General News

by Bridget Anderson Last week was a busy one – packed with daily meetings, a major project deadline, and the added challenge of caring for a sick child at home. On weeks like this, there’s hardly enough time to pause for lunch, let alone time to truly slow down and focus on myself.     How about […]

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 […]

By Charlotte Urban Institute
On Thursday, April 3, 2025, the Charlotte Urban Institute + Regional Data Trust hosted the fifth Schul Forum at The Dubois Center at UNC Charlotte. As a day of community data, attendees explored how local data and research can be used to make a difference in our lives and communities. More than 200 engaged and curious community members attended the event earning the Institute its highest Forum attendance to-date […]

By Tesho Akindele
I’ve been a lot of things in my life; a son, a brother, a nerdy engineering student, a professional soccer player, a husband, a father, and most recently…an urbanist. 

Most people have never heard the word urbanist before. When I say it, I see the intrigue, and often confusion, on their face as they wonder exactly what it means. 

Hearing “urban” sparks different reactions from different people. For some, it conjures up the beauty, energy, and endless opportunity that comes with life in a city. For others it means towering skyscrapers, overcrowding, and chaos. Urban is a word reserved for cities and is a word that stands in stark contrast to its suburban and rural counterparts. 

Urbanism carries the baggage of the word “urban,” and is therefore dismissed as an idea that doesn’t impact those living outside the major cities. 

But this is not a movement reserved for megacities […]

By Sydney Idzikowski and Ellissa Brooks Nelson, Ph.D.
Access to emergency funds keeps Charlotte students on track for positive educational outcomes.

Access to emergency funds keeps Charlotte students on track for positive educational outcomes.

SEF assists students by providing monetary support when an unexpected, immediate, and unavoidable life emergency occurs with  unforeseen expenses. SEF is designed to provide needed financial relief for situations such as accidents, illness, death of a family member, fire damage, need for temporary housing, or natural disaster. The Fund was first established to support students during the COVID-19 pandemic and remains an important resource for students […]

By Sydney Idzikowski and Ellissa Brooks Nelson, Ph.D.
Access to emergency funds keeps Charlotte students on track for positive educational outcomes.

Access to emergency funds keeps Charlotte students on track for positive educational outcomes.

SEF assists students by providing monetary support when an unexpected, immediate, and unavoidable life emergency occurs with  unforeseen expenses. SEF is designed to provide needed financial relief for situations such as accidents, illness, death of a family member, fire damage, need for temporary housing, or natural disaster. The Fund was first established to support students during the COVID-19 pandemic and remains an important resource for students […]

By Charlotte Urban Institute
We are often swimming upstream, contending not only with the inherent complexity of the challenges we face, but increasingly with the force of misinformation and disinformation on the topics that matter most to our communities. Much of the data and information flowing around us isn’t immediately applicable to our organizational or community contexts. The raw data needs interpretation and application; the information needs fact-checked. Despite being immersed, we often ask so what?! or seek a guide as we navigate crowded and unfamiliar waterways.

This year’s Schul Forum, on Thursday, April 3 at the Dubois Center at UNC Charlotte Center City, will be a day of local data, with a so what?! focus that explores how data and research can be used to make a difference in our lives and our communities. Pre-forum Lunch & Learn sessions will begin at 11:30 a.m. and the Forum begins at 1 p.m. Here’s what attendees can expect […]