General News

By Charlotte Urban Institute
The UNC Charlotte Urban Institute seeks the seventh cohort of faculty fellows to research issues related to economic mobility and quality of life arenas in the Charlotte region, with support from The Gambrell Foundation […]

By Sydney Idzikowski, Jamaal Kinard, Lori Thomas, Ph.D., and Jenny Ward
At the Charlotte Regional Data Trust (Data Trust), the data we hold in trust are about people and their lives.

These data can play a role in understanding challenges and informing solutions in an increasingly complex world. Addressing pervasive social challenges such as poverty, housing instability, and health disparities requires a holistic understanding that transcends the doors of individual agencies. This is precisely what the Data Trust is designed to do.

The Data Trust is a community-university partnership, built as a nonprofit organization, housed at the UNC Charlotte Urban Institute to bridge fragmented administrative data. We do this while prioritizing ethical data use and equipping changemakers such as researchers, policymakers, practitioners, and community leaders to develop more effective, collaborative solutions to community challenges […]

By Srajan Rastogi
As a high school student and as associate director of the National 4-H Geospatial Leadership Team, I’ve always been fascinated with how data is used to explore new avenues of growth and challenge for our communities. Living in Mecklenburg County, I’ve grown up surrounded by signs of economic progress. After all, it is home to more than 1.2 million people and, at its center, the city of Charlotte stands as a major financial hub, housing Fortune 500 companies and a booming business sector.

But behind this growth and prosperity, I began to notice challenges lurking in the shadows – especially for communities that do not receive the same spotlight on resources that their wealthier neighbors do. I looked beyond our progress and asked myself a simple question: in a region known for its growing banking sector, how many residents actually have access to financial services through these institutions […]

By Mia Gaddy
Women and girls in Charlotte-Mecklenburg believe social media can be beneficial when used safely. The findings from the 2024 Women + Girls Research Alliance Leadership Café tell us more about the […]

By Annalise Tolley
At the Charlotte Urban Institute, we see the amazing work of local nonprofits every day. They house community members, inspire children to pursue higher education, and empower single-parent families to thrive. It’s clear: Charlotte has no shortage of dedicated leaders invested in our […]

By Bridget Anderson
When was the last time you took a break and intentionally invested in yourself? What happened when you did ?

By Katie Zager
One of the questions we get most at the UNC Charlotte Urban Institute often relates to population growth–which places are growing fastest, and why? These inquiries often relate to county or city/town population estimates, which the U.S. Census Bureau releases on an annual basis. But we decided to dive a little deeper, and take a look at neighborhoods in Mecklenburg County, using the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Quality of Life Explorer […]

By Kyle Spence
The final presentation event for the Spring 2025 Community Planning Workshop (CPW) on Monday, May 5, at Deep Roots CPS Farm was a resounding success. It brought together students, community partners, and local food enthusiasts for an inspiring showcase of community-engaged design […]

By Charlotte Urban Institute
Congratulations to our graduate research assistants Alish Jain and Bec De Luna, who both joined the latest class of Niner alumni on Saturday, May 10, 2025! We are proud of their academic achievements and contributions to critical urban research in the Charlotte region. We will miss having you with us in Sycamore, yet continue to be among your greatest cheerleaders in your future endeavors […]

By Mia Gaddy
Since I was a kid, I always enjoyed helping people. Whether it was volunteering at my local homeless shelter, spending summers  helping children to learn new things, or serving in my church. I was determined to find a way to be of service to someone else. As I got older, my  passion for helping and advocating for others led to becoming an applied economist and a community researcher. 

I wanted to be a voice for people who looked like me, provide answers to society’s problems, and make research more accessible to the community. This was, in no way, a linear path, and I had many people around me who exemplified service in their own lives who showed me how to give back to others. One of these people was my Uncle Ezra “Tic” Means […]