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Introducing 'Future Charlotte,' a podcast about our city's growth
   January 4, 2021
Ely Portillo

Charlotte is a city with growth embedded in its DNA, a community where striving to be "world-class" has both propelled us forward and papered over many disparities just beneath the surface. 

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Keeping a garden journal in 2021
   January 4, 2021
Ruth Ann Grissom

The end of the year is a natural time for reflection, but does anyone really want to dwell on 2020? I imagine we’re all yearning for the chance to move forward, to put that dreadful year behind us, make a fresh start and take charge of our lives.

In 2021, my resolution is to keep a garden journal. I don’t aim to become an obsessive record-keeper like Thomas Jefferson. A weekly, or even...

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Finding promise in the pain, and looking ahead to 2021
   December 22, 2020
Jeff Michael

If we’re being completely honest, those of us who sat down this year to write traditional end-of-year reflections struggled to find something positive to say. I certainly did. Whether an organizational newsletter or a family’s holiday greeting card, it seemed the best one could say about 2020 is that it’s finally over.

However, as I waded through the fog of daily COVID updates and...

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Transit discussion doesn't center on moving people
   December 15, 2020
Ely Portillo

When it comes to the discussion about Charlotte’s proposed 1-cent transit and mobility sales tax increase, there’s been a lot more talk about moving up the socioeconomic ladder than moving around the city. 

So far, the public push for more funding hasn’t included specifics...

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Tracking confirmed coronavirus cases in our region
   December 14, 2020

This map shows the cumulative number of confirmed coronavirus cases per 100,000 residents in the 14-county region the UNC Charlotte Urban Institute serves. The number varies significantly between the counties, which could be a reflection of factors ranging from population density to how many tests have been administered. This map, and the below graphics, will be updated on a regular basis. To...

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New report release: Single adult homelessness integrated data
   December 10, 2020
Bridget Anderson
Courtney LaCaria

Mecklenburg County Community Support Services recently released the Single Adult Homelessness Integrated Data (SAHID) Report. This is the first community report focused specifically on single adult homelessness. The report is part of the Charlotte-Mecklenburg...

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Four things to know about Charlotte’s push for more transit funding
   December 4, 2020
Ely Portillo

Charlotte voters could find the biggest ask in local history on their ballots next year: A $6 billion referendum to fund the local share of the city’s “transformational mobility network” with a new, one cent sales tax.

Charlotte Mayor Vi Lyles, the Charlotte Moves Task Force and other local leaders have signaled their support for such a measure in the fall of 2021. The referendum would...

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Hope is the thing with leaves
   December 3, 2020
Ruth Ann Grissom

Imagine what it would be like to help establish a brand new national park. One that would be larger than the combined acreage of the Everglades, Yellowstone, Yosemite, Grand Teton, Canyonlands, Mount Ranier, North Cascades, Badlands, Olympic, Sequoia, Grand Canyon, Denali and Great Smoky Mountains. One that would be spread uniformly across the country instead of being sequestered out west. One...

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Trust in neighbors and police: Who has it and what does it mean for Charlotte?
   November 18, 2020
Bridget Anderson, Kailas Venkitasubramanian, Ph.D., Lori Thomas, Ph.D.

This article was written by the UNC Charlotte Urban Institute. Data used in this series was collected in partnership with Leading on Opportunity, Opportunity Insights, Communities in Schools, YMCA of Greater Charlotte, Foundation For The Carolinas, and SHARE Charlotte, with staff funding from The Gambrell Foundation. See more results from the...

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An ocean bird pays an unexpected visit to Stanly County
   November 13, 2020
Ruth Ann Grissom

My sister and I once decided it would be a fine idea to tour the Mojave Desert in May. Being hard-headed women from the Uwharries, we forged ahead even after the Santa Ana winds kicked up and pushed temperatures into triple digits. The heat made for a memorable, if sometimes freakish, trip. Along the way, we crossed paths with a dude who looked like an Elvis impersonator, a randy bighorn sheep...

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