SERIES OVERVIEW
Statistics show that people of color are at greater risk for health complications of COVID-19 because of underlying systemic and social factors. There's a similar disparity when it comes to family and business finances, plainly visible wherever people are seeking help.
DISCUSSIONS
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The pandemic has disproportionately impacted Black and Latino communities. We sit down with Charlotte’s Black and Latino business leaders and analysts to understand what is behind these racial disparities and what solutions might lead us toward a more equitable economy. Time and Date: 9 a.m. Nov. 17, 2020
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Shutdowns during the coronavirus pandemic devastated the economy and hit Black and Latino communities especially hard. Business owners and workers made their living in industries that saw customers vanish such as health care, hospitality and transportation. Time and Date: 12 p.m. Nov. 20
LATEST ARTICLES
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North Carolina’s eviction moratorium is soon to expire on March 31 and the Latin American Coalition says the organization has been receiving an influx of calls from people asking for support.
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The number of homeless residents in Mecklenburg County increased during the pandemic. Hope Vibes aims to help people experiencing homelessness with basic needs — like showering and washing clothes — through the Hope Tank.
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Mahogany Mermaids upend decades of stereotypes by teaching Black adults to swim, but Charlotte’s minority youth swim team is fighting to stay afloat.
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This week, the Biden administration announced changes in eligibility to the Paycheck Protection Program in an attempt to help small and minority-owned businesses gain access to PPP loans. While experts feel it will help businesses, there is some concern with the timing.
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The owners of homes built by Habitat for Humanity tend to be in frontline and essential service occupations hit especially hard by the pandemic. Now, Habitat homeowners are having a harder time paying their mortgage. The organization’s Charlotte office reports that about 330 are behind in their mortgage payments – about triple the amount from a year ago.
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The Wedding Report estimates the wedding industry will lose $47 billion in sales over 2020 and 2021 because of the pandemic. Weddings were canceled, leading the flower business to take a hit, too. Everyone is trying to recover in 2021 — but it's still an uphill battle.
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The West End Fresh Seafood Market has been a staple in the West End neighborhood for more than 22 years. But the coronavirus pandemic brought hard times to the restaurant, and almost forced owner Bernetta Powell to close its doors. With help through the city, Powell made it through. WFAE’s Gracyn Doctor has the story on how she survived.
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The restaurant industry has been clobbered by the coronavirus pandemic. Nearly 20% of restaurants nationwide have permanently closed. And full-service restaurants that are still open are seeing a nearly 40% drop in sales. But one Charlotte restaurant is thriving, even though it opened just two weeks before the coronavirus shutdown in 2020.
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Payments on federal student loans were supposed to begin again on Jan. 31 after being put on pause for most of the coronavirus pandemic. But one of President Joe Biden’s first actions was signing an executive order extending the hold through September. WFAE's Gracyn Doctor looks at why Black and Latino students are disproportionately burdened with the weight of student loans.
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Thousands of cars lined up at the Charlotte Motor Speedway on Thursday night at a massive event handing out free meals.
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Around 120,000 day laborers across the United States stand in groups each day waiting for employers to offer them a job. Most of the time they’re offered work for the day. Many day laborers already lived in poverty before the coronavirus pandemic hit and took most of their jobs.
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Women are bearing the brunt of the economic fallout from the pandemic facing higher unemployment than men. And single moms are particularly vulnerable to job loss, specifically those that don’t have another income to rely on.