartlan, CRC Member
Neighborhood Leader Spotlight: Kurtis Andree
In the Neighborhood Leader spotlight, the CRC newsletter features individuals supporting our community through efforts that align with the work and mission of the CRC.
For more than eight years, Kurtis Andree, current president of the Country Club Heights Neighborhood Association, has been giving back to the community through donation drives and events that encourage conversation and inclusion. Andree recognized an opportunity to meet a need and turned his passion for helping others into purposeful impact across his neighborhood.
It was around the holidays one year that an idea clicked for Andree. While he was faced with uncertain times, he was aware that the season might also be hard for some of his neighbors as well. Although the specific challenges may be different, as neighbors, it is important to know that you are a part of a community that stands with you.
“I was looking out the window feeling sorry for myself,” said Andree as he reflected on his experience of being laid off in 2014. “Then I noticed parents picking up their children from our local school — Shamrock Gardens Elementary — and realized something. How could I be feeling so sorry for myself when I knew that so many families were going to have a very difficult holiday this season?”
Andree set out on a mission to bring joy and comfort to the lives of families for the holidays. He started a Facebook group, invited friends and neighbors to join the group, and the gift drive was born!
The gift drive started when Kurtis filled the hatchback of his Ford Focus with games, basketballs, footballs, soccer balls, clothes, baby dolls and so much more. Now, with the help of others, the drive has grown to more than 50 donors each year with donations coming from not only Charlotte, but from California, Arizona, Texas, Florida, New York, and Connecticut.
“Kurtis has tirelessly and graciously committed to coordinating gifts every year,” said Lisa Carter, Youth Development Coordinator at Communities In Schools of Charlotte-Mecklenburg, Inc. “He opens up his home and allows his space to be used as a storage space until the big day. The love, unwavering support, and willingness to serve in this capacity has helped bring smiles to our families.”
Over the eight years the drive has been running, more than $50,000 in gifts, gift cards, pajamas, school uniforms, and yearbooks have been donated by community members. Andree sees this as a way to not just support families during the holidays, but to bring the community closer together.
“The real payoff for me is bringing people together,” Andree shared. “I so much value our community and the city of Charlotte that I am driven by ways to make things better. For me, things get better when people spend time together, when they give to each other, and in doing so, recognize how similar we all really are.”
Andree hopes this long-term vision of community engagement is something that will catch on in other neighborhoods. He believes whether you collect toys for kids around the holidays, or check in on elderly neighbors, or volunteer in your community, just start small. His small drive has blossomed into using every room in his house to store the donated toys and gifts during the holidays. This year, working with the school’s Community in Schools liaison, he hopes to find a secure spot on school grounds to house these gifts.
In addition to his gift drive, Andree has found ways to get involved with another passion of his: supporting the local LGBTQ+ community. Building on a concept that current president of Windsor Park Neighborhood Association, Jason Boone developed 12 years ago, Andree has hosted Mimosa Parties since 2020.
“I invite neighbors and friends to my house for a drink and to learn more about the amazing organizations supporting LGBTQ+ issues in Charlotte,” said Andree.
Guests learn more about the work going on and ways they can support it. To date, organizations such as Time Out Youth, The Plus Collective, Charlotte Pride Band, and One Voice Chorus have received $300,000 in contributions, $180,000 of that coming in the past three years. In addition, a new nonprofit was formed called Hydration Station Foundation to focus on LGBTQ+ efforts.
As Andree reflects on the greater value, he remains committed to community development.
“It’s easy to get down on the future of things these days,” said Andree. “But I am uplifted by the spirit of others to want to help each other and make everyone in our community feel welcomed, loved, and part of something larger.”
Stay in the loop about key initiatives and catch up on what’s happened since our last issue.
Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Update: The City of Charlotte and Mecklenburg County recently celebrated the 32nd anniversary of the signing of the ADA proclamation. The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Community Relations ADA division is continuing to work on the ADA Transition Plan which will be presented to Charlotte City Council in August. This plan lays out steps the city needs to take to make its services, facilities, and infrastructure more accessible according to federal standards. Learn more about the plan and next steps.
CATS Bus Routes: The Charlotte Area Transit System (CATS) will reduce its bus service frequencies due to a shortage of operators, effective Aug. 15, 2022. These service reductions will maximize the system’s reliability and minimize missed trips. No routes will be cut, frequencies of routes will only be altered. Please refer to the individual route schedules for more information and download the CATS-Pass app for real-time bus and CityLYNX Gold Line information. Riders with questions or concerns should email TellTransit@charlottenc.gov or call 704–336-RIDE (7433).
Adult Diversion Program: The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department (CMPD), in partnership with Lowe’s, recently announced the launch of an Adult Diversion Program, the only program of its kind in Mecklenburg County. Adult Diversion is a first-time offender program that allows young adults ages 18 to 24 to be diverted from the traditional criminal justice system for lower-level offenses. The purpose is to provide these young adults with opportunities for education and employment and to avoid re-offending and cycling through the criminal justice system. Learn more about the Adult Diversion Program.
National Night Out: Community Relations staff and CRC members recently participated in National Night Out, volunteering in the Highland Creek, Hidden Valley, Arbor Glen and Sharon Road neighborhoods. This annual community-building campaign promotes police-community partnerships and neighborhood camaraderie to make neighborhoods safer, more caring places to live. Learn more about the work being doing to strengthen police-community relations.
Neighborhood Traffic Calming Policy Update: New changes to a City of Charlotte transportation policy aim to make sure residents in rental properties have the same opportunities to improve neighborhood traffic safety as property owners. Charlotte City Council members approved an update to a program known as neighborhood traffic calming, to no longer require a petition signed by homeowners and property owners before a speed hump or multi-way stop can be added to eligible residential streets. Prior to the change, the city required a resident to submit a petition indicating support from 60 percent of property owners within 1,200 feet of the speed hump or stop. Learn more about the program and policy updates.
