Community WorkshopThere was no denying a love for Charlotte by the end of the community workshop held Tuesday, Oct. 4 at Maple Brook Golf Course. Led by renowned author, Peter Kageyama, For The Love of Charlotte brought out the enthusiasm of more than 100 attendees, and inspired creativity and generosity that took many forms.
The end result — Charlotte will be the beneficiary of at least five new, low-cost community projects that will take shape over the course of the next year. Those in attendance were challenged to come up with small projects that would inspire enthusiasm and fun within the community. Each idea was then voted upon by those in attendance with the top two ideas guaranteed at $500 grant. In the end, however, community members stepped forward to provide additional $500 grants to the third, fourth and fifth place ideas.
“We have a lot of people in this community with great ideas,” said Amanda Lipsey, Executive Director of the Charlotte Chamber of Commerce and the individual who has been working to get Kageyama to the community for nearly two years. “Sometimes we just need someone to tell us it’s ok.”
Lipsey said Kageyama shared with her that he could feel the momentum building in Charlotte as he spent three days in the community last week. She said his visit came at the perfect time for the community to keep the energy going that has been building over the course of the last year.
“He just brings a different perspective,” Lipsey said. “Most of his ideas are small things that don’t have to be permanent. He kind of gave people permission to do the ‘fun’ projects.”
The project that received the most votes is a three-day beach party — “Sandemonium” — that will take place at Beach Market next year. The second place project, which will get underway soon, is the painting of the property at 110 E. Lawrence Avenue, the former Carriage Cleaners that was recently purchased by the City of Charlotte through the generosity of local business owners. The building will be painted fluorescent orange and community members will be invited to launch paint-filled balloons at it during the Charlotte Chamber of Commerce’s Almost Moonlight Madness Halloween Parade on Monday, Oct. 24. The result will be a large piece of art that will remain standing throughout the winter before the property is razed by the City to make room for a new pocket park.
Kalli Dempsey, who sits on the Windwalker Underground Gallery board of directors, said she left the workshop feeling inspired.
“Throughout the night I felt excited,” Dempsey said. “Excited not just about the awesome turn out, or the inspirational speaker, but excited to feel the energy shifting towards action. The people gathered last night are ready to take on the task of creating things in our community that generate emotional attachments between our residents and our city.
“We had a wall full of inexpensive, fun, and creative ideas that are all possible,” Dempsey continued. “I am ready to get started, and I know that I am not the only person who left the workshop ready to fill some balloons with paint. Our community is ready for us to really love it, and I think that our residents are ready to get to work.”
The other ideas that will be funded through the generosity of community members attending the meeting include the creation of musical instruments from recycled materials that will be placed in the new pocket park for anyone in the community to play; a project that inspires local families to display their “footprint” in the community; and game tables that will be constructed within the new pocket park, invited community members to meet downtown for a game of chess, checkers, or cards.
If you would like to learn more about the projects planned within the next year, or if you would like to get involved, contact Lipsey at the Charlotte Chamber of Commece at (517) 543-0400 or CharlotteChamberOfCommerce@gmail.com.