CHARLOTTE, N.C. — In a country growing with political division and misunderstanding in many places, there’s a space in northeast Charlotte that is working to bring everyone together, no matter their heritage or ethnicity.
WCNC Charlotte's newest Pride Magazine partnership piece focuses on the International Minority Coalition, founded on a vision in 2017 to unite culture and diversity.
"This all started with eight people, and now we're at about 130 people," IMC Treasurer Tina Kurniawan explained.
"We reserved two tables and a year later we filled the whole restaurant up because people started to come and feel what international people can do," said Willie Fleming, the group's founder and president said.
A challenge was put on Fleming's heart. He yearned for a way to unite the eclectic nature of Charlotte with its canvas of diverse individuals. At the beginning, it was a way for people to connect, speak on the issues, and talk about the individual things impacting certain communities. Places sometimes local and state leaders often pass over without thought.
"We have a lot of things in common and when we work together, we give each other ideas," Kurniawan said.
Club Nile is now the safe place for many of these people who call Charlotte home creating an environment where they can express themselves. Many who show up often use English as a secondary language, with more than 14 countries represented.
The coalition is built around 4fourpillars that help guide discussions: economics, political, social, and educational. It is fellowship and fun, with an intended consequence to continue learning about others and the perspectives they operate from.
"When people come together and share a vision and build trust, you want to reach a mission that we all believe in," Fleming said.
Contact Colin Mayfield at cmayfield@wcnc.com or follow him on Facebook, X and Instagram.