Madison Park

Neighborhood Board Retreat scheduled for March 19

Neighborhood & Business Services (NBS) will host a Neighborhood Board Retreat on Saturday, March 19. The event will be held 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at Johnson C. Smith University, located at 100 Beatties Ford Rd.

The retreat is open to all neighborhood-based organizations including neighborhood associations and business and merchant associations in Charlotte city limits. In addition to current board members, participating organizations are encouraged to invite neighbors, business owners, school representatives and nonprofit partners that may help them achieve their goals. Each organization can have five to 15 participants.

Neighborhood Board Retreat attendees will receive:

• A customized Quality of Life Explorer report 
• Networking and idea sharing with other community leaders
• Guidance with planning yearly goals and board priorities 
• Idea development with trained, experienced facilitators 
• Expert support from staff and community resources 
• A $1,500 Neighborhood Matching Grant credit incentive for eligible neighborhoods

Capacity is limited. Applicants will be considered on a first-come, first-served basis with priority given to first-time attendees. A light breakfast and lunch will be provided.

Interested organizations must have a minimum of five participants registered to be considered. Apply here or call 704-336-7846. The deadline to register is Wednesday, Feb. 24.

For additional information, please contact NBS Neighborhood and Community Partnerships Manager Nicole Storey at nrstorey@charlottenc.gov.

Mentoring Alliance Awards recognizes local mentors and mentees

The Mayor’s Mentoring Alliance and United Way of Central Carolinas celebrated National Mentoring Month last month by honoring local mentors at its Mentoring Alliance Awards ceremony.

Held at ImaginOn, and hosted by North Carolina 2014-15 Teacher of the Year James Ford, awards were presented to Charlotte’s mentor, mentee, best practices agencies, group mentors, educational leadership in mentoring and business partner of the year.

Kelly (Michelle) Young was named Mentor of the Year for providing Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Charlotte with consistent support for her mentee. In addition to helping her mentee learn a new language, Kelly also provided support when her mentee’s mother was diagnosed with cancer.

Also receiving awards during the ceremony were:

• Shawn Planter for Mentee of the Year
• Urban Eagles for Group Mentors of the Year
• Woodstone Apartments for Business Partner of the Year
• Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Charlotte for Large Best Practices Agency of the Year
• Police Activities League for Small Best Practices Agency of the Year
• KIPP: Charlotte for Educational Leadership in Mentoring

Breana Gambrell, who was nominated for the Mentee of the Year award, received the People’s Choice Award after receiving a majority of the more than 9,000 votes cast.

The Mentoring Alliance Awards recognizes the positive impact that mentoring has in our local community. For more information about mentoring in Charlotte, visit mayorsmentoringalliance.org. For more information about the winners, visit our Facebook page.

NBS' Fast Five: Check out what's going on in local communities

• Don't miss these upcoming neighborhood and business grant deadlines
• Neighborhood Matching Grants and Facade Improvement Grants applications are due on Monday, Feb. 15. Click the link above to find out how local businesses can receive grant funding to improve their building's appearance as well as how local communities can receive a $25,000 neighborhood improvement grant.
  
  
• We're Moving: Southwest Code Enforcement office scheduled to relocate on March 7
• NBS' Southwest Code Enforcement office is moving to a new location, effective March 7. If you need to set up an appointment with a code enforcement inspector, please call 704-432-2438. 
  
  
• Home repair applications for Realtors Care Day are now being accepted
• This spring, more than 500 local realtors will help improve 25-30 homes of families in need. Low-income, elderly or disabled homeowners interested in applying for assistance must submit an application no later than Friday, Feb. 19. Contact your Community Engagement Service Area liaison or click the link above for more information. 
  
  
• Sardis Trace Senior Apartments are now 100 percent occupied
• Sardis Trace Senior Apartments opened its doors in September to serve seniors at or below 60 percent of the area median income. Three months later, the facility is already fully occupied.
  
  
• Code Enforcement Tip of the Month: Scheduling your bulky items
• Getting a head start on your spring cleaning? Don't forget to schedule a bulky item pickup by calling 311 and placing your items at the curb no earlier than the day before collection. Click the link above for additional information about preparing and scheduling pickup for your bulky items.
  
  

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