Tashara Brown is well known for her work as Community Engagement Manager at Charlotte Works, and she brings deep experience in community partnership, workforce development, as well as economic mobility. And today, CWC announces that Tashara will become its next CEO! “CWC has spent years developing a trusted, trauma-informed model that helps Charlotte residents move from financial crisis to financial stability. I look to continue that legacy by partnering with our team, board, and community to shape CWC’s next chapter,” says Brown - and CWC couldn’t be more excited to welcome her! Learn more about this transition at https://www.commonwealthcharlotte.org/stories. 

Social Venture Partners (SVP) Charlotte is an innovative venture Philanthropy organization that provides a path for passionate and committed individuals to collectively invest their money, time, and talent into Charlotte’s most promising nonprofits. In fact, just ten years ago SVP Charlotte chose a small, promising organization as one of its investees - and that organization was CWC!  Our special guest this episode is Executive Director, Kristin Beck, who brings passion for community engagement and strategic collaboration to her role. Tune in to hear her speak more about how SVP is building a stronger, more equitable Charlotte. Learn more about how to get involved in SVP Charlotte at https://svpcharlotte.org/.

She Built This City provides industry-disruptive programming that sparks interest and builds pathways to lucrative careers in the skilled trades for youth, women, and marginalized communities, making it the ultimate goal of all initiatives and partnerships - and CWC is proud to be a partner! Our special guest this episode is Executive Director, LaToya Faustin, who will speak more about dismantling barriers and stigmas in traditionally male-dominated industries through innovative, sustainable practices that prepare clients for a future of jobs that have yet to be created. Learn more about She Built This City and how to volunteer at https://www.shebuiltthiscity.org/. 

“Making the best out of a second chance.” This is what Kenny Robinson envisioned for others when he founded Freedom Fighting Missionaries (FFM) - to create pathways for those justice-involved, addressing the critical challenges they face as they reintegrate into the community with dignity. Kenny is just one of two special guests for this episode! He is joined by Ashley Schreiber, FFM’s Social Media Coordinator, who began her reentry journey with CWC by her side. The organization is currently developing its inaugural housing project: a 24-unit apartment complex designed to provide safe and affordable living for those in need. Learn more about FMM and donate at https://www.freedomfightingmissionaries.org/ and watch Ashley’s success story at https://youtu.be/j160M1xTJv4?si=yUr6Fx0aiAgTkLQ_. 

"Building positive relationships that develop social capital." From the very beginning, Right Moves For Youth (RMFY) has ensured that youth have the support and guidance needed to succeed. By working with students in a group setting, RMFY promotes positive peer influence to empower students to make the right moves, strengthen new skills, and affirm each other’s growth. Our special guest is Executive Director, Ryan Grammatico, who speaks about how this organization is building better lives through extraordinary relationships. Learn how to get engaged at https://www.rightmovesforyouth.org/about/volunteers/.  pssst Interested in getting philosophical with Chuck? Write to him at cjones@commonwealthcharlotte.org using the subject line, “Epictetus”! 

Charlotte Is Creative develops and runs initiatives such as Queen City Quiz Show, the HUG (“Helpful Unfettered Gift”) creative microgrant program, and a media channel (“The Biscuit”) that covers the immense creativity and inspiring creators of Charlotte. Its co-founders, Tim Miner and Matt Olin, are our special guests for this Holiday-themed episode where you will get to hear more about their efforts to support the Charlotte arts community, along with some festive fun sprinkled in! Learn more about how to support Charlotte Is Creative at https://www.charlotteiscreative.com/.  

Throughout the past 121 years, Crittenton of NC has served over 45,000 women and children across North Carolina. Best known for its Maternity Program, a residential program helping pregnant girls and women who are living in crisis and in need of a healthy, safe environment, Crittenton of NC provides comprehensive support services to help women and families thrive. Jada B. Charley is the organization’s Chief Executive Officer and also the special guest on this episode of the KnowMore podcast. Tune in as she shares with listeners about the array of services offered as Crittenton of NC works to break cycles of trauma, neglect and abuse. Learn more about Crittenton of NC and how to get involved at https://crittentonofnc.org/. 

After determining that underserved college students were twice as likely to be unemployed than their counterparts for the last fifty years, Jonathan Gardner launched GardHouse, a nonprofit that strives to eliminate the systemic barriers underserved college students face when seeking post-secondary employment upon graduation. As the Founder and Executive Director of GardHouse, Jonathan joins CWC as this month’s special guest on the KnowMore podcast. During this episode, you will have a chance to understand more about Charlotte’s first work-based organization, which works primarily with college students of color and provides paid internships within small businesses and nonprofits to demonstrate that they, too, can be economic drivers and training hubs for young talent. Learn more about GardHouse at https://www.gardhouse.org/. 

Habitat for Humanity of the Charlotte Region has remained a top Habitat for Humanity affiliate since its establishment in 1983 – with over 4,200 families having been served to date! Symone Robinson has been with this organization for six dedicated years and currently serves as Education Supervisor. In her role, she is involved with every person who comes through the door having the dream of owning their own home. As CWC's next guest on the KnowMore podcast, Symone shares more about the programs that aid in Habitat’s vision of “a world where everyone has a decent place to live.” Learn more about Habitat for Humanity of the Charlotte Region at https://www.habitatcltregion.org/. 

Trevor Melito is Managing Partner and Co-Founder of Sandee Road Ventures (SRV), as well as the next guest of our KnowMore Podcast series! SRV aims to offer optimal investment opportunities beyond the traditional focus of value investing, which is why it targets mission-focused investments throughout the Carolinas. Take a listen today and hear why this organization is committed to empowering investors to improve the world around them while delivering positive returns. Learn more about Sandee Road Ventures at https://www.srventures.us/. 

It’s the start of Season 2 and we have a great guest to kick us off, Brian Li! Brian has been at Providence Day School for 20 years and has taught math as well as personal finance. His passion for instilling the importance of personal finance to the coming generations has led him to become a leader nationally in this effort, including holding financial literacy workshops for teachers all around the nation. During this episode, you will understand very quickly that Brian has limitless, unrestrained excitement for his work – one of the many reasons Common Wealth Charlotte is excited to welcome him as a new Board of Directors member! Get to know more about Brian Li at https://www.blifinancecoach.com/. 

It’s the final episode of season 1, and we saved a very special guest for this one! April Whitlock leads LendingTree’s efforts in identifying, vetting, and funding nonprofits of all sizes in the arts, housing, recovery, financial literacy, and other key areas in Charlotte’s quest for greater economic mobility. As this episode’s guest, she is here to talk more about trust-based philanthropy and how she utilizes her skills as “an intentional connector and disruptive philanthropist.” You can learn more about LendingTree Foundation here: https://www.lendingtreefoundation.org/. 

ASPIRE Community Capital provides current and future business owners with the critical resources they need to start a business and succeed at it - through training, coaching programs, and access to financial resources. Manuel Campbell is ASPIRE’s founder, and our special guest for this episode. He is here to talk more about the challenges of entrepreneurship and why opportunities for self-sufficiency, as well as financial independence, are critical for success. You can learn more about ASPIRE Community Capital here: https://aspirecommunitycapital.org/. 

Charlotte Rescue Mission (CRM) is one of Charlotte’s longest-running faith-based organizations - transforming lives since 1938! The organization envisions a world free of addictions by “serving those at the intersection of homelessness and addiction so they can achieve their God-given potential.” Trina Fullard is our guest for this episode, and we couldn’t be more thrilled! She began at CRM in 2019, assuming various roles until her transition this spring as incoming President and CEO. To learn more about how to get involved with CRM, visit: https://charlotterescuemission.org/get-involved/. 

This episode’s special guest is a real treat! Brought in by Foundation For The Carolinas, Federico Rios is now Senior Vice President of the Robinson Center for Civic Leadership - after serving as the City of Charlotte’s Assistant Director (Office of Equity, Mobility, and Immigration Integration) and as Program Director for Communities In Schools. So tune in and listen to Federico talk about the journey that led him to a role that engages community-minded individuals in order to address Charlotte’s challenges and capitalize on our most impactful opportunities. To learn more about this flagship program head to: https://www.fftc.org/our_civic_leadership. 

Families are the center point of everything that happens at Freedom Communities. This organization believes that in order to transform a community, it must start with the families that live there. This especially includes support for single parents through the Moms Moving Forward program. Hannah Beavers, Executive Director of Freedom Communities, is our guest for this episode and is here to speak more about how this nonprofit serves the Freedom Drive Corridor by helping families build the skills, mindset and support network to increase upward mobility and sustain economic stability. Learn more at freedomcommunities.com and start getting involved by emailing volunteer@freedomcommunities.com today. 

Men Tchaas Ari is President and CEO of Communities In Schools of Greater Charlotte. Over 12 million children in the United States, under age 18 live in poverty. In Charlotte-Mecklenburg, approximately 14% of children (30,000 – 41,000) live in poverty and more than half of CMS schools (102 of 184) are identified as Title I, which means the majority of students live near or below the poverty line. Men Tchaas has worked in and around economically-vulnerable families for more than 20 years   and understands the challenges faced by people at all levels of economic distress. You’re going to learn a lot from this episode, including what it’s like to be a parent of a child in school, and be at or below poverty level. For more information visit www.cischarlotte.org/

The Center for Community Transitions assists those who have been justice-involved to re-enter and re-establish themselves as vibrant and contributing members of the community. This organization strengthens our community by helping people with criminal records and their families find a healthier and more productive way of living. Its work provides employment and transition services; supports alternatives to incarceration; and restores and strengthens family bonds. Our guest for this episode is the Executive Director, Patrice Funderberg, who will elaborate more on the financial challenges faced by returning citizens. For more information visit centerforcommunitytransitions.org/. 

Charlotte Community Health Clinic (CCHC) offers high-quality medical, dental, and behavioral health services for kids and adults. It works towards a healthy community where all individuals, regardless of their ability to pay, have access to comprehensive health care. CCHC is led by Carolyn Allison, who is this episode’s guest here to talk more about the five social determinants of health, among other topics, and how most people don’t know that Financial Stability is one of those social determinants. For more information visit charlottecommunityhealth.org/en/. 

Upon finding out that 40% of all food produced in the U.S. is wasted, Feeding Charlotte immediately began researching how to connect the dots between those with excess food to those without enough. Their mission is to rescue surplus, freshly prepared meals to reduce food waste and feed the hungry. Our guest for this episode is Executive Director, Kim Aprill, who will discuss more about the local food insecurities faced by many individuals and families. For more information visit https://feedingcharlotte.org/.