City leaders inspire faculty and staff toward community and civic engagement
UNC Charlotte’s connection to the city of Charlotte’s rich history and vast community resources are helping new faculty and senior staff engage with the Queen City. Developed in response to feedback from new employees seeking a deeper connection to the city, Community Engagement Orientation is held annually in August and is designed to introduce University newcomers of less than a year to the area while underscoring its symbiotic relationship with UNC Charlotte.
“Opportunities to connect with community leaders encourage a realization among faculty and staff of the relationship between University-based research and its impact on people and organizations in Charlotte and throughout our region,” said Audra Acey, associate director of community relations, whose department works in partnership with the Office of Academic Affairs–and others–to develop meaningful onboarding opportunities.
On Aug. 12, recently hired faculty and staff participated in a day-long program that kicked off with a panel discussion at UNC Charlotte Center City before moving to several other key Charlotte locations. The opening discussion, organized by the Office of Constituent Relations, featured city council members Tariq Bokhari, District 6, and Larken Egleston, District 1. While representing opposite sides of the political aisle, the two have built a relationship based on respect and compromise, often appearing together in the community. Their unique relationship is expressed through their weekly podcast, “R&D in the QC,” where they dive into major issues facing the city.
“Rather than let political differences become an obstacle, they operate with the shared knowledge that both were elected to better the lives of the people of Charlotte,” said Anna Helms, assistant director of constituent relations.
Later in the day, Tamara Johnson, director of engaged scholarship, who leads a number of community-based initiatives on behalf of the University, led a discussion among leaders of several University community partners. They were Laura Belcher, president and CEO of Habitat for Humanity of Charlotte; Laura Clark, president and CEO of United Way of Central Carolinas; Alisahah Cole, chief community impact officer for Atrium Health; and Darlene Heater, executive director of University City Partners.
Participants also toured select Charlotte neighborhoods with historian Tom Hanchett and the Community Building Initiative. At the Levine Museum of the New South, historian Will Griffin delivered an overview of Charlotte’s history. The group shared ideas for community-engaged scholarship during a visit to the Discovery Place Education Studio, where they met UNC Charlotte faculty member, Lori Thomas, director of research and faculty engagement for UNC Charlotte’s Urban Institute. The day concluded at Discovery Place, where staff, several alumni among them, co-presented with faculty members and doctoral candidates.
Photo, left to right, Charlotte City Council Members Larken Egleston, District 1; Tariq Bokhari, District 6; and Anna Helms, Constituent Relations.