Community Building Initiative

What We’re Building is a free, live storytelling event that features Charlotte-based artists, creatives, business and brand owners, and community organizers who are building meaningful work, spaces, and visions for the future of our community. Each participant will perform a personal story reflecting on their life, their work, and the future they hope to help create in Charlotte. The coffeehouse-style gathering will also include live performance, food and drink, and opportunities for guests to record audio reflections about what they are building for the city. This event is open to the public (registration required) and sponsored by the Harvey B. Gantt Center as part of the 2026 Black Carolina Artist Residency. For more information and to register, visit https://loom.ly/nbMFBMM

Another Community Bus Tour is in the books! As one participant said, "This was so interesting that I could've stayed on the bus for another hour!" Thanks to Metropolitan Public Transportation Authority (MPTA), Dr. Tom Hanchett, and John Howard for their collaboration and expertise, and to United House of Prayer for the delicious lunch! For more information on CBI's bus tours, visit https://loom.ly/QNO6Yqc

Are you already doing impactful work to build community at the neighborhood or grassroots level in Charlotte? We encourage you to consider joining the fifth cohort of Charlotte Equity Impact Fellows! This is the last week to submit your application - the deadline is May 31st. For more information, see the first comment below. Applications can be found at https://loom.ly/8FiaiL4

May 23rd will be the world premiere of a feature film centered around the voices and lived experiences of incredible Charlotte leaders, including City Council members JD Mazuera Arias, James “Smuggie” Mitchell, Judge Keith Smith, Historian Frederick Murphy, Greg Jackson, and many others. CivicMen examines how civic trust is built, how leadership is developed, and how everyday men can play a meaningful role in shaping safer, stronger communities. For more information and to register, visit https://loom.ly/0hZZHt0