Civility Localized

05/25/2026

Today we take a moment to recognize and mourn all who have given their lives while serving in the U.S. Armed Forces.

From the Martyrs of the Race Course at Charleston, SC in 1865, to the 13 servicemen and women who died just this year, we honor you.

Want to learn more about the first Memorial Day? Read on here: https://chsasalh.com/2024/05/23/decoration-day-charlestons-gullah-community-honoring-the-fallen-first-memorial-day/

05/21/2026

The month of May is for celebrating Small Business. At Civic Impact Academy, we believe strongly in the role of grassroots growth and communal thriving.

Civic Impact Academy is the passion project of Charlotte-based entrepreneur Christine Edwards Pitkin and the team .

To better understand how our 2026 Civic Impact Academy will operate, check out the recording of our Virtual Information Session. Together we're building civic know-how that turns passion into action.

2026 Virtual Info Session: https://youtu.be/nGN06xhr7zg?si=azjYgpzTNIk7Ityf

And be sure to visit CivicImpactAcademy.com to review success stories from previous cohorts, and to sign up for our mailing list. Staying informed is the first step to making your civic impact.

Civic Impact AcademyWhere Passion Meets Action A Unique Civic Education ExperienceWelcome to the Civic Impact Academy, where community members and government leaders work together to move ideas from passion to action. The Civic Impact Academy is a unique 14-week program designed to foster understand...

05/14/2026

Many thanks to all the folks who joined last night's Virtual Information Session for the 2026 Cohort of Civic Impact Academy. We always appreciate opportunities to meet with folks in real time and answer questions to help spread the word about what we've built.

Civic Impact Academy is for anyone who has been pushing forward as a community leader, change-maker, and catalyst for progress. It's just one way to network in Charlotte, build solutions with local government professionals, and improve community outcomes.

Visit CivicImpactAcademy.com for more and to watch the replay soon!

Civic Impact AcademyWhere Passion Meets Action A Unique Civic Education ExperienceWelcome to the Civic Impact Academy, where community members and government leaders work together to move ideas from passion to action. The Civic Impact Academy is a unique 14-week program designed to foster understand...

05/13/2026

Mark your calendar for tonight at 6:30 p.m.!

We're hosting our second Civic Impact Academy Info Session, and this time it's virtual. Get all your questions about Civic Impact Academy answered during one convenient online event.

There's still time to sign up and get the link via Eventbrite: https://lnkd.in/dpA3_6sz

We welcome community questions and comments about participating in this year's cohort.

We'll hear from alumni, our Program Manager, and our Founder and hopefully from you!

If you can't make it tonight, take a moment to stop by CivicImpactAcademy.com and sign up for our mailing list so we can share the recording with you via email.

Thanks for supporting local civics and being part of our community. We hope to see you on Zoom!

05/12/2026

New on the Civility Localized Blog:

Celebrating Small Businesses, the heart of our communities.

This Small Business Month, we celebrate entrepreneurs and the government agencies who hire them!

Government contracting has long been an important way to build state, local, and national infrastructure. When done well, competetive government contracting can improve design, community well-being, and social resilience.

We believe that the most effective way to serve a community is to work with the people who know it best. At Civility Localized, being a small business means we care about every voice, and we bring that care to public projects at scale.

Read on to learn how important small businesses are to the government contracting and community growth ecosystem.

CivilityLocalized.com/blog

05/11/2026

May 20th in Charlotte, North Carolina! Join the MAYDAY: Women In Distress Walk & Rally

Pastor Tammy McCollum.
Vice Mayor Nancy Metayer.
Dr. Cerina Fairfax.

Those are just some of the women who were recently murdered by their partners.

Are you outraged? You should be!

Here is an opportunity to turn your anger, frustration, and sadness into action.

Join Kristie Puckett of Second Chance Federation and me, Melody C. Gross of Courageous SHIFT, at MAYDAY: Women in Distress on Wednesday, May 20, 11:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Together, we will walk from the Bank of America Tower at 620 S. Tryon Street to the rally in front of First Ward Park.

Why Uptown Charlotte? Regardless of job title, position in the community, or socioeconomic level, any woman can be impacted by intimate partner violence.

We will honor the women murdered by their partners, amplify the voices of those scared into silence, and learn how to support a loved one or community member. You’ll hear from:

Kristie Puckett, Chief of Staff, Second Chance Federation
Natasha Witherspoon, Philanthropic Strategist + DV Advocate
Joshua Shepherd, Director of Operations, A Call to Men
Racquel McNeil, Reproductive Justice Birthworker + Doula, The Queen’s Collective Birthing
Melody C. Gross, Author + Speaker + DV Disruptor, Courageous SHIFT

Ready to take to the streets? RSVP at https://posh.vip/e/mayday-women-in-distress or just show up!

Can’t make the walk but still want to support? Email [email protected] for other ways to engage.

Sponsored by:
Courageous SHIFT
Second Chance Federation
Sol Nation
Sunshine Media Network

05/11/2026

Mecklenburg Transportation System (MTS) wants to hear from you!

MTS is studying how microtransit could better serve residents with mobility challenges across Mecklenburg County and your input matters.

A series of drop-in Information Sessions are open to the community.

Stop by anytime during the session window, grab a light refreshment, and share your feedback on how MTS can improve, and whether microtransit is right for our region.

Here's the schedule:
Thursday, May 14
Belle Johnston Community Center
1000 Johnston Drive, Pineville
10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

Thursday, May 21
Eastway Regional Recreation Center
3150 Eastway Park Drive, Charlotte
9:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.

Wednesday, May 27
West Charlotte Recreation Center
2401 Kendall Drive, Charlotte
10:15 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.

MTS staff will be on-site to answer questions and gather your feedback.
These are drop-in information sessions. Registration is not required but is preferred.

Learn more and register at www.Engage.MeckNC.gov/Microtransit

We hope to see you there!

05/07/2026

Charlotte entrepreneurs, mark your calendars for the May 13th Breakfast & Business session on small business resilience!

Hosted by and The City of Charlotte's Economic Development Department, this session is free and open to the public.

The event will feature a fireside chat led by Vanessa V. Mathews, founder and chief resilience officer of business consulting firm Asfalis Advisors.

Key Discussion Topics include the current business climate, specific pressures facing Charlotte’s small business community, and how the City of Charlotte is addressing business resilience.

Learn more and get tickets today: https://ticketsclt.com/e/breakfast-business-a-roadmap-for-small-business-re

May is Small Business Month, so QCity Metro has teamed with Charlotte Economic Development to host Breakfast & Business, a free session focused on preparing local entrepreneurs for an increasingly uncertain business environment. The event will feature a fireside chat led by Vanessa V. Mathews, found...

05/07/2026

The Board of Education is currently seeking applicants for three committee vacancies.

If you are interested in serving on the Library Board of Trustees, the Community Equity Committee, or the Community Capital & Bond Committee, please submit your application by the May 20 deadline.

Full details and the application can be found here: https://tinyurl.com/hcvnbjr5

05/06/2026

We're hosting another Civic Impact Academy Information Session next week!

We'll meet via Zoom on Wednesday, May 13th at 6:30 PM.

Join us to learn when, where, and how to get involved in a civic change-makers community right here in Charlotte. We host an academy every fall to empower everyday people to make real changes in their neighborhoods by leveraging people power within existing government systems and programs. If you want to build social capital, improve community engagement, and get off the sidelines and into the real world, the Civic Impact Academy could be for you!

RSVP to attend: https://www.eventbrite.com/cc/civic-impact-academy-2026-4830664

Don't forget to sign up for the mailing list on our website to get updates in your inbox: CivicImpactAcademy.com/apply