Learning and Networking at the Second Annual Community Partner Summit

United Way of Greater Charlotte held its second annual Community Partner Summit, hosted at Northside Charlotte, which allowed all funded nonprofit partners across United Way’s four-county footprint the opportunity to connect, network and share ideas throughout the day.

President and CEO Laura Yates Clark kicked off the event by welcoming the attendees and speaking on the impact of the organizations represented in the room, then turned it over to Executive Vice-President and Chief Impact Officer Kathryn Firmin-Sellers to talk about the day ahead.

“Today is all about learning and about community. We hope you’ll take the time to learn from each other and to enjoy the fellowship,” Firmin-Sellers said.

Inspiration filled the room as so many nonprofit leaders gathered to share ideas and get to know one another.

Between networking activities there were breakout sessions on data and evaluation, succession planning, fundraising strategies and community organizing. United Way Relationship Manager Susana Gonzalez moderated a panel about community engagement following the breakout sessions.

Each agency representative was able to choose which sessions to attend based on their needs for their organization, giving them the most out of their time at the Summit. 

“The United Way Summit experience is one of a kind,” Wesley McLeod, Academy of Goal Achievers, said. “Oftentimes nonprofit organizations in Charlotte do similar work and have similar missions, however we don’t often have opportunities to network and hear from those other change agents. So to be in a space where we are able to learn from one another, understand the mission and the ‘why’ behind our work and to meet other nonprofits that have the same outlook, it’s a refreshing and innovative experience that should be happening in other spaces in the greater Charlotte community.”

A special thank you to the following for helping bring the event to life:

Greg Ascuitto, CharlotteEAST

Sharika Comfort, Educated Hoodlums Brand

LaSharral Fields, 2541.org

Andrew Holbrook, Mission Charlotte

Jamaal Kinard, Lakeview Neighborhood Alliance

Juliana Lozano, Despierta

Melissa Le Roy, OnFire Nonprofit Consulting

Stephen Smith, Mission Charlotte

Cathering Wright, Wingate University

Veronica Washington, Northside Charlotte

Jenna Knox, Northside Charlotte

Thank you to Northside Charlotte for hosting and for providing coffee and lunch to everyone who attended.

“Today was an accumulation of United Way staff, United Way partner agencies and vendors coming together for a day of learning, connecting and networking. I have heard from our partners about how amazing today was and how beneficial these events are to our partners that are doing great work in Charlotte. I look forward to continuing this Partner Summit year after year,” United Way Director of Community Initiatives Jamese Ivy said.

Learn more about the work United Way is doing with its community partners.