Enlarge Participants discuss initiatives at The State of Ethnic Charlotte meeting at The Urban League.

Posted: June 30th, 2010 Lashawnda Becoats

When a coalition of about 60 participants met Tuesday (June 29) at the Urban League of the Central Carolinas to discuss The State of Ethnic Charlotte, the numbers from the report weren’t pretty.

The SOEC details the disparities in health, education, economics and social  justice between Whites, Blacks, Hispanics, Asians and American Indians in Cabarrus, Catawba, Gaston, Iredell, Mecklenburg, Rowan, Union and York County, S.C.

UNC Charlotte’s Urban Institute gathered the data from the 2008 Census and the American Community Survey. Here are some of the facts for Mecklenburg County:

• Hispanics are the largest population living below the poverty line.

• Black teens have babies 8.5 times more than whites.

• American Indians are denied mortgage loans more than any race.

• The unemployment rate for blacks is 2.3 times higher than that of whites.

After the data was reviewed, participants gathered into four smaller groups  to discuss the issues, viable solutions and to identify other community agencies in the area that are already working towards the goal.

Although the statistics were dismal, organizers agree that stats in some areas such as unemployment could indeed be even than listed higher because the survey doesn’t take into account individuals that didn’t participate. Other areas that lacked some quantitative numbers were health and social justice.

Despite the findings, organizers are hopeful and want to host more town hall meetings in the next six to nine months. “This is not just about the numbers,” said Meredith Ledbetter, SOEC coordinator. “We want people to realize that we want to do something about it.”

In attendance were representatives from churches, foundations, corporations, elected officials, health care and academia.

What’s next? The Urban League plans to launch a “State of Ethnic Charlotte” blog on its website in mid-July. Organizers say they want the community to weigh in on topics of concern and keep the conversation going. The topics are scheduled to change every three weeks on the blog.

The  “State of Ethnic Charlotte” book is scheduled to be released early next year.

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