Celebrating Our Community's Response
Leading on OpportunityWhen Charlotte was ranked last among major US cities in economic mobility for children, our community took action. The Leading on Opportunity report provides a roadmap for improving social and economic mobility for all residents. Following it's strategies, our community's public, private and nonprofit sectors are focusing on systemic and structural change to improve our children's future. While there is still much work to be done, our commitment is showing tangible results. Read highlights of our community's commitment.
Learn MoreCelebrating Our Community's Response
Leading on OpportunityOur 2017 Opportunity Report provides a roadmap for improving social and economic mobility for all residents. Following our strategies, our community's public, private and nonprofit sectors are improving our children's future.
Read MoreGreenLight Fund Invests $1 Million in Early Childhood Initiative
Queen City Nerve • Ryan Pitkin - May 29, 2019“This investment connects directly to our early care and education strategies,” [Leading on Opportunity Executive Director] Cooper-Lewter continued. “It aligns and fills a gap where early care recommendations were not being addressed and says, ‘This is something that we can do differently as a community.’”
Read MoreAs Employment Rises, African American Transplants Ride Job Wave to the South
NPR • Daniella Cheslow - May 23, 2019Don Thomas is on the front lines of that change. In Chicago, he and his wife Monica worked with children in the juvenile justice system until funding for their jobs ended. In Charlotte, he is the community impact director at Leading on Opportunity, an organization devoted to improving economic mobility in the city.
Read MoreTaking the Lead: Leading on Opportunity Advances the Call for Economic Mobility
Foundation For The Carolinas • March 27, 2019Launched in 2017, the Leading on Opportunity Council is already reshaping the way the community looks at economic mobility, from improving access to preschool to increasing funds for affordable housing.
Read MoreHow Charlotte Has Changed After Two Years of Focus on Economic Mobility
Charlotte Business Journal • Erik Spanburg - March 27, 2019Affordable housing, economic mobility and more educational and training opportunities are all part of public-private efforts started two years ago with the release of a 73-page task force report. On Tuesday, CEOs, political leaders and nonprofit executives pledged to keep pushing for investments to improve the standard of living for people in need.
Read MoreBoosting Economic Mobility Could Take a Generation, Leaders Are Told
WFAE • David Boraks - March 26, 2019It's been two years since a task force of Charlotte leaders published the Leading on Opportunity report. It outlined 21 strategies to improve economic mobility after a national study ranked Charlotte last out of 50 cities. Hundreds of business and civic leaders gathered uptown Tuesday to review the effort so far.
Read MoreCelebrating Our 50 Inaugural Opportunity Champions
Leading on Opportunity • Stephanie Cooper-Lewter - March 26, 2019It's going to take all of us to move Charlotte from 50 out of 50 in economic mobility. So we set a goal to build an Opportunity Movement that celebrates everyone's contributions.
Read MoreLeading on Opportunity Launches Community Impact Alliance
March 2019 Convening and Opportunity CafeNearly 70 Opportunity Ambassadors from around the region came together throughout the afternoon with a common goal of improving economic mobility in Charlotte, while gathered at the International House on Central Avenue.
Read MoreCommunity Impact Director Speaks to Mecklenburg Board of County Commissioners at Budget Priority Public Hearing
Yuly Rodriguez, Community Impact Director, Leading on Opportunity - January 15, 2019It is now our opportunity to rally behind our community, which in part includes the Latinx community, that represents one quarter of the children entering kindergarten in Charlotte every year - about 3,000 children.
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