Luminocity

Relatives mean everything. Every day, young people without supportive families or who are escaping precarious home situations often find themselves trapped in a downward spiral. Without the help of The Relatives, the odds are stacked against these youth.For young people in crisis, The Relatives steps in where no one else can. Over its 45-year history, The Relatives is unmatched in finding solutions for the countless challenges that confront the youth they serve. The Relatives provides relief in place of despair, acceptance in place of rejection and empowerment in place of hopelessnessTheir many programs keeps kids safe, families together, and prepares youth and young adults to be healthy, productive, engaged members of the community.Today, we sit down with the Executive Director of The Relatives, Trish Hobson, who brings a tremendous amount of experience working with at-risk communities. She shared some powerful stories about how The Relatives is supporting Charlotte youths in a time of crisis.Help further this cause at: therelatives.orgFollow Heal Charlotte on Facebook and Instagram.Find more stories like this by following us on Instagram: @luminocitypodVisit the Luminocity YouTube channel for full video interviews.

Over 1 in 3 families in Charlotte are food insecure, yet nearly 40% of all food produced in the U.S. ends up in the trash before ever reaching consumers. How can there be this much food, but still so much food insecurity? In the words of Kim April, the Founder of Feeding Charlotte. "The problem is not a lack of food in the United States, it's a distribution problem."Feeding Charlotte (formerly known as Food Connection CLT) is helping the City of Charlotte reduce food waste by connecting excess food, that would otherwise be wasted, to local non-profit organizations that serve people who are food insecure and/or homeless. Today we sat down with the Executive Director, Mendy Godman, and the Founder and Director of Food Recovery Operations, Kim Aprill, to hear more about how their helping reduce food waste AND food insecurity in Charlotte. Help further this cause at: feedingcharlotte.orgFollow Heal Charlotte on Facebook and Instagram.Find more stories like this by following us on Instagram: @luminocitypodVisit the Luminocity YouTube channel for full video interviews.

This month Luminocity is spotlighting Heal Charlotte, holistically addressing real issues in Charlotte, one community at a time.Founder, Greg Jackson, shares how the police shooting of Keith Lamont Scott in September 2016 changed his life. Shortly after the shooting, Greg showed up with others to protest the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department at its headquarters the day after the shooting but says a crucial conversation that day changed his trajectory, leading to the formation of Heal Charlotte.In addition to helping community members with food distribution, emergency housing, and youth development, Heal Charlotte is now embarking on their most ambitious project to date by launching a $10 million capital campaign to transform a neglected motel into an affordable housing campus on Reagan Drive. They believe this is chance to tackle the systemic inequities perpetuated by the city’s affordable housing crisis. By acquiring and managing their own property, the willl be able to centralize and expand their operation in order to serve a larger population. In addition to housing, the future Heal Charlotte campus will provide residents with food, ongoing mentorship and case managers to assist in transitioning out of the facility. Help further this cause at: healcharotte.orgFollow Heal Charlotte on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. Find more stories like this by following us on Instagram: @luminocitypod

Founded in 2014, Digi-Bridge has been providing courses, events, and robotic kits to children in the Charlotte community, fostering STEAM education for young learners. Digi-Bridge aims to equip shareholders with the means to foster optimal use of technology in the learning environment, ensuring that all 21st century learners have opportunities to succeed in the digital age.We sat down with the CEO of Digi-Bridge, Alyssa Sharpe, to hear about how the organization is equipping kids with learning opportunities in this ever-evolving digital age, even during a pandemic. Alyssa is a former Teacher with CMS, a certified Sci-Girls Trainer, the Principal of Sharpe Impact, and a mother-of-two.Help further this cause at: Digi-bridge.orgFollow Digi-Bridge on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. Find more stories like this by following us on Instagram: @luminocitypod

As a follow-up to our latest episode with She Built This City, we're sharing a series of interviews Andy did at the Women@Work Trade Expo at the Goodwill Construction Skills Training Center back in March. Andy had the chance to sit down with five women who have built successful careers for themselves in the construction industry in Charlotte. These women were kind enough to share their experience working in a primarily male-dominated industry, as well as share their thoughts, insights, and hopes for the future of women in construction & trades.Help further this cause at: shebuiltthiscity.orgFind more stories like this by following us on Instagram: @luminocitypod

She Built This City encourages, equips, and empowers women and girls to pursue careers in the construction and manufacturing trades. The mission is to spark interest in startups, careers, and exploration in these areas through after-school programs, camps, workshops, women-focused career fairs, and conferences. She Built This City helps women and girls in all stages of life to foster their skills and interest in maker spaces they may not traditionally be exposed to – construction, automotive, engineering, equipment operation & entrepreneurship in underrepresented spaces.Founded by Demi Knight Clark, a residential construction industry executive for over 20 years, She Built This City envisions a world where #20PercentBy2020 is not only a smashed ceiling by thousands, but also women and men are equal in all trades. As the “only woman in the room” much of her career, Demi is a passionate advocate for equal representation at the table in all things – from boardrooms to sports endeavors.She is owner of Knight Clark Collective, a boutique consulting firm, an Ironman triathlete, mountain climber, marathoner. and graduate of Yale School of Management’s Global Executive Leadership Program. In 2019 she said "no more excuses” to starting She Built This City and the rest is history. Help further this cause at: shebuiltthiscity.orgFind more stories like this by following us on Instagram: @luminocitypod

Do Greater Charlotte is helping address the lack of exposure and access to creative, technological, and entrepreneurial education within underserved communities in Charlotte. Their programs prepare learners for the future with tools and training made possible through partnership with professional creative community mentors.This episode, Andy and Jordan sit down with William McNeely, the founder of Do Greater Charlotte. William is an entrepreneur, non-profit executive, and a former Apple Market Development Executive and Educator. His career has spanned the technology, marketing, and education markets. Following his passion for helping others, McNeely left Corporate America for several years to teach technology solutions to middle school students. This experience has allowed him to utilize his unique skill set to help students explore their passions and create tangible paths to accomplish academic and professional goals. Now retired, William founded the Do Greater Foundation, dedicating his life to inspiring others to do greater things in their lives and make a greater impact on others. Help further his cause at: www.dogreater.orgFind more stories like this by following us on Instagram: @luminocitypod

Kristin Beck, Executive Director of Social Venture Partners (SVP) and Kerry Tornesello, SEED20 Volunteer Coach, share how venture philanthropy is empowering local nonprofits and encouraging social innovation in Charlotte. They also share about the impact the annual SEED20 event is having on our community. Get your ticket to the virtual SEED20 event at 7pm on March 31, 2020! Learn More:Social Venture Partners CharlotteSEED20SEED20 Tickets

Hope Laugh Play hosts LEGO Build Events at local hospitals, camps, and schools in the Charlotte and Atlanta areas. For a few playful hours, children have the opportunity to escape and have fun with LEGOs. Mark and Cathy Lewis bring in volunteers and an inventory of new LEGO sets that span all ages and interests to allow children to select their own set to build. Volunteers play alongside each child to assist with the build experience.Through hope, laughter, and play, their team of volunteers helps create joyful experiences by providing meaningful programs to those in the community who are coping with health and other life challenges.Check out the Hope Laugh Play event calendar for upcoming build events or donate LEGO sets to help spread hope, laughter, and play to children experiencing life challenges in the Charlotte and Atlanta area. FacebookInstagramTwitterSnapchat

Katie Rose from Attach Families shares how her nonprofit organization is helping families and children with attachment disorders. Attachment disorders are psychiatric illnesses that can develop in young children who have experienced significant trauma, such as abuse and neglect, in their young lives. Diagnoses of Reactive Attachment Disorder and Developmental Trauma Disorder are commonly known attachment disorders, and these disorders can only be treated by a comprehensive psychiatric assessment and individualized treatment plan. Symptoms of these disorders manifest in children as difficulty in calming down when stressed, defiant and sometimes violent behavior towards the primary caregivers, and difficulty in maintaining relationships.These disorders are prevalent in children within the foster care system, adopted children in the United States, as well as internationally, and the current foster care system is not equipped to handle these children because the children require such specialized treatment. Many times, children with this disorder are given treatment such as intensive in-home therapy, family centered treatment and are even sent to psychiatric residential treatment facilities, even though these types of treatment have proven not to help children with attachment disorders.Our main goal is to educate the general public, as well as the mental health community and departments of social services workers about the prevalence of these disorders and advocate for the right treatment for these children. Additionally, one day, with the help of wonderful donors and grants, we hope to open a center in the Carolinas, which will specialize in Attachment Therapy, Neurofeedback therapy, Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (“EMDR”) therapy, Brain Reorganization Exercises and parental support that are all affordable for these families. Please consider donating to our cause and following us on social media so that we may make these dreams a reality.Attach Families was selected for the SEED20 Class of 2020! So come support Katie and her organization on March 31, 2020.Please support Attach Families by donating and following on social media:FacebookInstagramTwitterYouTube

On the last episode of the year, Andy shares some insights and resources on finding a charity that aligns with your personal values, performing due diligence before donating, and volunteering your time in a way that is meaningful and impactful. Resources:IRA Tax-Exempt Organization SearchWebsite to Search for Non-Profits by CauseVolunteer MatchShare CharlotteGive.orgCharity NavigatorCharity WatchTED Talk on How We Think About Charity

Patriots Path is a non-profit organization that supports veterans, transitioning service members, and military spouses in finding meaningful employment opportunities by defining career goals, mapping out job search strategies, identifying opportunities, creating a marketing approach and connecting within our community to peers, mentors and coaches for continued networking and support.Get involved at: https://patriots-path.org/Follow them on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/patriotspathusa/Follow them on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/patriotspath/Check out Patricia on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/patricia-hurdle/

Magloire Lubika is the Founder and Executive Director of a Charlotte non-profit called Smell the Roses. Magloire and his team are improving the lives of those experiencing homelessness through their Sense of Purpose program. This program helps Charlotte's homeless by providing them the opportunity for things that most of us take for granted, such as a haircuts, hygiene products, a fresh meal, and most importantly, a friendship and an opportunity to share their story. Smell the Roses is working towards the goal of restoring dignity, confidence, and a sense of purpose to those experiencing homelessness in our communities.Help our homeless neighbors by donating or volunteering at https://www.smelltherosesnp.org/

The Bulb aims to increase food security and reduce food waste in Charlotte by providing local and rescued food to neighborhoods that don't have access to affordable, fresh produce. Through partnerships with local farmers, chefs, and other like-minded organizations, The Bulb provides mobile markets where communities are given access to food that will help improve their health, wellness, and happiness. Support The Bulb Today: www.thebulbgallery.org/donate-2

Families Forward Charlotte partners with low-income families to provide individualized mentoring, educational opportunities, and essential support as they walk alongside each family on their journey toward long-term stability and economic mobility.Families Forward Charlotte is currently looking for volunteer Family Liaisons to provide 4 to 6 hours per month to partner with families to help with goal setting, budgeting, accountability, and encouragement. Volunteer: http://www.familiesforwardcharlotte.org/volunteer/ Donate: https://crm.bloomerang.co/HostedDonation?ApiKey=pub_9523287f-364b-11e7-afbe-024e165d44b3&WidgetId=17408

Stephen Vaughn is the Founder and Executive Director of Charlotte Based Non-Profit Dream Chasers (formerly known as Xcel 2 Fitness). Dream Chasers is an after-school activity based program that uses functional fitness to teach kids about overcoming obstacles, facing fears, working as a team, and chasing dreams.Support Dream Chasers here: https://dreamchasers.org/

Illuminating the needs in our city, the organizations committed to serving those needs, and the people whose lives have been changed by the generosity of others.