Neighborhood Board Retreat

Next date: Saturday, August 17, 2024 | 08:00 AM to 02:30 PM

The City of Charlotte’s Housing & Neighborhood Services Department is excited to invite your neighborhood to apply for the summer Neighborhood Board Retreat. The retreat will take place on Saturday, August 17, 2024, from 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

The Neighborhood Board Retreat offers a unique opportunity for neighborhood organizations to evaluate their current state, establish strategic goals, and develop an action plan to enhance the quality of life in Charlotte's neighborhoods. This will all happen while collaborating with other neighborhood leaders, city staff, and community partners.

What’s the Focus?

This retreat will center around three key topics: Partnership Development, Youth Engagement, and Succession Planning.

• Partnership Development: Is your neighborhood struggling to form or strengthen partnerships with local organizations? Are you looking for strategies to foster collaboration with other community groups?
• Youth Engagement: Are you facing challenges in involving young people in neighborhood activities? Do you want to create programs that effectively engage youth and address their needs?
• Succession Planning: Is your neighborhood organization experiencing difficulties with leadership transitions? Are you interested in establishing a plan to ensure ongoing leadership and community involvement?

If your neighborhood is currently experiencing challenges in these areas or aspires to enhance your efforts, this retreat is for you. Please note that no additional topics will be discussed, and all goals established will focus on these three areas.

What Can You Expect?

Attendees can look forward to:

• Guidance in Planning Yearly Goals: Expert advice to help shape your neighborhood's objectives.
• Peer-to-Peer Learning: Share and learn from the experiences of fellow neighborhood leaders.
• Idea Development with Trained Facilitators: Collaborate with experienced facilitators to brainstorm and prioritize your community's needs.
• Expert Support: Access valuable assistance from our dedicated staff.
• Credit Toward Volunteer Hours: Eligible neighborhoods can receive up to $2,000 credit toward volunteer hours required for the Neighborhood Matching Grant or a reimbursement of up to $500 for expenses related to goals established at the retreat.
• Retreat Summary: A comprehensive summary of the retreat.
• Quality of Life Explorer Report: A customized report detailing the quality of life in your neighborhood.

How to Apply:

Apply online by Friday, July 26, 11:59 pm. Application decisions will be emailed the week of July 29.

Retreat capacity is limited. Organizations will be considered on a first-come, first-served basis, with priority given to first-time attendees. A minimum of four participants is required for your organization’s application to be considered complete. Each neighborhood group can have up to seven participants. We encourage organizations to invite neighbors, business owners, school representatives, and nonprofit partners who can contribute to achieving their goals.

Note: For-profit businesses and nonprofit organizations not formally associated with a specific neighborhood are ineligible to attend.

A light breakfast and lunch will be provided, and free parking is available.

If you have any questions regarding the retreat, please contact Ansley Romero at ansley.romero@charlottenc.gov.

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