Panthers, NFL Foundation Give $200K Grant to Refurbish West Charlotte H.S. Football Field

Now, for a little bit of good news involving the NFL. A press conference was held this morning at West Charlotte High School to announce that the school will receive a new synthetic turf football field, as the result of a $200,000 grant from the Carolina Panthers through the NFL Foundation Grassroots Program. The program has helped build or renovate 290 football fields in underserved neighborhoods around the country since 1998.

This is just the latest form of community, corporate, and financial support West Charlotte High has received as numerous efforts are underway to help turnaround this once-reputable school that saw its academics and student population's well-being plummet in recent years. Project L.I.F.T. (Leadership and Investment For Transformation ) has led or coordinated many of these efforts at the high school as well as its eight feeder schools (elementary and middle), all located in Charlotte's westside.

Photos by Jarvis Holliday

There was a lot of positive energy at the press conference this morning. Of course there were officials representing Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools, the Panthers, and sponsors, including CMS' Superintendent Heath Morrison and Duke Energy Foundation president Richard "Stick" Williams, but what thrilled me the most was to see the involvement of students in the ceremony. This, after all, is who the initiative will positively impact the most, and it gives them another reason to be proud of their school and to believe that the community cares. Members of the West Charlotte High marching band played, the cheerleaders cheered, and several of the football players were there. There was also a group of student journalists conducting interviews.

West Charlotte student journalists. 

Sir Purr is excited (as always).

The refurbished football field will not only be used by the high school students but by recreational programs from the community as well.

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I Saw Auntie Anne's Inside Lowe's

I popped into Lowe's this afternoon to pick up a replacement part to fix a leaky faucet (I'm such a DIYer... ehh, a lil bit). I visited the Lowe's store near Northlake Mall, and I was surprised to see an Auntie Anne's snack shop there. I think I actually smelled those delicious warm pretzels before my eyes focused on this unexpected display (this isn't the first time I've marveled at Lowe's advancements).

In situations like this, I usually prod an employee to get more information, but I was in a bit of a hurry. So, sorry, I don't know when this Auntie Anne's opened here, but I'm pretty sure it's recently. And I did some Googling just now but wasn't able to find any mention of other Lowe's store locations that have the pretzel shop (but there could be others). If this is a pilot program, it would make sense that it rolls out in a Charlotte store, since Lowe's is headquartered in nearby Mooresville. And it makes even more sense that the home improvement store would bring a hot food option on board. I imagine that a large number of the countless contractors and construction workers who make frequent trips to Lowe's are finding themselves enticed to stop and buy a famous pretzel or pretzel dog. Not to mention all the DIYers who'll be breaking bread.

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What Does It Mean When A Family Dollar Store Opens In Your Neighborhood?

When opening a new business, particularly a brick-and-mortar store, one of the most important factors that goes (or should go) into the decision-making of the entrepreneur or corporation is the location (location, location, location, as developers say). A lot of market research and data are analyzed when new locations of franchises are being considered. So it's strategic when a franchise or chain like H&M, Chuy's, Taco Mac, or Chick-fil-A, for example, is deciding when and where it is opening in Charlotte. Among other things, it usually represents an area's population growth, and depending on the business, it might represent the affluency of that population.

But what does it mean when a new Family Dollar store opens in an area? Back in December, I was making a quick drive to the bank down the street from my house when I realized that a Family Dollar was being built. I commented on Twitter:

Noticed a Family Dollar is being built down the street from my house. Not sure if that's good or bad for my neighborhood.
— Jarvis Holliday (@HollidayInk) December 19, 2013

Over the last couple of weeks, I've had conversations with various people on topics involving socioeconomics. In a few of those conversations, we began talking about companies/stores like Walmart and Family Dollar, and in the case of Family Dollar, some interesting perspectives emerge as to the type of areas and neighborhoods the company opens stores in.

This Family Dollar is opening soon on Mt. Holly-Huntersville Road in my neighborhood.

Leon Levine opened the first Family Dollar store in Charlotte in 1959. Today, it's a publicly held, Fortune 300 company, headquartered in Matthews, with more than 8,100 stores in 46 states. It's largely viewed as a fast-growing chain, so it came as a bit of a surprise when Family Dollar announced on Thursday that it would be closing 370 stores and slowing new-store growth. This is a result of sales from the most recent quarter being down 3.8 percent. Also as part of their "immediate, strategic actions," the CEO says the company has "made a significant investment to lower prices on about 1,000 basic items." So apparently, you'll be able to buy many items at the store for even cheaper; I guess as a way to drive more customers to the stores.

Furthermore, this is how Family Dollar is described in its corporate bio:

For more than 54 years, Family Dollar has been providing value and convenience to customers in easy-to-shop neighborhood locations. Family Dollar’s mix of name brands and quality, private brand merchandise appeals to shoppers in more than 8,100 stores in rural and urban settings across 46 states. Helping families save on the items they need with everyday low prices creates a strong bond with customers, who often refer to their neighborhood store as “my Family Dollar.”

Recently, a friend told me that "You won't find a Family Dollar in Ballantyne." This goes back to the perception of the type of neighborhoods in which Family Dollar opens stores. And my friend is right; I searched the store locator on Family Dollar's website and there isn't one in Ballantyne. But according to the company's history section, where it describes how and why a young Leon Levine started Family Dollar, it says he found success opening discount stores in low to middle income neighborhoods.

If that trend continues, then does it mean that if there's a new Family Dollar store opening where you live, that your neighborhood is considered low to middle income?

This isn't at all intended to be a knock on Family Dollar as a company. I've never heard anything bad about what it's like to work for them, the way, say, we often hear complaints about Walmart. And it should be noted that the company's founder and his wife do some incredible charitable giving through the Leon Levine Foundation--their impact can be seen throughout Charlotte especially, with the tens of millions of dollars they've donated.

The reality is that a business is a brand, and brands represent things. What do you think it represents if a Family Dollar store opens in your neighborhood?

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Heirloom Restaurant Opens This Week In Charlotte, Locally Sourced; And For Me, It's Especially Local

It's not often that I get to blog about something in my neighborhood, so it is with great pleasure and excitement that I tell you about Heirloom Restaurant. About two weeks ago, I drove past the building and saw that a new sign had gone up. I wasn't even aware that a new restaurant was getting ready to open, so now I'm particularly looking forward to it because their aren't many restaurants--other than fast food--in this area, which is the Coulwood/Mountain Island area, in northwest Charlotte.

Photo credit: Jarvis Holliday

Last week, I'd noticed several cars in the parking lot at the restaurant, so I was wondering if it had opened yet. Come to find out those were the cars of the people working to get the place open. I stopped by yesterday and talked briefly to the parents of the owner, 27-year-old Chef Clark Barlowe. They told me the restaurant will open on Tuesday evening (February 11).

Barlowe is a Johnson & Wales University graduate and has experience working at some top restaurants. The food and ingredients he'll serve at his place will be locally sourced, meaning they'll be fresh--in many cases organic--and come from gardens and farms in North Carolina, including the vegetables, chicken, beef, pork, and more. This movement, called farm-to-fork or farm-to-table, has grown tremendously over the last several years in Charlotte. And it will certainly add some much-needed flair and food sophistication to this part of town (Bull & Barrister, which does well in its own right, is about the best thing we have going over here).

According to the menu on Heirloom's website, entrees will range from $21 to $31 and include: New Life Farm Half Broiler (boneless half chicken, La Ratte potato puree, kale, red eye gravy), NC Clam and Shrimp Curry (Thai chilies, lemongrass, milk broth, Carolina gold rice, basil, onion), and Asgard Farm Duck (Crispy duck confit, seared breast, red cabbage, hoecake, duck jus), among others

The restaurant is not as far away as you might think. It's only 15 minutes northwest of Uptown--take I-277N (or Exit 11B on I-77N), which becomes Hwy. 16N/Brookshire Boulevard and turn left onto Bellhaven Boulevard. Then it's about a mile down on the right, next to a branch of Suntrust Bank and across the street from the road that leads to Coulwood Middle School.

I look forward to eating there soon, and I'll let you know how it goes.

Heirloom Restaurant, 8470 Bellhaven Blvd., 704-595-7710, heirloomrestaurantnc.com, Twitter @HeirloomRestNC.

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Ed D. Kane and Anthony Hamilton Offer Gritty Look at 'Da Streets'

Many of you know Anthony Hamilton for his love songs, ballads, and soul-stirring music. But if you've followed his career since the early days, you'll recall that in addition to being nominated for Grammys, going platinum, and selling out concerts, he's always been a sought-after hook singer. And by that, I mean singing the choruses on rap songs. In fact, his first hit song was the 2002 collaboration with Nappy Roots on the rap song "Po' Folks." Two years later, he assisted Jadakiss on one of the biggest songs of The LOX member's career, "Why."

The rap collaborations have continued over the years, with A-Ham singing hooks for everyone from Common to Nas to Twista to Young Jeezy. For his latest collaboration, he brings it home to his native Charlotte, with Ed D. Kane, an artist on Anthony's own label, Mister's Music. The song is titled "Da Streets" and the video was released a few days ago.

Charlotteans Ed D. Kane and Anthony Hamilton.

The video was shot in "da streets" of Charlotte, literally, featuring gritty scenes paired with news footage of controversial national stories and civil rights issues. The visuals are to match the song's message, and you could say that it follows in the vein of the aforementioned "Po' Folks" and "Why." Unfortunately, "Da Streets" falls short in its efforts. Ed D. Kane's lyrics aren't strong enough in this song, and his profanity is a distraction. I applaud when rappers add substance to their music, but this song isn't quite "conscious" music because his attempt to bring attention to issues like drugs and violence could be confused with glorifying them. However, I do like when Ed D. Kane says, "You know you know better. Done been selling crack out your mama's house."

Anthony nails the hook, as usual. And it's good to see him continuing to rep his old hood--Beatties Ford Road, West Charlotte. I'm sure the locals surrounding him in the video appreciate the love.

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West Fest Community Celebration Returns to Charlotte's Westside this Saturday

Charlotte natives know this city before it became what it is today, the way we transplants know it. Because of my work as a journalist, I tend to learn more about this city's history than the average person who moved here within the last decade, like myself (Charlotte had the nation's fastest growing population from 2000 to 2010, by the way). And I love talking to natives who share stories about how things used to be, like how Uptown Charlotte wasn't always the hip and attractive destination it is now, and where certain low-income housing projects used to be, long since replaced by ritzy urban living. As they wax poetic on yesteryear, most will agree that we're all better off with the Charlotte of today. But for some, they want to bring back a little of what's been lost.

That's the case with West Fest, an annual community festival that thrived in the 1990s and that showcased Charlotte’s Westside. It would take place on the football field of West Charlotte High School and feature local vendors, live musical performances, community resources, games, and more. Now, through a collaborative effort led by several local organizations, West Fest returns this Saturday, August 24, noon to 6 p.m., free and open to the public.

West Fest 2013 is being presented as the latest initiative from Project L.I.F.T., the lauded public/private partnership between community leaders, Charlotte-based corporations and foundations, and Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools to help transform West Charlotte High and the eight elementary and middle schools that feed into it. The other major partners in West Fest are UNCC's Urban Education Collaborative, Radio One Charlotte, WBTV, and West Charlotte alum Amber May.

It's an event for the whole family. There'll be food, games, vendors, and a full afternoon of performances from about 20 musicians, poets, and dance groups. The performance lineup includes rappers Bettie Grind and Mr. 704, soul singer Nicci Canada, slam poet Bluz, the West Charlotte band and cheerleaders, and more before national gospel recording artist Zacardi Cortez closes out the stage. Click here for the complete schedule.

Each of the entertainment acts will be introduced by West Charlotte graduates from the 1970s through 2000s, including many who have gone one to become community leaders, like Charlotte City Councilman and mayoral candidate James “Smuggie” Mitchell and JCSU head basketball coach Steve Joyner. There was a time when West Charlotte was churning out future community leaders like them, as well as former-Charlotte-mayor-turned-recently-appointed-U.S.-Secretary-of-Transportation Anthony Foxx. That's the vital community West Fest is trying to showcase, and that Project L.I.F.T. is working year-round to bring back. It starts with the community, the parents, the youth--everyone.

In other Project L.I.F.T. news, the organization is asking fathers with students at any of its nine schools to personally take their kids to school on August 26. They're participating in the nationwide Million Father March, created by The Black Star Project, to increase adult male participation in schools. Research shows an increase in male involvement increases academic and social outcomes for students.

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Happy Birthday Anthony Foxx. The Best Is Yet to Come for You--and Hopefully Charlotte

Charlotte Mayor Anthony Foxx turns 42 years old today. If you've even slightly paid attention to news in Charlotte over the last 24 to 36 hours then you know that Foxx has been nominated by President Obama to become the next U.S. Secretary of Transportation, to replace outgoing secretary Ray LaHood.

Credit: whitehouse.gov

Foxx as Obama's latest cabinet pick is being written and opined about everywhere. Here are a few links to what the national media is saying:

What You Need to Know About Obama Transportation Pick Anthony Foxx - National Journal

Meet Anthony Foxx, Obama's Next Transportation Secretary - The Atlantic

President Obama announces Anthony Foxx pick - Politico

Obama Diversity Promise Makes Second Cabinet Like First - Bloomberg Businessweek

Locally, The Charlotte Observer has done great reporting since news leaked on Sunday that Obama would nominate Foxx the following day. The story is the main feature on today's front page.

So, you have plenty you can read up on about Foxx as far as news is concerned. Here's what I'd like to add.

In 2009, when Foxx was running for his first term as mayor of Charlotte, I wrote here on Grown People Talking: "10 Reasons Why Anthony Foxx Will Be Charlotte's Next Mayor." In that blog post, the first nine reasons I listed described the attributes that made Foxx very electable, the strength of his campaign, the political climate in 2009, and even a couple of comparisons of him to Obama. Then in the tenth point on my list, I said:

He's a Charlotte native with a terrific story. Not only do we not encounter many Charlotte natives these days (I always say that only 2 out of every 10 people I meet in Charlotte are actually from here), but we have even fewer in leadership positions. Foxx has a great story that shows what a person can accomplish with hard work, talent, and ambition. As he remarked last evening, he grew up in a neighborhood off Beatties Ford Road, where he wasn't expected to succeed. After graduating from West Charlotte High School, he then went on to graduate from Davidson College (where he served as student body president), and got his law degree from NYU. He's been a successful attorney for the last 13 years, and a city councilman since 2005.

Today, Washington's gain is Charlotte's loss. Foxx was a great fit as this city's mayor. You might not agree with all of his policies, but you have to acknowledge that not many people actually care as much about this city as he does, or are as personally invested as he is. I ran into, met with, interviewed, and wrote about Foxx several times over the next four years, including that time I proclaimed "Mayor Foxx Is Charlotte."

I had plenty of interaction with him during the year I wrote The DNC In The CLT blog about the 2012 Democratic National Convention, including this Q&A published last May and the video below I captured of a DNC press conference last April when Foxx welcomed the mayor of Los Angeles to the city.

Then when I ran into Mayor Foxx about three weeks ago, after speculation had been swirling that he was being considered for the Obama cabinet position, after he announced that he wouldn't seek reelection as mayor, we had this brief exchange:

Ran into @mayorfoxx last night. He said "Jarvis, writing about anything exciting?" I said "Not as exciting as what you have going on." #CLT
— Jarvis Holliday (@HollidayInk) April 12, 2013

At 42 years old, and with the opportunity to serve in a high-profile position in the Obama Administration for the next three and a half years, Foxx's national political success will be his for the taking. And for all the kids attending west Charlotte schools today, who may feel like they have too many obstacles to overcome to be successful in life, they can point to a guy in the White House who used to attend schools along the Beatties Ford Road corridor too.

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Pigging Out at Bull & Barrister

There aren't many restaurants (not counting fast food) where I live in northwest Charlotte, in the Coulwood/Mountain Island Lake area. But there is a good neighborhood restaurant and bar here that I don't frequent enough: Bull & Barrister. I ate dinner there last evening, and each time I go I try something different on the menu. I ordered the Pulled Pork Platter, which is 24-hour slow roasted and covered in sweet barbecue sauce. Two sides come with this entree so I chose the baked mac 'n cheese and the loaded baked potato. And because I love them, I ordered an additional side--the sweet potato waffle fries.

I was in food heaven. The pulled pork was very tender and flavorful, which isn't always the case at restaurants that don't specialize in barbecue. Everything was good, and I couldn't eat it all so I got a to-go box, which I will be opening up shortly for lunch. I also ordered dessert to go: the Barrister Chocolate Tower, a large slice of chocolate cake that was very rich and moist. Once again, surprisingly good.

If you're ever in the area, you should give Bull & Barrister a try. It's less than 20 minutes from Uptown up Brookshire Freeway, and only 10 minutes from Northlake Mall down I-485. There are great daily food and drink specials, such as half-price wine and 69-cent oysters on Mondays, 50-cent wings on Tuesdays, and half-price appetizers on Wednesdays.

Bull & Barrister Draft House and Grille, inside Callabridge Commons, 3615 Mount Holly-Huntersville Road, 704-971-3313, bullandbarrister.com.

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JCSU Is Lighting the Way in Northwest Charlotte

Over the last few years, Johnson C. Smith University, led by its president Dr. Ronald L. Carter, has worked hard on initiating revitalization efforts of the community where the university sits. Pegged as the Northwest Corridor, including a unique intersection where Beatties Ford Road, West Trade Street, West Fifth Street, and Rozzelles Ferry Road all meet, just outside of Uptown, the impact of JCSU's efforts are starting to come to light—literally. The latest is “Passing Through Light,” a new work of public art using LED technology that's located at the I-77 and West Trade Street underpass.

See more photos of "Passing Through Light" on JCSU's Facebook page. 

Lighting the underpass was a priority for Dr. Carter to make it safer for pedestrians and students, and also to make it more visually appealing to the many motorists who drive through it each day. For too long, the area around the university was seemingly neglected by the city, when it has both a valuable history and is only a mile from thriving Uptown complexes like Gateway Village, which is home to Johnson & Wales University, Bank of America offices, and numerous other corporate tenants.

"Passing Through Light" was made possible by funding from JCSU and the City of Charlotte. The project was also supported by the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Public Art Commission, which is managed by the Arts & Science Council. Through this public/private partnership, they commissioned Austrian artist Erwin Redl to create the artwork that consists of three sequences of light that slowly loop through a color gradient. If it looks familiar, it's because Redl also created the ribbons of lights that wrap around the exterior of the NASCAR Hall of Fame, which opened in Uptown nearly two years ago.

In this video, WFAE takes you inside the LED-lit public art and talks to the artist and other parties involved.

The university continues to forge ahead on previously announced projects in the neighborhood, such as Mosaic Village. I ran into Dr. Carter at an event a few weeks ago and he was excited about the progress they've made.

Saturday, March 31
JCSU is giving community members the opportunity to voice their opinions and share ideas about the future of the Northwest Corridor at the Second Annual Indaba Community Forum on Saturday, March 31. The free event will be held from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. inside Grimes Lounge in the Mary Joyce Taylor Crisp Student Union on campus (100 Beatties Ford Road), and will include breakfast and lunch. Topics to be discussed regarding the Northwest Corridor are: economic development, land use planning, education, small business development, and community leadership.

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JCSU Breaks Ground on Mosaic Village

On Friday I attended Johnson C. Smith University's ground breaking ceremony for Mosaic Village, the university's ambitious project to help revitalize the northwest corridor along West Trade Street and Beatties Ford Road. Mosaic Village is planned as a mixed-use development that will include 300 student apartments, retail space, and a parking deck. It's being constructed at 1601 West Trade St., which is next to The Arts Factory, JCSU's first off-campus facility that opened last fall. The ground breaking for Mosaic Village was actually followed by an official ribbon cutting for The Ats Factory and attendees were given a tour. This was all part of JCSU's Founder's Week Celebration.

JCSU broke ground on Mosaic Village on Friday.

This project is the latest effort in JCSU President Dr. Ronald L. Carter's vision to lead his historically black university beyond its traditionally closed gates and to not only improve the community around it, but to also strengthen the school's connection to Charlotte as a whole. Carter says he'd like to see Mosaic Village opened in 14 months, but that won't come without challenges, including a $4 million funding gap that the university has asked the City of Charlotte to assist with.

Below is video I captured from Friday's ground breaking ceremony. There were a lot of people in attendance showing their support, including Mayor Anthony Foxx, City Councilman James Mitchell, Charlotte Center City Partners President Michael Smith, members of the Griffin family who own the land, and plenty of community and business leaders, alumni, and neighborhood residents. It's not often that you see such a variety of people coming together on this part of town.

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Black History Tribute: Dr. Ronald Carter

This is the final installment in my week-long tribute to Black History Month, where I've spotlighted Charlotte-area people and organizations that are making black history.

One of the things I enjoy most about my work as a journalist is the remarkable people I often meet when I'm working on stories. Last September, I spent a great deal of time with Dr. Ronald L. Carter, president of Johnson C. Smith University. I attended at least a half-dozen of his meetings and events where he spoke, as I gathered material for the article I was writing for Charlotte magazine. Months after the article came out ("Answering the Call," November 2010 issue), I'm seeing some of the things Dr. Carter was working on come to fruition.

Dr. Carter speaking at a recent event at JCSU. Photo by Jon Strayhorn/Media Arts Collective.

In his third year at the helm of JCSU, he's passionate about helping the historically black university connect more to the city--culturally and physically. He's launched several community-based programs that he feels will expose students to great opportunities and teach them to be civic-minded. He chairs the Charlotte Streetcar Advisory Committee, not the type of committee many university presidents would roll up their sleeves for, but he wants to ensure that his university and its Beatties Ford Road community are represented in the city's transit plans. One of those plans is Charlotte's proposed streetcar. The line would run a total of 10 miles along Beatties Ford Road near I-85 through Center City along Trade Street, traveling up Elizabeth Avenue by Central Piedmont Community College, and out to Central Avenue at Eastland Mall. Charlotte Area Transit System (CATS) got a huge push in the right direction when it received a $25 million federal grant for the project last summer, but the costly streetcar still faces many economic challenges.

Dr. Carter was able to celebrate a smaller, but very important, victory two weeks ago, however. The Gold Rush, CATS' free Uptown bus service (the trolley on wheels that a lot of city and bank employees use), began its extended red line stops at JCSU on the west and Central Piedmont Community College to the east. The extension is made possible by a financial partnership between CATS, Charlotte Center City Partners, JCSU, and CPCC. Now JCSU students are able to travel to Uptown more conveniently to get to restaurants, meetings, cultural events, jobs/internships, and to catch buses and the light rail, all without using a car. Not to mention the potential for Uptown leaders--from city councilmen to business executives--to take the Gold Rush to JCSU's campus, where Dr. Carter has made the traditionally closed campus more open to building community and business relationships.

Another important initiative by the prez began in September. I attended a press conference then, in which he announced the university would be funding a community survey called Soul of the Northwest Corridor. Dr. Carter was inspired to have the study conducted after seeing the results of the Knight Foundation's Soul of the Community Project, which is a new community model that provides guidance for community and local government leaders seeking to create long-term, positive change within their cities. JCSU wanted to dig deeper and zero in on its neighborhood specifically. So it partnered with the Knight Foundation and hired Gallup to conduct the survey, which is said to be the first in the nation to be conducted at the neighborhood or community level.

Yesterday, JCSU released the results of the Soul of the Northwest Corridor Survey, in which 1,000 residents of neighborhoods along Beatties Ford Road were polled. It's a lot of data that can be particularly useful for a segment of the population that's not traditionally studied in such ways (click here to read it). I'm reminded of something Dr. Carter said a few months ago at an event in which he spoke in front of an audience of mostly African-American businessmen: "We cannot continue to say there is a problem and not define the problem." That's where Dr. Carter's going to make the most impact in the community. He's leading efforts to define the problems many African-Americans have complained about for years. And once they've been defined, real solutions can be sought.

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Chris Henry Remembered

Family and friends got together in Charlotte yesterday in honor of Chris Henry's birthday. Henry, a wide receiver for the Cincinnati Bengals, died tragically last December after falling off the back of a pickup truck on a northwest Charlotte road during a domestic dispute with his fiancée, Loleini Tonga. Tonga and their three children live here, so Henry's family came to visit to remember their loved one who died at just 26 years old. He was also remembered last night by former teammate and good friend Chad Ochocinco, who sent out a special tweet before competing on Dancing With the Stars: “Showtime in 8 minutes, going HAM tonight in memory of Chris Slim Henry R.I.P. #15 happy birthday bruh, smile on me 2night 85 15=100ways.”

Read more about Henry's family getting together for his birthday in this article on Bengals.com.

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