CHARLOTTE, Mecklenburg County — Since the start of the new year, WCNC Charlotte has been holding listening sessions with various community members and organizations to learn more about the issues impacting them.
Our latest collaboration was to learn more about how the Lakeview Neighborhood Alliance, in the middle of two of Charlotte's most impoverished neighborhoods, is making a difference in the community.
WCNC Charlotte consistently reports on the crescent and the wedge in Charlotte and the discrepancy of wealth in these two areas. Lakeview Neighborhood Alliance wants to change that with its strategic plan to engage, educate and empower.
The group believes they have a formula that can be duplicated in other high-poverty areas across the country.
The nonprofit is part of the United Neighborhoods program through United Way, with four main programming areas under its strategic plan.
"All those individuals that come together to form LNA are residents and stakeholders of this neighborhood," Executive Director Jamaal Kinard told WCNC Charlotte. "We're strategically focused on child and family stability, prevention of displacement due to gentrification, economic mobility and civic awareness."
Within these areas, LNA wants to create an ecosystem that can be modeled across Charlotte and other cities in America.
At the Lakeview Spring Festival on April 13, Lakeview residents will see the economic mobility offering extra cushion for those dealing with concentrated poverty.
For more information on how to volunteer or donate, click here.
WCNC Charlotte is committed to reporting on the many issues facing the communities we serve. We tell the stories of people working to solve persistent social problems. We examine how problems can be solved or addressed to improve the quality of life and make a positive difference. WCNC Charlotte is seeking solutions for you. Send your tips or questions to newstips@wcnc.com.
Contact Colin Mayfield at cmayfield@wcnc.com or follow him on Facebook, X and Instagram.