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Posted: March 29th, 2008 Tracy Russ

In 2005, the idea of launching a Dragon Boat was proposed by the Carolinas Asian-American Chamber of Commerce as a major Crossroads Charlotte community building initiative. Dragon Boat racing embraces and promotes competition, fair play, team building, community cohesiveness, culture and history.

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Posted: March 6th, 2008 Tracy Russ

Leadership Charlotte Class XXIX evaluated the city's planning and growth through a Crossroads Charlotte lens. The day focused on Planning and Growth and Crossroads was used to help the participants consider the future growth and development of Charlotte. The scenarios were read by Crossroads participants: Toni Bucci, Kevin Campbell, Hyong Yi and Arlette Dolphin. Toni and Kevin are graduates of LC and Hyong and Arlette are in the current class. The poets were powerful, compelling, thought provoking and were truly helpful in sparking discussion. Table discussions were passionate and candid and the majority of the class concluded that the Beat Goes On was the most plausible scenario. Others thought that Charlotte needs a "transformative event" to propel its citizens toward working on a plan to move the community in a more positive direction. Ultimately, the class agreed that it will take committed leadership along with the commitment of citizens to build a community that has improved social and interracial trust. As an organization, Leadership Charlotte is in the process of evaluating how they can use Crossroads Charlotte as a vehicle for having more meaningful impact via their community projects.

Posted: February 15th, 2008 Tracy Russ

The Diversity Advisory Council (DAC) of the Charlotte Chamber of Commerce sponsored a 2-hour introductory Crossroads session for Chamber staff and area chambers on February 6th. Over 70 staff and members from area chambers participated. Area chambers included geographic groups i.e. Ballantyne Chamber, racial/ ethnic groups i.e. The Asian Chamber, and business sectors, i.e Health Services. The participant group was both diverse and highly engaged.

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Posted: January 31st, 2008 Tracy Russ

Nearly 200 members of the extended family of Crossroads Charlotte participants and partners streamed into Extravaganza Depot for dinner and a new-year celebration on Sunday, January 27. Set in a converted train depot and themed All Aboard!, the festive event marked an important milestone for Crossroads Charlotte, which remains on track in steering focus to the year 2015.

With the start of 2008, Crossroads entered its fourth year of operation and announced plans for a communitywide scale-up. The celebration comprised a barbecue supper, live music, spoken-word poetry, greetings from civic leaders and fellowship among new and longtime project participants. Vibrant displays of Crossroads' mosaic of community "faces" as well as its signature themes and questions adorned the room while lively jazz and conversation filled the air. Vintage train cars off the depot's platform transformed into the "Crossroads Poet Express" and overflowed with guests eager to hear the improv poetry and music of Q, Laurence, Melissa, Bluz and other performing artists. Michael Marsicano, Ph.D. and Brian Collier of Foundation For The Carolinas addressed event guests, sharing their excitement about the Foundation's 50th anniversary and Crossroads' growing momentum. Susan Patterson of the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation encouraged the audience to be proud of their collective accomplishments and announced a $3.3-million Knight grant to take Crossroads to scale.

Culminating the event, a musical ensemble paid tribute to the Crossroads family with an inspiring performance of the project's theme song, "Proud." The cross-section of Charlotteans taking part in the celebration and their organizations and networks reflect the wide appeal and abundant promise of Crossroads Charlotte. The spectrum of children and teens in attendance provided not-so-small reminders that the choices we make today truly do matter.