Women + Girls Research Alliance

The Women + Girls Research Alliance, or W+GRA, was a university-community partnership founded in 2006 and later integrated into UNC Charlotte under the leadership of former first lady Lisa Lewis Dubois, a longtime champion for the well-being of women and girls in the Charlotte region. The W+GRA created opportunities for faculty, students and community members to engage in research, leadership development, and public dialogue around issues shaping the lives of women and girls across our city and region.

Historically, the UNC Charlotte Urban Institute served as a data and research partner for the W+GRA, supporting efforts to better understand community needs and quality-of-life challenges affecting women and girls. Through this partnership, the Institute conducted applied research, led study design and analysis, and helped translate community voices into evidence-based findings and recommendations. Areas of focus included health and well-being, workforce development, economic security, violence prevention, civic engagement and housing stability.

In 2024, following the departure of the W+GRA’s full-time director, the work of the Alliance continued under urbanCORE. In 2025, urbanCORE was consolidated into the Charlotte Urban Institute, further strengthening the Institute’s role in advancing applied research and community partnerships that support regional well-being.

Today, the Institute continues this work through research and collaborations focused on issues such as maternal and child health, behavioral health, housing, workforce development and violence prevention. The Institute also partners with campus and community groups including the Maternal and Child Health Workgroup, Susan Dodson DeVore Women’s Leadership Development Program, and the Violence Prevention Center to support research that advances the well-being of women and girls — and the broader community.

Explore the research below to learn more about the work conducted through the W+GRA partnership and the ongoing efforts to support thriving communities across the Charlotte region.

If you or your organization are interested in partnering on research, contact the Charlotte Urban Institute at urbaninstitute@charlotte.edu.