Community Impact Council

The Junior League of Charlotte, Inc. (JLC) is hard at work ensuring that all children are school ready by focusing on the health and educational needs of children from birth to fifth grade in priority areas of Mecklenburg County. Since this is quite the undertaking, we rely on and work very closely with our dedicated community partners. The JLC’s community volunteer work is managed by the Community Impact Council (CIC). The CIC is further divided into three teams based on focus: children’s health, healthy minds and ready to learn. Read more about our twelve partners below:

CHILDREN’S HEALTH FOCUS

Charlotte Bilingual Preschool

Charlotte Bilingual Preschool gives children and families the tools they need to be successful in an Englishspeaking school system by providing dual-language, multicultural early childhood education. It is not just a preschool serving children from birth through preschool age, but it also provides family programming for parents, family members and alumni children. They are serving a total of 556 children and families this year. Charlotte Bilingual Preschool is an advocate for racial equity. Volunteers serve by assisting with classroom decorations, supporting events, delivering school supplies and assisting with the Workforce Development Program.

Charlotte Speech and Hearing

Charlotte Speech and Hearing Center (CSHC) was founded by the Junior League of Charlotte in 1967. This organization was the first community speech and hearing center in North Carolina. Today, they are the only free-standing, nonprofit speech and hearing center in the state. Charlotte Speech and Hearing Center is a unique organization that provides high-quality services to everyone. Volunteers serve by reading to children during virtual story hours.

Done in a Day

Done in a Day is a committee within the JLC that assists local organizations by planning events where committee members and other Junior League members can volunteer. Participants assist with various community service projects within JLC priority zip codes focusing on the health and educational needs of children from birth to fifth grade.

Renaissance West Community Initiative/Kids in the Kitchen

The Renaissance West Community Initiative is a non-profit organization coordinating the education and services continuum of the former Boulevard Homes public housing site into a vibrant village called Renaissance. RWCI’s mission is to promote a collaborative community; centered on quality housing, education, health, wellness and opportunity. The goal is to end intergenerational poverty through a holistic community revitalization effort. Volunteers serve by providing healthy cooking demonstrations through Kids in the Kitchen, assisting with the mobile food pantry, and planning special events.

Alexander Youth Network

Alexander Youth Network provides quality professional treatment to children with serious emotional and behavioral problems.They deliver an effective and efficient array of services, enabling children and their families to exercise self-determination, achieve their potential, and become positive contributors to society. Volunteers serve by planning and participating in special events.

Bright Blessings

Bright Blessings is a non-profit focused on bringing joy, care and hope to homeless and impoverished children by mobilizing community volunteers of all ages. Volunteers serve by assembling snack packs and hygiene kits in addition to assisting with creative projects like wrapping gifts, making birthday cards or supporting shelter birthday parties.

The Center for Community Transitions

The Center for Community Transitions has a mission to strengthen the community by helping those with criminal records and their families find a healthier and more productive way of living. Their work provides employment and transition services, supports alternatives to incarceration and restores and strengthens family bonds. Volunteers from the JLC assist in the Families Doing Time program, serving families with a loved one who is incarcerated.

Thompson Child and Family Focus

Thompson is a leading provider of clinical and prevention services for children and families across the Carolinas. The Charlotte, NC-based, nationally accredited nonprofit agency empowers children and families through therapy, education and prevention-based care. Volunteers serve by planning and supporting special events and enrichment activities.

READY TO LEARN FOCUS

Classroom Central

Classroom Central supplies teachers in underserved communities with much-needed supplies. Volunteers serve by working in the free store counting and distributing supplies or by building literacy kits.

Digi-Bridge:

Digi-Bridge aspires to create a generation of well-equipped 21st-century learners and they do this by providing schools with digital classroom consultancy and engaging communities through educational courses. Volunteers serve by supporting an afterschool STEM program using the Digi-Bridge curriculum to work with students to develop their building and programming skills.

Heart Math Tutoring

Heart Math Tutoring’s (HMT) mission is to ensure that all elementary students develop the strong foundation in math and enthusiasm for academics needed for long-term success by helping schools use volunteers as tutors. Community members commit 30 minutes to one hour per week to deliver Heart’s hands-on curriculum in one-on-one tutoring sessions during the school day while receiving on-site support from HMT Program Coordinators. HMT provides a fun way to build relationships with students while delivering academic skills crucial to their success.

Sugar Creek Charter School

Sugar Creek Charter School is the oldest operating charter school in Mecklenburg County. Its mission is to eradicate generational poverty by providing a college and career preparatory education from kindergarten to 12th grade. Volunteers serve by planning and hosting special events and activities for Sugar Creek students, supporting family engagement, and providing school supplies.