“Executive Directors should be at the bottom of the pyramid, supporting everyone else” #Interactive2023 Welcoming America @ourBRIDGEkids

“The work is taking people from fear, to tolerance, to welcoming, to inclusion” Welcoming America #Interactive2023 @ourBRIDGEkids

Four ways in which the welcoming work is done: 1)Community-led and Community-owned 2) Institution or agency-led 3) Co-opted or self centered (aka stolen) 4) Co-design or “walking beside” To unroot paternalism and colonialism-> BEFORE WE WALK BESIDE, WE MUST LEARN TO WALK BEHIND

(Un)Documented Voices: “I wish people I just met stopped asking me if I go back home often… I’m running out of excuses and I hate to lie” ~Immigrant in Charlotte, NC. #Undocumented #Immigrantlife #HereToStay

Huge engagement on the Eastside- proud Americans including our largest immigrant communities - an area that deserves investment - especially safe mobility!

.@ourBRIDGEkids is a HUGE opportunity to leverage resources for our immigrant community- 17% of our local population! #1 second language in CMS is Russian (Ukraine). Huge Burmese diaspora. This is an engine of economic opportunity for all of us! #meckbocc Charlotte City Council

Spanish > Russian - there are over 150 languages spoken in CMSGov Stephanie Sneed

The Rise of the East Side Summit “What else needs the attention of the City, the County, and the BoE?” IMMIGRANTS. Engagement, Language access, MH & Community IDs came as the Top 4 recommendations for the new year among the entire room. Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools City of Charlotte Mecklenburg County

And allocate funding specifically to support immigrants’ education, well-being, and stability.

So proud that the new "Charlotte is Home Center" will be located in D4 (Aldersgate campus) & will provide much needed support to our immigrant & refugee community! #mark4thepeople #more4d4 #d4ward

Glad to have the support of Mecklenburg County for this project! Charlotte Is Home Center is women-led and the 1st one-stop-hub for newcomers in North Carolina. Carolina Migrant Network, @ourBRIDGEkids Charlotte Community Health Clinic #immigrants #Refugee #Newcomers #HealthAccess #Justice #Stability

Freedom Christian Academy in Fayetteville, NC got >$1.2 million for vouchers this year. They only take students whose parents have a "vibrant relationship with Jesus Christ" and who demonstrate "a desire to learn." This institution shouldn't get public dollars. #nced #ncpol

Excited to visit Casa Azafran and learn best practices to support our refugee & immigrant neighbors at the new Charlotte Is Home Center in Charlotte! Thank you My Brother’s Keeper Charlotte-Mecklenburg for the support to make this trip happen! Charlotte Community Health Clinic Carolina Migrant Network

That’s 🐎 💩, Franklin Graham. The real question is how “evangelicals” can support someone who is outwardly and obviously a completely immoral, unethical and unChristian man whose constant terrible decisions are finally catching up with him. Can you explain that, Franklin?

Enjoying Rock en Español and Friday nights at Camp North End #BakalaoStars #CharlotteNC

Happy Pride y’all!!

The BoDs of The Charlotte Merchants Foundation visited @ourBRIDGEkids! I LOVE having closer relationships w funders, the ability to answer questions and talk together about the work we do everyday and why we do it 🙌🏼 Thanks FFTC for coordinating ✨ #Charlotte #philanthropy

De chiquitín te miraba de afuera. 10 años atrás, el Enzo Martínez y un tal Iván Bonus. Hoy jugador de Charlotte Independence #WeAreCLT #char10tte

Will China and Russia step in and we’ll get a full-on war? Or will they now just do whatever THEY want in Taiwan andthe Ukraine? Maybe that’s the Art of the Deal we’ve been underestimating this long.

Democrats “condemning” ICE actions are the equivalent of Republicans offering their “thoughts and prayers”.