A 2014 Harvard University/University of California, Berkeley, study ranked Charlotte last in economic mobility for its residents among 50 metropolitan American cities. UNC Charlotte, an important thought-leader for the region, has been working to improve economic opportunities for the Charlotte community.
On Monday, April 30, the University and its nonprofit partners presented the inaugural Charlotte Opportunity Showcase that featured presentations, performances and exhibits by individuals and groups addressing the key factors and recommendations in the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Opportunity Task Force’s “Leading on Opportunity” report.
“The Opportunity Task Force identified issues related to early childcare and education, college and career readiness, and child and family stability as most likely to have the greatest influence on the opportunity trajectory of an individual,” said Chancellor Philip L. Dubois, during opening remarks of the showcase at UNC Charlotte Center City. “The showcase illustrates the research capacity of UNC Charlotte and some of the many powerful community partnerships that are underway to help our community address these most serious, critical issues.”
The Charlotte Opportunity Showcase highlighted the nonprofit organizations making a difference and the UNC Charlotte researchers who are working with them to ensure that their programs have proven, tangible impacts in the areas of early care, mental health, housing, social capital, among others.
Presentations included:
- Charlotte’s First Racial Equity Impact Analysis
- The Housing First Charlotte-Mecklenburg Research and Evaluation Project
- UCity Family Zone: “A Person’s ZIP Code is a Much Better Predictor of their Health than their Genetic Code”
- Growing Our Own Urban Teachers: Building Social Capital Through the Charlotte Teacher Early College
- Mecklenburg County Unintended Pregnancy Assessment
- Charlotte-Mecklenburg College and Career Readiness Ecosystem
- Social Innovation to Advance Upward Mobility in Renaissance West Community
Click here for details and full list of topics presented. To see photos from the Charlotte Opportunity Showcase, click here.
Watch a recording of all the showcase presentations on YouTube.