More than 450 nonprofit, civic and community leaders gathered at the Carolina Theatre on May 14 for the annual Community Impact Summit, co-hosted by SHARE Charlotte and the Robinson Center for Civic Leadership at Foundation for the Carolinas. The energy throughout the morning was clear: In a rapidly growing and increasingly complex region, Charlotte-Mecklenburg’s future will be shaped not by any one organization, but by all of us working together. 

That spirit of connection and collective leadership culminated in the launch of fftc:FWD, a new civic empowerment platform designed to help individuals and organizations better understand community challenges, connect across sectors and take action. 

From the start, the summit emphasized unity. A musical performance by Phoenix Down demonstrated the power of collaboration – each instrument representing a valuable perspective in the community, from donors and nonprofits to corporate partners and FFTC itself. Individually, each voice mattered. Together, they created something stronger. 

FFTC President Laura Yates Clark lifted up that message in her opening remarks, acknowledging both the growth and the strain facing the region. Charlotte continues to expand at a remarkable pace, yet our civic infrastructure – ways for people and organizations to participate and connect to each other in the life of our community – has not developed to match the scale of our growth. 

“The challenges facing our region won’t be solved by a single sector or organization,” she said. “The only way forward is by everyone pulling together.” 

Speakers and panelists echoed this theme throughout the morning. Leaders like Greg Asciutto (executive director, Charlotte East), Ann Gonzalez (former president of the Carolinas Asian American Chamber of Commerce and key leader of Carolinas LGBT Chamber of Commerce) and Manolo Betancur (community leader, entrepreneur and social activist) spoke candidly about the importance of relationships, trust and stepping outside of comfort zones to build partnerships. Their stories – from coordinated responses to community crises to long-standing cross-cultural collaborations – demonstrated what’s possible when Charlotte shows up in shared purpose. 

Introducing fftc:FWD: A Platform to Find What You Need to Lead 

The centerpiece of the Summit was the launch of fftc:FWD, introduced by FFTC’s Senior Vice President, Strategy & Impact Tracy Russ and the Robinson Center team as a response to a growing challenge: While interest in community issues remains high, many people simply don’t know where to start to get involved.  

According to a recent Kettering-Gallup study, 42% of people say they’re unsure how to get involved in community involvement and civic education. At the same time, as one of the fastest growing cities in the U.S., Charlotte is welcoming tens of thousands of new residents each year, each bringing potential, ideas and a desire to connect. 

fftc:FWD was built to meet that moment. 

Developed by the Robinson Center for Civic Leadership with support from local partners and in collaboration with SHARE Charlotte, the platform makes it easier and faster to understand community issues, see who is doing the work and find meaningful ways to get involved. 

At its core, fftc:FWD is about one idea: making civic participation more accessible, actionable and connected. 

Three Tools to Power Civic Action 

fftc:FWD brings together three key features – two available now and one launching later this year – to help users move from awareness to action: 

Folios: Clear, Actionable Insights 

Folios are all-in-one guides that offer easy-to-understand overviews of key community issues, from economic mobility to food insecurity, digital equity, early childhood and more. 

Each Folio includes: 

• A concise introduction to the issue in plain language. 

• Key facts and local context. 

• Organizations working in the space. 

• Simple ways to take action, such as volunteering, donating or learning more. 

• Definitions and resources to deepen understanding. 

Designed for accessibility, Folios help users quickly grasp complex topics and identify where they can engage. 

Intersections: Connecting the Dots 

Community challenges don’t exist in isolation — and neither should solutions. 

The Intersections tool allows users to explore how different issues overlap and affect real lives. By selecting two or three topics, Intersections uses AI to generate a custom summary illustrating how those factors combine and compound to impact individuals, families and neighborhoods in Charlotte-Mecklenburg. 

This tool is especially valuable for nonprofit leaders, funders and boards, offering easy to understand shared insights that can guide strategy and collaboration. 

Maps (Coming Soon): Seeing the Ecosystem 

Launching later this year, Maps will visually display organizations, relationships and networks across issue areas, making it easier to see who is doing what and where gaps or opportunities for involvement exist. 

This work will be developed in partnership with the community, drawing on expertise from nationally recognized network systems visualization expert Dr. Danielle Varda. The goal: to make invisible connections visible and strengthen coordination across the region. 

Built With and For the Community 

A defining element of fftc:FWD is its collaborative approach. The platform debuted with contributions from local nonprofits, small businesses and Charlotte artists, whose works are featured as visual “covers” for the 17 initial Folio topics. 

Importantly, fftc:FWD is designed to evolve. Through its “Builder Button,” community members can provide input, share ideas and suggestions, and help shape future updates,  ensuring the platform reflects real needs and lived experiences. 

As Tracy Russ noted during the launch, Charlotte needs more awareness, it needs more participation at all levels from across sectors. “We want to move forward and do good things together. But to do that, we need more of us to move us.” 

Collaboration in Action 

The Summit didn’t just talk about collaboration — it modeled it. 

From panel discussions to shared performances, and even a closing, audience-wide rendition of “Lean On Me,” participants were reminded that connection is both the starting point and the solution. 

Nonprofit leaders emphasized the power of consistency in relationship-building. Funders were encouraged to align their giving with passion and purpose. And everyone was called to play a role — whether through volunteering, advocacy or simply getting to know their neighbors. 

As one speaker put it: the shift from “I” to “we” is where real change happens. 

Looking Ahead 

The launch of fftc:FWD serves as an open invitation to our entire community to better understand the challenges we face, to see how our work connects and to step more fully into the shared responsibility of shaping Charlotte-Mecklenburg’s future. 

As attendees left the Summit, one message stood out: The most important outcomes won’t be measured by what happened on stage, but by the conversations, partnerships and actions that follow. 

Because the path forward isn’t about any single leader, organization or sector – it’s about a collective willingness to listen, collaborate and lead together. 

 

Explore fftc:FWD and find what you need to lead at fftcfwd.net.