Articles

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United Way of Central Carolinas Needs Assessment 2011 - Full Report
   June 23, 2011

Hannah Guerrier

In June 2010, United Way of Central Carolinas commissioned the UNC Charlotte Urban Institute to conduct a comprehensive community needs assessment for its five-county service area.  The primary purpose of the study was to pinpoint the community’s greatest needs and identify gaps in the current array of human services. This study is one of several endeavors UWCC is pursuing as part of a broader...

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United Way of Central Carolinas Releases Needs Assessment Full Report
   June 23, 2011

Staff
Just over a year ago, the United Way of Central Carolinas (UWCC) partnered with the UNC Charlotte Urban Institute to conduct a region-wide community needs assessment.  The Executive Summary of the report for this study was released online and at community meetings several weeks ago, and now the full report  is available for review. Read more


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Native pollinators
   June 16, 2011

Dana Powell

Fruits and vegetables that taste like summer—tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, blueberries, raspberries, melons—are swelling and ripening in gardens and farms of our region. These crops would be far less abundant without the buzzing chorus of pollinating insects that provide their services for free.

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School Readiness Plan
   June 16, 2011

The Larry King Center (LKC) of the Council for Children’s Rights recently released a plan for improving school readiness for the children in Mecklenburg County. “Unlocking the Potential of a Community: The Plan for School Readiness” is based on data, research, and input from six action teams comprised of community leaders, agency directors, and parents of young children. Read more


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Box turtles
   June 9, 2011
Ruth Ann Grissom

My mom was putting out mulch about this time last year when she noticed a box turtle digging a hole in the dry, red clay under the eaves of the house.  Eastern box turtles (Terrapene carolina carolina) appear in many types of habitat, making them a natural choice for our state reptile.  Since they’re most plentiful in mature, moist forests with lots of undergrowth,...

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United Way of Central Carolinas Needs Assessment 2011 - Executive Summary
   June 8, 2011

Hannah Guerrier

In June 2010, United Way of Central Carolinas commissioned the UNC Charlotte Urban Institute to conduct a comprehensive community needs assessment for its five-county service area.  The primary purpose of the study was to pinpoint the community’s greatest needs and identify gaps in the current array of human services. This study is one of several endeavors UWCC is pursuing as part of a broader...

Read more


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Charlotte region ages around a youthful core
   June 2, 2011

In 1960, the median age for the United States was 29.5 years, meaning that half the population was older than that, and half was younger.  In the 2010 Census, the median age for the country moved up to 37.2 years, reflecting what many demographers refer to as the “graying of America”.  As with other changing demographics, however, this trend is not occurring evenly.  Some places...

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The song of the cicada
   June 2, 2011
Crystal Cockman
If you’ve gotten outside lately you must have noticed that the forests have been alive with a consistent humming and drumming, sometimes quite loud. When you first hear it you’ll swear there is a motor running, or look skyward in search of the nearby power line. But this sound is natural, as it comes from the pulsating abdomens of millions and millions of cicadas. Read more


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Historic preservation in Salisbury
   May 26, 2011

May is National Preservation Month.  The theme this year is “Celebrating America’s Treasures."  If you are new to the Charlotte Region, you may not be aware of the many historic treasures that can be found in this area.  One of those treasures is undoubtedly the City of...

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Census 2010: North Carolina is 6th-fastest growing in U.S.
   May 26, 2011

An examination of the Census 2010 data released so far provides several insights into how North Carolina’s growth compared to other states.  North Carolina was the 6th fastest-growing state in the 2000s at 18.5%, putting it just between Texas and Georgia, and virtually tied with Georgia in growth since the 1990s.  That level of growth was enough to move North Carolina from...

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