Search results for

The State of Black Health conference is where hundreds of community leaders and equity advocates from every background come to address themes and find solutions for the social and economic injustices that have marginalized Black communities and led to deep health disparities.

This year’s theme, A Call for Health Justice, is a summons for health equity advocates to present on the programs and initiatives that have helped move the needle toward improved health outcomes in our communities.

Within our Wellness and Chronic Disease Reduction, Institutional Reform, and Economic Advancement conference tracks, we offer stimulating panel discussions, engaging breakout sessions, and networking opportunities for attendees.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

April 28th, 2025

Contact:
Lotticia M. Shefferson
Chairman of the Friends of West Meck Advisory Board
westmeckadvisoryboard@gmail.com
www.FoWMAdvisoryBoard.org

FRIENDS OF WEST MECK ADVISORY BOARD ANNOUNCES 5th ANNUAL HIGH FIVE POUR - FUTURE READY FUNDRAISER

[CHARLOTTE, N.C.] — The Friends of West Meck (FoWM) is thrilled to announce its annual “Future Ready” fundraiser event, scheduled to take place on Thursday, June 5, 2025, from 5-9 PM. This eagerly awaited event aims to raise monetary capital and expand social capital for the Hospitality and Tourism students at West Mecklenburg High School.

As a 501(c)3 organization serving in an advisory capacity, FoWM is committed to ensuring that students at West Mecklenburg Academy are well-prepared for various careers within the hospitality and tourism industries.

This year’s ‘High Five Pour Bourbon & Whiskey Tasting’ will feature curated sampling flights, a silent auction, and a brief program highlighting student achievements. With 75-100 influential guests from Charlotte’s philanthropic and hospitality communities, this is a prime opportunity for brand recognition and community impact. The primary goal of the “Future Ready Fundraiser” is to raise $10,000 in support of West Mecklenburg High School students for experiential and educational opportunities.

The event is set to take place at The Union at Station West, located at 919 Berryhill Road #Suite 105, Charlotte, NC 28208. We will be accepting in-kind donation requests as well in the form of bourbon and whiskey for guest sampling, charcuterie board items, monetary donations, catered items/desserts, and silent auction items. This event presents an excellent opportunity for brand recognition among a select group of influential individuals in the Charlotte community.

For more information on sponsorship opportunities or to RSVP for the event, please review this link: 5th Annual High Five Pour-Future Ready Fundraiser

About Friends of West Meck:
Friends of West Meck (FoWM) is a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting the educational and career development needs of students at West Mecklenburg High School. The Friends of West Meck supports one of Charlotte’s under-resourced, Title I high schools. The FoWM engages students in real-world, work-based learning opportunities to strengthen their content understanding and prepare students for careers in the hospitality and tourism pathway. The board also provides supplemental opportunities to reinforce learning objectives focused on the Career Technical Education continuum of career awareness, exploration, and preparation. Through strategic partnerships and fundraising efforts, FoWM aims to provide students with the resources and opportunities necessary for success in the hospitality and tourism industries.

Join us for An Evening on Broadway! 🎶
Step into the magic of the stage with Sound of the Carolinas on Saturday, May 31 at 6 PM at Davidson United Methodist Church!

Enjoy unforgettable music from beloved shows including:
✨ The Sound of Music
🧹 Wicked
🎻 Fiddler on the Roof
💃 West Side Story
🎼 Cole Porter classics
🇫🇷 Les Misérables
...and more!

Admission is free, but donations are welcome – bring friends and family for a night of Broadway favorites performed by your local orchestra!

The evening features award-winning BBQ, an open bar, live music, raffles, a corn hole tournament, and a silent auction, all to raise funds for the Cool Kids programs like tutoring, care packages, smile celebrations, and more. Every dollar raised goes directly to these vital services for families going through some of life’s hardest challenges.

Your support would not only bring smiles to our guests but also help us give strength and joy to some incredibly brave kids in our community.

Celebrate 14 years of Big Spoon at our 2nd Annual Birthday Bash! The festival-like celebration will include shopping from an incredible lineup of food, beverage, and craft vendors (think beer, cocktail syrups, coffee, macarons, jams, a build-your-own bouquet station, ceramics, candles, and more!), with proceeds benefiting Paws4Ever Animal Rescue! We’ll also have meet-and-greets with some sweet (adoptable) furry friends, and a shopping/sample station for Big Spoon’s entire lineup of nut butters and snack bars. The event is free to attend, open to the public—dogs included! (outdoors)—and fun for the whole family. We can’t wait to see you there.
Participating vendors (in addition to Big Spoon Roasters) include: Alley Twenty-Six, Bright Black Candles, Eno River Brewing, Fillaree, J'Ellen Jam, Le Petit Amour Macarons, Locopops, Paws4Ever, Savage Daughter Flowers, and Ware Ware Ceramics.

Please note there is no parking available on-site, but free parking is provided nearby at Joe Van Gogh (505 Meadowlands Dr), Grace Hill Church (515 Meadowlands Dr), and Barlow Scientific (504 Meadowlands Dr).

Get ready to test your knowledge of Charlotte's rich history in a fun and fast-paced trivia game! Drop in and see how much you know about Charlotte's historic neighborhoods, influential figures, sports teams, and more, and enjoy a delicious slice of pizza from Geno D's on us. Admission is free!

Grab a drink and light bites, and join us for an informative social hour learning about the latest efforts to promote democracy, both locally and nationally. How can our historical experiences shape our civic engagement today? We'll chat about this and more. Admission is free!

Join us for a fun event that brings the area’s top breweries, food trucks, and entertainment together to support affordable housing and supportive services for Charlotte’s chronically homeless neighbors!

Brewers Ball guests will enjoy craft brew and food tastings while networking with neighbors in a lively, welcoming atmosphere.

Exclusively for those 21 years of age and older. Bring your ID.

Business casual - fun comfortable atmosphere.

While we love our pets, there are no pets allowed at this event.

This event is rain or shine.

Mecklenburg County residents are invited to join their neighbors from across the community to support our elders and those who care for them on World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (WEAAD).

Age-Friendly Mecklenburg, AARP Charlotte, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of N.C. are co-hosting a walk and wearing purple to raise awareness of abuse, neglect, and exploitation of older persons.

You’re invited to a night of socializing and science at Science on the Rocks—winner of Charlotte Magazine’s Best of the Best Award.

Uptown’s biggest 21+ social event is back, and you’re invited to join us monthly when Discovery Place Science stays open after hours for adults only. Grab a cocktail, encounter an animal, see a science show and get hands-on in our labs with 1,000 of your closest friends!

Dance to the music or chill in our 7-story Charlotte IMAX Dome Theatre for a documentary or planetarium show. Grab a date or a group of friends and make the night your own!

Our reimagined monthly series lets you experience the Museum after hours in a grown-up, kids-free environment. Create an evening all your own by adding cocktails and upgraded experiences when you arrive.

Tickets must be purchased online in advance. Tickets sell fast—get yours before they’re gone!

There are TWO opportunities to upgrade your ticket:

Add-On: Workshop Experience: DIY Pet Toys
DIY Pet Toys: Learn the science behind pet play and braid a tug rope, knot a snuffle mat, or craft a catnip plushie for your pet best bud.

Add-On: Digistar 7 Planetarium Show in IMAX
Mars: the Ultimate Voyage – Join us for a cosmic adventure that will leave you awestruck and inspired.
Whether you are a space enthusiast or simply seeking an extraordinary experience, this Planetarium show is a must-see!

For nearly three decades, Jeff Corwin has been telling stories of wildlife and nature to a global audience through his many celebrated television series on ABC, NBC, Travel Channel, CNN, Food Network, Disney Channel and Discovery Networks. Jeff is currently the creator, executive producer and presenter of the groundbreaking television series Wildlife Nation, which debuted as the top-rated TV program on ABC in October 2021. Wildlife Nation explores the remarkable story of North American conservation. Join us for a discussion and “meet-and-greet.” This event has two tiers of ticket access. “VIP Reception” tickets cost $60 for general admission and $51 for members of Grandfather Mountain’s Bridge Club – plus tax. “Presentation” tickets are $25 for general admission and $20 for Bridge Club members.

Mark your calendars—Rainbow Riot hits the track June 21st! Three back-to-back bouts, big derby energy, and a celebration of community and pride.

Join us for a compelling panel discussion that explores nature’s resilience after Hurricane Helene, with powerful findings and updates one year later. The event will open with meteorologist Brad Panovich setting the stage of the storm’s path and record-breaking impacts on our region. From there, a panel discussion with Panovich, wildlife biologist Marquette Crockett and geologist Philip Prince will provide insights into key questions such as how the natural world changed because of Helene, what we’ve learned from the storm and what findings may still be to come. The panelists will share their expertise and research from their fields of study and reflect on how extreme weather continues to shape our environment. Grandfather Mountain Stewardship Foundation President and CEO Jesse Pope will moderate the discussion. Following the talk in the Wilson Center’s Classroom in the Clouds, eventgoers will experience some social time with heavy hors d’oeuvres and the opportunity to mingle with other attendees and the panelists. A nature-inspired concert by traveling composer/performer Ben Cosgrove will then take place at the Williams Outdoor Learning Space. (The Classroom in the Clouds will be the rain location for the concert.) Tickets go on sale online for this event at 10 a.m. on Thursday, June 26.

🧀 Mac & Cheese Throwdown – For a Cause – RETURNS JUNE 14TH! 🧀
Join us for a delicious, cheese-filled showdown at Pilot Brewing — and help support a great cause while you’re at it!
This year’s Mac & Cheese Competition benefits Good Soles, a Charlotte-based nonprofit providing steel-toed boots and non-slip shoes for those transitioning out of homelessness and into the workforce.
Your $20 ticket includes:
✅ Unlimited mac & cheese samples
✅ A vote for your favorite
✅ A good deed — $10 from every ticket goes directly to Good Soles
📅 Date: Saturday, June 14th | 2-4pm
📍Location: Pilot Brewing
🎟️ Tickets: $20 (21+ only permitted) - bit.ly/4cHZzUY
Note: When you buy tickets, no physical tickets will be sent to you, we have your name, and the number of tickets you purchased, on a list. Just check-in with your ID when you arrive to the event!
🧀 Think your mac has what it takes to melt the competition? DM us or email rachael@pilotbrewing.us to enter as a competitor instead — limited spots available so don't hesitate!
Eat good. Do good. Vote with your fork. 💛
See you then!

Join artist Rupam Varma to learn about the history of Mithila art, a traditional Indian painting style characterized by vibrant colors, geometric patterns, and illustrations of nature. You will leave each class with your own Mithila motif! This event is sponsored by Culture Blocks, a community partnership funded by
Mecklenburg County.

Your Charlotte Symphony brings to life the legendary score of the supernatural swashbuckler that launched a beloved franchise. Join Will Turner (Orlando Bloom) and the charismatic pirate Captain Jack Sparrow (Johnny Depp) as they join forces to rescue Elizabeth Swann (Keira Knightley) from the clutches of the infamous crew of the Black Pearl.

You're invited to a FREE Dance Open House with trial classes for ages 3 to Adult! Enjoy refreshments, meet instructors, tour the studio, and experience the joy of dance from 9:30 AM–2:00 PM. Don’t miss special registration deals before our season kicks off July 7!

Be a part of our region’s largest celebration of trails and the outdoors! On Saturday, June 7, Carolina Thread Trail is spreading the National Trails Day fun across North and South Carolina with 15 FREE guided outdoor programs across 15 counties. Programs start as early as 8:30am and continue throughout the day. Registration requested. Presented by Duke Energy.

The southern Appalachians are world-renowned for different types of fungi, from mushrooms to lichens, and are home to more than 2,000 species. Here’s a chance to learn about the lifestyle and habitats of fungi, as well as observe many kinds of fungal fruiting bodies, including mushrooms growing at higher elevations. Participants will learn how to identify them by size, shape and color. You will also inoculate a log with shiitake mushroom mycelium to take home with you. After an interactive introduction to the fungi kingdom, which includes inoculating the logs, we’ll take a short slow stroll in search of mushrooms growing on the mountain to collect representatives of different fungal families to study back in the classroom. Through this workshop and field exploration, you’ll learn about fungal habitats, toxicology and the important roles fungi play in the forest ecosystem. The workshop is designed for beginners, but veteran foragers will also glean new insights.This event costs $60 for general admission and $51 for members of Grandfather Mountain’s Bridge Club – plus tax. Limited to 12 participants.

October is one of the best times of year to stargaze at Grandfather Mountain. The air is cool and clear, and the summer constellations are still very prominent, with some early winter sights making their appearance later in the evening. Our goal for this class is to create a familiarity with the night sky and learn the basics of stargazing that can be applied on your own on any clear night throughout the year. We’ll start in the classroom by exploring some of the best print and digital resources for exploring the night sky and cover some of the basics of stargazing and how to orient to the night sky. We’ll also discuss the use of planispheres, star maps and star charts to find some of the most beautiful deep sky wonders that can be seen through binoculars or small telescopes. During the evening hours, we’ll be out at various viewing locations on the mountain, practicing our stargazing skills while looking for meteors and learning about some of the most prominent stars, constellations and other objects visible this time of year. This event costs $60 for general admission and $51 for members of Grandfather Mountain’s Bridge Club – plus tax. Limited to 15 participants.