Enlarge Peter Gorman with Study Group Co-chairs Anna Spangler Nelson and Richard "Stick" Williams.

Posted: September 1st, 2010 Greg Lacour

A group of 13 philanthropists, businesspeople, government officials and citizens are joining up under the banner of Foundation For The Carolinas to try to relieve one of Charlotte’s knottiest problems-–how to close the achievement gap and curb dropout rates in public schools.

It’s an increasingly difficult task, especially with the economy taking a toll on tax revenue and public funding for school systems like Charlotte-Mecklenburg’s. So like some other school systems throughout the country, CMS is turning to the business and philanthropic communities for help.

The new CMS Investment Study Group’s 13 members will meet with administrative and staffing help from FFTC beginning September 8. The group will examine other communities’ experiences with philanthropic involvement in public education. By the end of 2010, they hope to produce a set of recommendations on how best to apply philanthropic gifts to help lessen the performance gap between affluent and poor, and minority and non-minority, CMS students.

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Posted: August 31st, 2010 Greg Lacour

Some stories worth sharing this week:

• Catholic Social Services receives a flood of donations--more than $11,000-–for its burial assistance program after an Observer story last week on the program’s fund running low.


• More than 1,100 people volunteered over the weekend in Union County for the United Way of Central Carolina’s annual “Day of Caring.”


• Felicia Haywood, a Charlotte respite care worker for Easter Seals United Cerebral Palsy, learned she’ll be going to Washington on Sept. 13 to receive a national award. “I am so blessed to have been given the opportunity to receive this award,” she said, “and while I appreciate the recognition, the real message is how important it is to care for others--your heart receives the biggest gift of all.”


• Charlotte Bobcats owner and NBA legend Michael Jordan gave $250,000 to help fund middle school athletics in Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools. At a time of massive budget cuts in CMS, it’s the largest-ever donation to the school system’s athletic programs.


• A warning about school bullying with a Charlotte angle: The 2009 Youth Risk Behavior Survey reveals some troubling news about bullying on CMS campuses. Sadly, social media provide a new outlet for kids to get picked on. Are you paying attention to what’s going on in your kids’ lives?

Posted: August 30th, 2010 Jarvis Holliday

The need for additional affordable housing--and where it should be built--has been a hot topic in Charlotte over the last several months. Most people agree that building housing low-income people can afford is a good thing. They just don’t want it in their neighborhoods. 

This year alone, communities such as Ballantyne and Ayrsley have successfully kept developers from building affordable housing units in their neighborhoods. Residents held protests and attended City Council meetings to voice their opposition against zoning changes that would’ve allowed the construction to begin.

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Posted: August 29th, 2010 Lashawnda Becoats

On a warm summer evening, more than 150 people gathered in East Charlotte at the historic VanLandingham Estate.

No, it wasn’t for a wedding.

Instead, it was the Charlotte Chamber of Commerce’s first “Jazz on the Lawn” event at the beautiful estate. Normally held in Uptown, the event was put together to help promote and celebrate the diverse businesses and people on the east side of the city.

“We see this as an important diversity and inclusion strategy,” said Keva Walton, Senior Vice President of Strategic Partnerships and Diversity at the chamber. “We are growing a chamber that is more inclusive.”

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