Northwest Community Day kicks off National NeighborWorks® Week in Charlotte
CHARLOTTE, N.C., June 1, 2015 – Approximately 500 local residents will congregate at Double Oaks Masonic Outreach Center & Anita Stroud Park this Saturday, June 6, for the 5th Annual Northwest Community Day in celebration of neighborhood pride and unity.
Communities along the Statesville Avenue Corridor plan the collaborative event, which brings neighboring families and individuals together to strengthen bonds, celebrate youth achievements throughout the school year, and recognize the mentors and torchbearers leading positive change in the community. The event, held from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., is free to attend.
The focus of this year’s festival is environmental stewardship and promoting healthy lifestyles, including healthy eating. The Healthy Choices Pavilion will offer free fresh fruits to attendees, and 150 families will walk away with food bags filled with non-perishable items, thanks to a grant from NeighborWorks® America in recognition of the common summertime food insecurity experienced by many low-income families in the area. At noon, Firebirds Wood Fired Grill chef Rashaune Davis will perform a live cooking demo where he’ll reimagine popular dishes to fit a healthy diet.
Additionally, the event will feature an array of family fun activities including inflatables, arts and crafts, giveaways and live performances by Northwest School of the Arts students. Attendees will also hear testimony from community and neighborhood leaders about their experience in community activism.
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Housing Partnership (DreamKey Partners) and The Homeownership Center of Charlotte are sponsoring the event in collaboration with City of Charlotte Neighborhood & Business Services, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department and NeighborWorks® America. DreamKey Partners has worked closely with partner organizations and the public and private sectors to revitalize many of the neighborhoods within the Statesville Avenue Corridor.
“This event engages residents in a way that builds leadership capacity and promotes inclusiveness within traditionally underserved neighborhoods,” said Julie Porter, President of DreamKey Partners. “These neighborhoods have seen extraordinary change and renewal over the years and it’s important to celebrate the individuals and organizations that have played a role in the transformation.”
The Northwest Community Day is part of a weeklong celebration recognized locally and nationally as NeighborWorks® Week. From June 6-14, people and organizations in more than 4,400 communities across the country are celebrating neighborhood revitalization efforts and hosting events that change, educate and empower.
For more information, visit CMHP.org.