General News

How could community help us weather the impact of climate change? How might Charlotte’s ever-evolving housing market impact local schools? What does it mean to truly mend the harms of systemic racism? Those are just a few of the questions that UNC Charlotte faculty members will work to answer as part of the fifth cohort […]

A concrete walkway bisects my small front yard. I grow herbs and vegetables on one side and an assortment of native grasses and perennials on the other. In my mind, they’ve always been two distinct entities. One side feeds us, and the other feeds wildlife. I’ve recently had to reconsider that rigid dichotomy. The line […]

Chantilly Ecological Sanctuary, informally known as Chantilly Eco-Park, is an oasis in East Charlotte, a part of the county underserved by green space. Hugging a section of Briar Creek, its roughly 24 acres support lush wetlands, regenerating forest and grasslands riddled with butterfly weed. This outstanding wildlife habitat – over 160 species of birds have […]

By Rachel Jackson-Gordon, Ph.D.

When you were little, what did you want to be when you grew up?

For me, the answer usually rotated between some sort of doctor or a writer.

I grew up in an environment that recognized my strengths and weaknesses and offered resources to work on both. In middle school when I struggled with depression, a stable home greeted me after school each day, providing security. In high school when I struggled with anxiety, an attentive teacher noticed, offering reassurance. In college when I was sexually assaulted, support services wrapped around me, granting space to heal.

This environment was made possible, in part, by quality affordable housing opportunities for my parents, a school that afforded teachers the capacity for individualized support, and a university with ample resources.

This support allowed me to become the type of doctor that writes a lot, fulfilling childhood aspirations.

We all experience challenges in life; some of us are able to achieve our goals nonetheless. It’s hard to say whether successful outcomes after adversity stem from resiliency, a supportive environment, or some combination of both. I feel strongly that my environment was a key ingredient for reaching my own goals.

There are individuals, neighborhoods, and communities that aren’t afforded environments with these structures in place to help people thrive. The consequences can be dire, even for resilient and goal-oriented individuals.

No child says, “I want to be involved with violence when I grow up.” But firearm-related injuries are now the leading cause of death for young people […]

Data are an important part of the Charlotte-Mecklenburg ecosystem. When decisions hang in the balance regarding funding, policies, or programs, data can tip the scales. Conversations about data are frequently dominated by data scientists, professional service providers, executive administrators, and university researchers. But what of the people whom the data represent? Where are their voices […]

Concerns about an “insect apocalypse” have grown more widespread in recent years. There’s a sense among scientists – and the general public – that we simply aren’t seeing as many insects as we used to. I remember driving through the Uwharries on summer nights when insects splattered the windshield like the first fat drops of […]

We gardeners are always striving for an ideal vision, the moment when our creations will finally reach their full, mature potential. And we foolishly assume that once they’ve attained it, they’ll then remain in that state of perfection. But gardens aren’t static. They’re always in flux. Plants don’t perform as promised. We make poor choices. […]

In a city there are so many things, incremental changes and dynamic moments, it is impossible to see it all… there’s always more to discover. Discovery, for some, is an art. It is the willingness to try something new, choosing to make the uncomfortability of newness the norm. Research Associate Angelique Gaines appeared with community […]

By Ruth Ann Grissom
The idea of “No Mow May” began in Wales in 2019. Since then, it has spread through the United Kingdom, and has now reached the shores of North Amer[…]

By Maris Bey,  MSW Intern As a part of my internship with the UNC Charlotte Urban Institute, I completed a project on the history of race, racism, and resistance at UNC Charlotte. A significant component of this work focused on the land of UNC Charlotte’s campuses. Through this research, I learned that a portion of […]