The community affairs division spearheads programs and initiatives that advance community relations department's mission. We embrace a holistic approach to meeting the needs of our diverse community. Our programs foster relationships, inspire youth to become civic leaders, promote meaningful dialogue, equip individuals with conflict resolution tools and enhance police-community relations. Community affairs understands that trust, open communication and mutual understanding are the cornerstones of a vibrant and united community.
Trust is the foundation of any thriving community –trust among neighbors, local leaders and those whose backgrounds or experiences may differ from our own. Community relations nurtures this trust by creating spaces for meaningful dialogue, addressing topics that require understanding, honesty and openness to hearing different perspectives.
Through programs that are designed to bring awareness and understanding, we encourage our community to engage in courageous conversations and collaborative problem-solving approaches to our community’s most pressing issues. With the support of partners, we work to build lasting connections that strengthen our city.
But it’s not just about bringing people in; it’s about meeting people where they are. Whether it’s an open house, community meeting, back-to-school event or a lively cultural festival celebrating Charlotte’s rich diversity, these moments allow us to listen, learn and share. Community affairs recognizes that these are unique opportunities to reach individuals from across the entire community to ensure residents feel seen, heard and valued.
Strengthening the connection between law enforcement and residents is important for the health of our community. Partnering with the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department (CMPD), we help create opportunities for meaningful interactions and relationship building, which positively impacts the safety of our city.
The community affairs division supports the youth-focused initiatives of CMPD, maintains contact with special interest and community groups, identifies community needs and provides resources to meet those needs. The team also collaborates with CMPD to host youth field trips, participates in National Night Out and helps nurture connections that make a real difference in our community.
One of the ways advancements in police-community relations are celebrated is through the annual Police-Community Relations Awards program. What makes this program truly special is that it’s community driven. Residents play a key role in the success of this program by nominating CMPD officers or teams who have made a difference in their lives or neighborhoods.
Youth Initiatives
Peer Club Program
Peer Mediation Program
INSPIRE Youth Empowerment Program
Youth Initiatives
Community affairs has created programs that inspire young people to build leadership skills, communication, confidence and strong relationships. From classrooms to government spaces, we’re proud to help shape the leaders of tomorrow. Our efforts around youth engagement and development have been nationally recognized by the National Civic League as the community affairs team helped bring the title of 2023 All-America City home to Charlotte.
Our youth programs are challenging and engaging, designed to prepare young people for the future. By connecting them with leaders in local government, transportation, law enforcement and even sports, we create experiences that leave a lasting impression. Through these types of programs, students (sixth through 12th grade) have the opportunity to:
- Share meaningful experiences with peers.
- Connect with city leaders and role models.
- Build problem-solving and communication skills.
- Interact with CMPD officers in a welcoming space.
- Learn from organizations making a difference.
Throughout the year, students participate in field trips, educational outings and youth-focused events that link them with the people and resources shaping our community. But it's not just about the youth, we want to provide resources for the entire family. By understanding the needs of parents, we can provide a network of services and opportunities that truly make an impact, ensuring every voice is heard and every young person has the chance to succeed.
Peer Club Program
"After being in this program, I handle conflict a lot better because I used to get mad a lot, but I feel like the program has taught me the steps to calm down and walk away from certain situations."
Student participant in peer club program
The peer club program is designed for students at various schools across the Charlotte-Mecklenburg community. Most peer club sessions will be hosted at Charlotte-Mecklenburg middle schools, but we also have partnerships with elementary and high schools, as well as private schools. Each sessions is led by a community affairs community coordinator and is held weekly for 45-60 minutes.
The peer club program aims to foster personal growth among students by helping them to learn about themselves, develop skills to effectively navigate conflict and challenges, improve communication skills and build stronger connections across the community. The program equips students with life-changing skills that extend far beyond the classroom. Many students have expressed how this program has given them tools to create positive change in their schools, homes and communities.
"I think about what I want to be in my future, and I know that getting into an argument or fight is not going to help me with that. I know I don't want to go the wrong way in life, so I refer to the coping skills and advice that we learned from the group."
Student participant in peer club program
Peer Mediation Program
The peer mediation program is perfect for students who want to be trained to serve as mediators in their schools. There are key benefits to having this program in schools. Once training is complete, students:
- Help their peers peacefully find solutions to their conflict.
- Serve as ambassadors who understand how to solve problems without violence.
- Exemplify fairness and appreciation to others.
- Understand how to maintain confidentiality, within the approved parameters, of a mediation session.
Students interested in this program should contact a community coordinator listed on this webpage.
INSPIRE Youth Empowerment Program
At the essence of the INSPIRE youth empowerment program is the belief that every young person has the power to grow, lead and make a difference. With this in mind, we created INSPIRE to provide young people with an opportunity to have a full day of impactful experiences focused on developing conflict resolution skills while learning about the City of Charlotte and the community at large. This program features engaging presentations from community partners, group activities, productive conversations about issues that matter to them and their peers, and an interactive exercise where they get to showcase what they've learned throughout the day.
Across the community, we're planting the seeds for a brighter, more compassionate future -one young person at a time. While this program was initially developed to maintain a connection to youth during the summer months, we plan to expand and offer it throughout the year.
For more information about the programs and services offered through the Community Affairs team, contact us at 704.336.2424.