Elvis Menayese

The annual Charlotte Film Festival returns this month for its 18th year, bringing more than 140 films to the Independent Picture House. The festival aims to spotlight an array of films that provide artists with a platform to showcase their craft.

The second annual Charlotte Soul Festival will return Saturday to First Ward Park, bringing together music, art and community resources in a celebration of Black culture.

Hundreds of people are expected to gather in Charlotte on Saturday for a candlelight vigil recognizing those who have died from drug overdoses and raising awareness about addiction recovery.

As parts of west Charlotte continue to change, a small, nearly century-old house in the Enderly Park neighborhood serves as both a community gathering place and the backdrop for a new immersive play centered on Black joy, belonging and resilience.

The Bechtler Museum of Modern Art has made only its second artwork purchase since opening in Charlotte in 2010, acquiring a painting that honors Black history and commemorates Juneteenth.

People returning from incarceration often struggle to find work or stable housing. State and local governments have launched programs to help former inmates rebuild their lives, but those efforts can be limited and face challenges of their own. In Mecklenburg County, two programs aim to help formerly incarcerated individuals overcome those challenges by providing opportunities and hard lessons.

An immersive play debuts in Charlotte Thursday as part of an effort to spotlight Black joy in a rapidly changing neighborhood.

The fourth annual Charlotte Asian Film Festival will return later this month with a focus on belonging, cultural identity and mental health.

A Charlotte program designed to help close the digital divide while providing job opportunities for formerly incarcerated people has shut down after one year of operation.

A workshop on Monday aimed to help entrepreneurs and small business owners in west Charlotte strengthen their digital marketing skills and build connections with fellow business owners.