Community Action: Charlotte’s Story of Strength, Hope, and Economic Empowerment

During this season of hope and peace, we pause to reflect on what strengthens a community and inspires us to care for one another. We see it when neighbors lift one another up, when families feel supported, and when individuals are given the dignity and opportunity to build better lives.

That is the heart of Community Action — and here in Charlotte, its impact is visible every day.

A Story of Determination

Sha’Brittany, a young single mother, earned her CNA I certification through Charlotte Area Fund’s Workforce Development Program and is now pursuing a nursing degree. Inspired by her mother’s health challenges, she is determined to help others heal with compassion and skill.

Her journey reflects what our Financial Success Coaches foster daily: confidence, possibility, and bold visions for families.

Real Outcomes for Charlotte Families

In the past year alone, Charlotte Area Fund assisted:

65 families in securing new employment
27 families in obtaining better-paying jobs
143 people completing job training or education
231 individuals receiving education support
2,757 Charlotteans connecting to community services through responsive referrals

These numbers represent more than services — they represent economic empowerment. Families are moving from surviving to thriving, building wealth, and creating futures where children see possibility instead of limitation.

Partnerships That Multiply Impact

Charlotte’s progress is strengthened through a strategic partnership with the Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) Financial Opportunity Center (FOC).

FOCs integrate three critical services under one roof:

Employment services to help residents secure and advance in jobs
Financial coaching to build credit, reduce debt, and grow savings
Income supports to connect families with benefits and resources that stabilize households

This integrated approach ensures families don’t just find jobs — they build long-term financial health. Nationally, FOC participants have seen measurable gains: higher incomes, improved credit scores, reduced debt, and increased savings. Locally, immigrant families, single parents, and working-class residents benefit from this model, stabilizing their finances and contributing to Charlotte’s economic vitality.

Accountability and Efficiency

Community Action Agencies serve millions of Americans each year. The Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) makes this possible. CSBG resources are:

Locally directed — decisions made by communities, not Washington
Efficient — at least 90% of funds go directly to local agencies
Accountable — agencies undergo published, regular audits
Impactful — providing employment support, education programs, housing stabilization, transportation help, utility assistance, and financial coaching

These investments pay dividends far beyond the initial cost. When a resident secures a living-wage job or completes training, the entire community benefits. That’s true ROI.

Why Advocacy for CSBG Funding Matters

The Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) — the nation’s only federal investment dedicated to addressing the root causes of economic hardship — faces the threat of elimination.

Without CSBG, programs like Charlotte Area Fund would lose the backbone of their funding, jeopardizing workforce training, financial coaching, and emergency assistance that thousands of families rely on.

And Charlotte is not alone. Supporting CSBG helps all 33 Community Action Agencies across North Carolina strive. Together, these agencies deliver job training, housing stabilization, financial coaching, and emergency services that empower families statewide to move from crisis to stability and from stability to prosperity.

This is why advocacy matters now more than ever. Protecting CSBG means protecting families, protecting dignity, and protecting opportunity — not just in Charlotte, but across every community in our state.

Choosing Hope Together

As we move through the holidays, let’s uplift the story that often goes untold:

Neighbors helping neighbors
Immigrant families building futures through opportunity
Local programs delivering real results
Strategic partnerships empowering families to thrive

When we invest locally, families thrive. When we strengthen Community Action, Charlotte grows stronger. And when we advocate for CSBG funding statewide, we ensure that hope is not seasonal — it becomes the foundation of North Carolina’s strength.

This is the story of Charlotte — and the story of what’s possible when we believe in our community and fight for the resources that sustain it.

Nicholas V. Wharton, President & CEO
Charlotte Area Fund, Inc.
Mecklenburg County’s Community Action Agency