2018 Pride Magazine • November/December "Living" Issue by Pride Magazine Online

Living with A New Chapter

Meet JCSUâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s new president

The Changing Face of Retirement Facts about Charlotte seniors

Shop Local

2018 Holiday Gift Guide

a Force to be

Reckoned With ...

Artist Nellie Ashford Rises to the Top

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PROUD TO GIVE BUSINESSES A LIFT CATS is proud to provide opportunities for businesses to create local jobs through the advancement of transit projects. CATS also seeks to create an environment that gives small and socially or economically challenged local businesses the opportunity to compete for publicly funded contracts by participating in the Small Business Opportunity (SBO) and the Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) Programs. To date, 112 DBE firms have been awarded contracts of over $89 million to help build the LYNX Blue Line Light Rail Extension. As the major provider of public transportation to Charlotte and the surrounding region, CATS relies on the communities we serve to build and operate the service every day. By working together on these new opportunities, we can all keep our communities moving in the right direction. For more information, visit ridetransit.org.

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Table of contents For these stories and more, visit us on the web! www.pridemagazineonline.com

From The Editor Cheers to Living Artists. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

Around Town Prideâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 2018 Gift Guide. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

Shop Locally

The Neighborhood that Shaped Charlotte. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 McCrorey Heights

At Home Meet JCSUâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s New President. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 Clarence Armbrister

Extracurricular Activities. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 Unlocking College Success

Designing Woman. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28

Black-Owned Furniture Line Makes Its Debut

Lifestyle Trends The Changing Face of Retirement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31 Financial Tips for Seniors. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34 Options for Senior Living . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35

Aging in Place. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36 A Life of Service . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37 Veteran Brings Leadership to Charlotte. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36

Arts and Culture Nellie Ashford . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41

CMS Students Help Light the World. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44 Viva Italy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46 Coppa Coffee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47 Scene and Seen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49 Events Calendar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50

On the Cover Artist Nellie Ashford. Photo by Tyrus Ortega Gaines Photography.

46 November-December 2018 | Pride Magazine

Males

Living with CEO/Publisher Dee Dixon

Editor-in-Chief

Lashawnda Becoats

Copy Editor Polly Paddock

Lead Writer Angela Lindsay

Design & Production SPARK Publications www.SPARKpublications.com

Creative Director Larry Preslar

Junior Art Director Genna Hardgrove

Distribution Watch Dog Entertainment®

Account Executive Nikelle Fesperman

Public Relations Nepherterra Estrada

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Copyright© 2018 Pride Magazine All rights reserved. Copying or reproduction, in part or in whole, is strictly prohibited. Pride Magazine reserves the right to deny any advertisement, listing or feature that does not meet Pride Magazine standards or that is outside the scope or mission of our magazine. Pride Magazine assumes no responsibility for information, products, services, or statements made by advertisers or editorial contributors.

November-December 2018 | Pride Magazine

FROM THE EDITOR

Cheers to Living Artists By Lashawnda Becoats

hen our team decided to put artist Nellie Ashford on the cover of this issue, I was delighted. I’m a fan of her art, and before our cover shoot, I had the pleasure of interacting with her only a couple of times at museum events. During the photo shoot at her studio, I enjoyed chatting with her. She’s soft- spoken and has a great sense of humor. If you spend more than 15 minutes with her, you’ll hear the magic in her words. She’s a storyteller, and her art is a visual representation of many of her life experiences. Ashford’s success (read her story on page 40) is a great reminder of why it’s important to support artists while they are living. The stories artists share, the meaning behind the process and how and why they create the way they do are priceless. She’s dynamic and I’m ecstatic for her.

In This Issue Speaking of dynamic women, don’t miss the story on interior designer Cheryl Luckett. She’s launching her own furniture line, inspired by her Southern roots. Read about it on page 28. Did you know about 10,000 baby boomers are turning 65 today and every day over the next 15 years? I didn’t. We have a special section of stories about senior living, from housing to finances, starting on page 31. The Pride Awards Save the date, because the Pride Awards luncheon is right around the corner. Our luncheon will be at a new location, the Ritz-Carlton, on Thursday, January 24. We’ll address topics such as upward mobility, unconscious bias and systemic racism. Turn to page 8 to see our ad, and visit prideawards.net for more details. Happy Holidays! See you next year.

Pride Magazine | www.pridemagazineonline.com

I couldn't believe that this was one of Nellie's first pieces of art. I love the detail and beautiful flowers on the dress.

Run toward your life,

Lashawnda Becoats Editor–in-Chief Run Toward Your Life

AROUND TOWN Pride’s 2018

Gift Guide By Kayla Becoats

If the holiday season were a checklist, it would look a little something like this: assorted pumpkin spice goodies? Check. Shoppers crowding the malls hoping to find the perfect gifts for their loved ones? Check. Is Pride’s 2018 gift guide full of awesome gifts for said loved ones? Check. Shop local and enjoy.

Charlotte-Opoly What happens when you replace Boardwalk with uptown? Or better yet, swap the iconic Reading, Short Line, B&O and Pennsylvania railroads for First, Second, Third and Fourth Wards? I’ll give you a hint: It’s your favorite childhood board game, but reinvented. CHARLOTTE-OPOLY gives players the opportunity to own city hotspots such as Amelie’s French Bakery and the Epicentre, while quenching their appetites for Charlotte domination with Carolina staples such as barbeque and sweet tea. What are you waiting for? Grab a game of CHARLOTTEOPOLY for the crew to play, at Paper Skyscraper or online at lateforthesky.com for $24.95.

Pride Magazine | www.pridemagazineonline.com

Sugar And Spice Party Bus If having the honor of being known as “North Carolina’s first tea party on a bus” isn’t already enough, imagine the look on a girl’s face when she and her besties strut down the runway, climb aboard a posh pink bus and prepare for a day of pampering. The Sugar And Spice Party Bus promises an experience as glitzy as the dainty pearl necklaces, satin gloves and fancy hats girls adorn themselves in as a part of the Tea Party package. So whether she’s five or 15 years old, wants to play dress-up or ride a unicorn, there’s a sweet package with her name written all over it. To book your daughter’s next extravaganza, visit sugarandspicepartybus.com, where packages start as low as $55 per girl!

Bonnie Boardman Jewelry You could use a variety of adjectives to describe the pieces created by Bonnie Boardman Jewelry. Simple, yet chic. Geometric, yet organic, but most important, special. Handcrafted with “creativity, passion and love,” her gorgeous bangles encrusted with stones, stackable rings and hand-forged letter necklaces are a testament to her craftsmanship. Bonnie Boardman Jewelry has a way of making wearers feel so beautiful and unique, it’s almost guaranteed they’ll never want to take the piece off. To purchase beautiful, hand-forged jewelry ranging from $19-$90 for the woman you adore, visit bonnieboardman.etsy.com or @ BonnieBoardman on Instagram.

I Am Enough

Funk Era T-Shirts

If spiritual journeys begin with the words “You feed your soul,” the book, I Am Enough: 50 Affirmations for Black Women by Brandi Williams and Beverlee Sanders is soul food. Written to supplement the Black woman’s quest for healing, peace and happiness I Am Enough is full of the perfect reminder that strength needs constant nourishment in a world that seeks to diminish it. Affirmations are powerful, and in the words of Beyonce, “I’m a master lemonade maker.” Show a Black woman you appreciate her by ordering her a copy of I Am Enough: 50 Affirmations for Black Women, at beawilliams.com for $10.

Funk Era’s bold, eclectic T-shirts make statements. The colorful designs and powerful images embody the nuance of one its principle inspirations — funk. The best part? The cultural influences intertwined into each tee represent more than an aesthetic; they reflect what it means to wear your heart on your sleeve, literally. So whether you’re affirming your “Full Lips, Thick Hips,” or repping your “Island Gyal” roots, you can stand confidently in expression of yourself. Printed using waterbased inks, Funk Era tees are lightweight, durable and available for both men and women. For the unapologetically bold people in your life, visit Funkera.com or @funk_era on Instagram to purchase a t-shirt for $27.99.

Made Lifestyle Collection Just one glance at the handcrafted Lennox timepiece or handsewn Hillcrest pocket square makes it apparent that Made Lifestyle Collection is what separates the stylish man from the fashionable one. What began as a mutual love of dapper pocket squares among friends spawned a line of classic men’s accessories with a modern aesthetic. With products ranging from the universally loved Made Sport Men’s Parfum to funky eyewear, Made LC lives up to its name with handmade pieces that promise to break necks, not budgets. Ask any Made man, style is priceless. To shop for timeless pieces under $50 for your favorite Made man visit, shopmadelc.com

November-December 2018 | Pride Magazine

When we work together, we grow together.

We’re here to help. Learn more about Wells Fargo Supplier Diversity. You believe in your business — and why not? You’re making big plans and hitting exciting goals. We’d like to hear more about it. We work to build relationships with innovative and growing companies owned by members of the business community. It’s a win-win. We gain strong suppliers, and they enjoy new opportunities to expand and enhance their businesses. These partnerships also contribute to the economic vigor and cultural vibrancy of the places where we live and work. So our communities benefit most of all. For more information, please contact the Wells Fargo Supplier Diversity team at supplierdiversity@wellsfargo.com.

AROUND TOWN THE NEIGHBORHOOD THAT SHAPED CHARLOTTE

Photo by Tom Hanchett.

McCrorey Heights

Dr. Reginald Hawkins led many marches to desegregate schools, restaurants, healthcare and other public facilities. His house in McCrorey Heights — a fashionable example of mid-century modern design — was one of four homes of Civil Rights leaders targeted by bombers in November of 1965.

By Tonya Jameson

om Hanchett is supposed to be retired, but the longtime Charlotte historian keeps finding stories to tell. At the moment, he’s set his attention on the historic McCrorey Heights neighborhood in west Charlotte.

The interstates and urban renewal decimated most of Charlotte thriving Black communities, in the name of progress and at the expense of Black livelihood. Today, gentrification threatens to erase what’s left. On Charlotte’s west side, look-alike craftsman homes sprout like dandelions, and McCrorey Heights could fall next. The neighborhood was home to influential Black Charlotteans who shaped this city. Dorothy Counts lived there, and so did the Rev. J.A. Delaine. Both played critical

roles in the desegregation of schools. McCrorey Heights, near Johnson C. Smith University, doesn’t usually get the same attention as long-gone neighborhoods such as uptown’s Brooklyn. Maybe, because it’s on the west side. Or maybe because it’s still a thriving Black middle-class neighborhood. In Charlotte, we tend to wait until something’s gone to recognize it. Then we mourn the loss of yet another piece of the city’s culture, and move on. We call it growth, but it really keeps us stagnant. All

of the shiny new things make Charlotte look like any other midsized town, USA. “There are so many more neighborhoods that have been completely overlooked, like Reid Park,” said longtime freelance videographer Ken Koontz. He is working with Hanchett to video interviews with McCrorey Heights residents. Koontz describes the tendency of white developers and government to take Blackowned land for eminent domain - Black owned, white stolen and then Black rented. Maybe, McCrorey Heights can be different. Maybe. Like the old gospel song, there are efforts to give flowers to the living, and McCrorey Heights is still living. Since resigning from the Levine Museum of the

November-December 2018 | Pride Magazine

Pride Magazine | www.pridemagazineonline.com

Family campaign photo courtesy of Michael Motley.

Marilyn Twitty Brown still lives in the home that her father, North Carolina Mutual Insurance agent W.W. Twitty, built in 1952 on Madison Avenue. “He always drove Fords,” recalls Marilyn Twitty.

Photo by Tom Hanchett.

New South in 2015, Hanchett has returned to his roots – studying older neighborhoods. He and his wife, school board member Carol Sawyer, created a website detailing the history of the inhabitants of the houses in McCrorey Heights. He is documenting the community’s history in case neighborhood leaders apply to get McCrorey Heights listed on the National Register of Historic Places Beyond that, Hanchett just likes a good story, and McCrorey Heights is full of them. “It kind of got me back to what I was doing when I came to Charlotte,” said Hanchett, who has been documenting the neighborhood for two years. “It’s great to dig into a place and try to put the pieces together.” Former JCSU president the Rev. H.L. McCrorey founded the neighborhood in 1912. He bought land and sold parcels to staff and administrators at the college. It developed the most in the early ‘50s and ‘70s, according to Hanchett’s website about the neighborhood. McCrorey Heights’ residents were leaders in Charlotte and regionally. Counts, who was one of the students who desegregated Harding High, grew up on Patton Avenue. On the corner of Patton and Clifton Street is one of the first houses designed by former mayor Harvey Gantt when he was known more for architecture than for politics. “We really just didn’t know about how involved our parents and other people in the neighborhood were with change in the city of Charlotte,” said McCrorey Heights neighborhood association president Natalie Kennedy Beard. Kennedy Beard was featured in a Charlotte magazine story earlier this year, “McCrorey Heights: The Neighborhood of Firsts.” She grew up there, and remembered it as a fun, tight-knit community. When she returned decades later as an adult, she began to learn about the pivotal role her neighbors played in civil rights history. Whereas Beard talked about the people and the community, Hanchett focused on the homes. He shared the neighborhood’s story street by street. There are about 160 custom brick ranch homes lining those streets. He starts with Madison Avenue, the street where Counts grew up. It was also home to Charles Bell, who filed school desegregation lawsuits before Brown v. Board, and participated in bus sit-ins before Rosa Parks’ famous arrest. Reginald Hawkins lived there, too. He led a series of protests that helped desegregate establishments in the city, but

Photo by Tom Hanchett.

AROUND TOWN

Pioneering African American architect Harvey Gantt, just starting his practice in the early 1970s, designed this forward-looking house for Matilda Spears, an educator.

he is most known for his work that partially resulted in Swann V. Charlotte-Mecklenburg Board of Education, which led to busing to desegregate schools. “The people stories are really important, but I look at the totality of the neighborhood,” Hanchett said. The totality of McCrorey Heights is that

Above, McCrorey Heights homeowner Rowe Motley won election as Mecklenburg’s first African American County Commissioner in 1974 and later served in the North Carolina legislature.

this storied community deserves preservation and recognition. It deserves more than to be seen as just another neighborhood convenient to uptown, renamed to make it sound cooler and hipper to new residents, who have no connection to the sacrifices and fortitude of its previous residents. P

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AT HOME

Clarence Armbrister is the 14th president of Johnson C. Smith University.

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NEW JCSU PRESIDENT Plans to Solidify University’s Future

By Tonya Jameson Photos by T. Ortega Gaines

or the last couple of years, it looked as though Johnson C. Smith University could become another HBCU likely to succumb to financial woes, but new president Clarence Armbrister is working hard to write a new narrative for the university.

Armbrister took over as the 14th president of JCSU in January. Getting the historically Black university off probation for accreditation is his first priority. Then he will focus on his four Rs of success, but first the probation. “There’s nothing more important than trying to make sure that we do everything we can to remove ourselves from probation,” Armbrister said. “That’s what we’ve been working toward.” In fact, the university is poised to have consecutive years of financial success, he said. Armbrister succeeded Ronald Carter, who stepped down in December. He is a Miami native with more than 35 years of experience in public finance and executive experience in education and government, ranging from city treasurer for Philadelphia in the ‘90s to executive vice president and chief operating officer at Temple University. He most recently served as president of Girard College, an independent, college preparatory, five-day boarding school for academically capable students from economically disadvantaged families from the Philadelphia region. Armbrister’s natural inclination when he began at JCSU was to assess, assess, assess. He wasn’t just looking at the books to get JCSU back on sound financial footing, but also the academic programs and the university’s place in the Charlotte community. He said the keys to the university’s success are resources, recruitment, retention and rigor. “If we can move the needle significantly on those four Rs, then we can be an institution that will be around thriving, not just surviving, in the next 152 years,” he said. The university celebrated it 150th anniversary in 2017.

November-December 2018 | Pride Magazine

AT HOME He wants the school to have the resources to recruit and retain students, and provide them with a rigorous education that prepares them for the jobs of the future. This year, JCSU had its largest entering class, with more than 400 students, including freshman and transfer students starting at the university in fall 2018. He called the large entering class a result of the university’s secret sauce – an admissions process that looks beyond academic standards to assess a student’s chances for success. “We nurture them and provide them with the kind of support they need,” he said. When it comes to academics, Armbrister wants to grow the university’s success beyond the STEM curriculum that typically garners recognition. The masters of social work program is a rising star at the university and will get the school’s targeted investments, he said. “We’re offering something the region needs,” he said. Armbrister is intent on creating graduates who can impact the Charlotte community and beyond. When he met with city leaders in 2017, the uprising following Keith Lamont Scott’s shooting death was still fresh. Leaders were focused on the issues highlighted in the Charlotte Mecklenburg

Pride Magazine | www.pridemagazineonline.com

Clarence and Denise Armbrister at home.

Opportunity Task Force Leading On Opportunity report. Armbrister wants JCSU to play a role in helping Charlotte address the issue of economic mobility, but he said the university will need support

from city leaders to make an impact. “There is no institution in this region better prepared to help move the needle on that,” he said. “If they are truly interested in moving that needle, then they would help.” Armbrister’s arrival not only ushers in hope for a new financial era for the university, but there’s also excitement that the university has a first lady. The university hasn’t had one in 25 years. Armbrister’s wife, Denise, is senior vice president of Wells Fargo Corporation and executive director of the Wells Fargo Regional Foundation and the Wells Fargo Regional Community Development Corporation. She moved to Charlotte from Philadelphia this summer, and is just getting settled into their new home. The Armbristers have five adult children. Denise Armbrister said she is trying to figure out how she wants to impact the university and the community as first lady. She definitely wants to be a role model to young women at the school, but she hopes to play an even larger role. Armbrister hopes his wife can play a role in community and economic development, which is one of her strengths. Like his predecessor, Armbrister is invested in insuring that JCSU has a voice in shaping development and growth in the west corridor. With their wealth of financial and leadership experience, it will be exciting to watch as the Armbristers make their imprint on the university, the west corridor and the Charlotte community at large. P

THE POWER OF HISTORY The past came to life this year for a special group of UNC Charlotte students. The Pride of Niner Nation Marching Band represented the country during June commemorations of D-Day throughout Normandy, France. As today’s students touched history made by The Greatest Generation, one of the most poignant moments came when band member Curtis Chancy visited the grave of Charlottean Samuel Peterson. Chancy is a veteran himself, who fought in Iraq and Afghanistan.

FOR HEROES PROVED: A PRIDE OF NINER NATION MARCHING BAND VETERANS DAY CONCERT Nov. 11, 2018 • 7:30 p.m. Ovens Auditorium Concert is free

UNC Charlotte was founded in 1946 to serve returning veterans on the GI Bill. From there it has grown into Charlotte’s 21st century research university of nearly 30,000 students. Yet the original mission—to provide access to opportunity to every deserving student–thrives today. Relive our band’s incredible experience, and learn more about the living history of UNC Charlotte through a streaming documentary at normandy.uncc.edu The trip was made possible, in part, through generous support of the UNC Charlotte Alumni Association and individual donors from throughout our community.

UNC Charlotte Foundation exponential.uncc.edu | 704-687-7211

AT HOME Experts Say Extracurricular Activities Key to

Unlocking College Success

By Lashawn Hudson

“I came to college to prepare myself for my future. And right now, I’m positioning myself for the greatest success,”

aquan McMillan is a busy man: He’s juggling a part-time job as a sports videographer with a full course load, of 15 credit hours, at Johnson C. Smith University (JCSU)

— Jaquan McMillan, a student at Johnson C. Smith University.

Jaquan McMillan

Pride Magazine | www.pridemagazineonline.com

“I have my moments where it gets tough; but I know the reason why I came to college,” says the second-semester junior, 21. “I came to college to prepare myself for my future.

And right now, I’m positioning myself for the greatest success.” And even with everything McMillan has going on, he still maintains a 3.5 grade point average, finds time to volunteer with his peers on campus and is involved in a long list of extracurricular activities. The first-generation college student and transplant to the Queen City from High

Point is majoring in sports management, with high hopes of one day managing a professional sports team. He also serves as secretary of the Health and Human Performance Club and is a member of Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity. College experts say students such as McMillan are on the right track for longterm success in their professional careers. Career Coach Lis Doggett says students who get involved in extracurricular activities are more likely to land a job after college, because they are learning transferable skills that employers look for when they are recruiting new talent. Doggett, who oversees the college career services center at Central Piedmont Community College, says participating in extracurriculars--from choir to the chemistry club--helps students build up skills such as teamwork, leadership and problem-solving, all of which are transferable to the working world. “I always recommend my students to join at least one student club or organization that’s career-related,” says Doggett. “ Employers are looking for diversity in experience. I know students who have 4.0 GPAs who struggle to get jobs, because they lack practical experience that you get from participating in extracurricular activities.”

McMillan and his fraternity brothers.

FOCUS ON ASSET BUILDING

Given the right financial circumstances, people will thrive! In order to move neighbors out of poverty, avoid a future financial crisis, and prepare for long-term stability, Community Link provides comprehensive Financial Empowerment programming, which includes counsel on: • Establishing specific, measurable financial goals • Tracking expenses and creating a budget • Credit repair and credit building • Free tax preparation • First-time homebuyer guidance

Mission: to enable individuals and families to obtain and sustain safe, decent and aﬀordable housing

601 East 5th Street, Suite 220 Charlotte, NC 28202 704.943.9490 1.800.977.1969 www.CommunityLinkNC.org November-December 2018 | Pride Magazine

AT HOME

Intellectual Rigor

Science

Technology

Engineering

Arts, Letters, Humanities

Mathematics

www.jcsu.edu 24

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McMillan says the hard work that he’s putting in during his undergraduate years is already starting to pay off. He believes he has already improved his public speaking skills and learned about health and wellness through his participation in the university’s Health and Human Performance Club. “We go to conferences and we put on presentations,” McMillan explains. “ I have also learned so much about the importance of taking care of my health. I lost 50 pounds after I learned about the benefits of staying healthy.” Research suggests that students who are not involved in extracurricular activities likely struggle with school-life balance. Stacey Sandeford-Lyons, who serves as the executive director of the Biddle Institute at JCSU, says many of the students she advises struggle with navigating their college academic careers, while juggling work and extracurricular activities. “We have a handful of students who get overly involved, and we have to help them manage that,” explains Sandeford-Lyons.“But we also have our students who don’t get involved at all. We sit down with students and help them map out what they want their lives to look like.” Sandeford-Lyons says many students are also dealing with a variety of life challenges outside the classroom. “Students come into my office, sometimes presenting a variety of concerns, everything from stress, to depression, to mental illness,” she explains. “My role is to listen, to be a sounding board and to help students problem-solve. We have a health center and counseling center on campus to help students. I often refer students, when needed.” According to a study conducted by the College Health Association, nearly 80 percent of college students enrolled in 2018 say they feel overwhelmed by their various responsibilities. Recent JCSU graduate Tiffany Youmans can relate. As a mother of four, the nontraditional student juggled a full-time job along with multiple student clubs, all while working toward her bachelor’s degree in community health. She graduated cum laude in the spring. “I reached my breaking point when my mother was diagnosed with breast cancer,” she says. Youmans says the support that she received from her professors helped her get through one of the Tiffany Youmans hardest chapters of her life. “I finished college by the grace of God,” says Youmans. “I finished because I had support from family, friends and definitely the support of my professors.” Sandeford-Lyons says even though it’s important to excel academically and be involved in extracurricular activities at school, it’s also very important for students to achieve school-life balance. “The student who has his/her goals in mind will make decisions to help them to accomplish those goals,” says Sandeford-Lyons. “But if it’s all work all the time, the students are not enjoying themselves, so it’s important for students to make an effort to strike that balance. P

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November-December 2018 | Pride Magazine

Bank of America’s Digital Mortgage Experience Makes Homebuying Efficient and Personal Michelle McLellan, Bank of America Sales Performance Executive Inside the experience

Beyond the flexibility to apply for a mortgage whenever, wherever and however consumers want within our mobile app, the Digital Mortgage Experience provides full customization throughout the process to best fit users’ unique needs.

High-Tech, High-Touch Approach With approximately 35 million digital clients, Bank of America continues to make significant investments focused on high-tech, high-touch innovations that advance the client experience and help make clients’ financial lives better. There is a growing demand and increasing comfort consumers have with using digital tools in every aspect of their lives – from managing finances to dating. In fact, the latest Bank of America Homebuyer Insights Report revealed that consumers are actually more comfortable applying for a mortgage digitally than dating online. Over half of the survey respondents would apply or have already applied for a mortgage via mobile or online.

The Bank of America Digital Mortgage Experience™

The introduction of the Digital Mortgage Experience earlier this year is an example of our high-tech, hightouch approach to serving clients. It is a simple, guided solution that enables consumers to complete a mortgage application through our award-winning mobile banking app or online, either independently or with integrated personal assistance from a lending specialist. We designed the Digital Mortgage Experience considering consumers are seeking a homebuying experience that is efficient, simple, and personalized.

1. This guided experience

will save clients valuable time by pre‑populating their information. Bank clients can securely log in to the bank’s mobile banking app, enter the Digital Mortgage Experience, and immediately have many aspects of their mortgage application auto-populated, for example with their contact information and banking and investment data from the accounts they hold with the bank.

2. Users can consider a

variety of loan options and combinations and select the features that matter most to them, including flexible monthly payments, closing costs and loan terms.

6. In many cases, clients 3. Users can lock their rate or leave it open to lock later.

will receive a same-day conditional approval, while others may need to supply additional information to complete the process.

4. Clients will have full access

to lending experts in their locale who can pick up an application in progress and assist them in completing it.

5. Once an application

is submitted, users integrate with the Home Loan NavigatorÂŽ to track their loan, view action items, upload documents, and review and acknowledge disclosures, all from their mobile device.

To learn more about the Digital Mortgage Experience, visit bankofamerica.com/mortgage/digital-mortgage-experience/

AT HOME

Belle by Cheryl Luckett launches in collaboration with Sylvester Alexander, an African American-owned custom furniture manufacturer.

Designing Woman Black-Owned Furniture Line Makes Its Debut By Angela Lindsay Photos courtesy of Dwell by Cheryl Interiors

othing evokes a sense of comfort quite like being at home. So when Cheryl Luckett of Dwell by Cheryl Interiors began designing her first furniture line, called Belle by Cheryl Luckett, she knew she wanted it not only to reflect the warmth and familiarity of home, but also her Gulfport, Mississippi roots, to create pieces that reflect the Southern lifestyle.

“My furnishings line, Belle by Cheryl Luckett, is inspired by life and style in the Southern home,” says Luckett. “It is a celebration of heritage that honors the past, while satisfying a new generation of traditional design lovers. The silhouettes are inspired by classic vintage pieces refreshed for today’s home.” Based in Charlotte, Luckett connected with the African Americanowned custom furniture manufacturer Sylvester Alexander via social

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The Ivy features tufted back, soft lines, French style legs and removable down cushion.

media—a platform she has used to build her business and establish brand awareness—and later partnered with the Hickory-based company to produce an upholstered parsons table, two banquettes and two settees. “[Sylvester Alexander was] looking to create a licensed product line with a designer, and approached me about the opportunity,” she explains. “The process has been a learning experience for us both, but it’s been fun getting to see the inner workings of manufacturing a product from concept to reality.” “Sylvester Alexander sought out Cheryl Luckett because of her prominent presence in the design community,” says Mitch Parson, the owner and founder of Sylvester Alexander. “We have enjoyed collaborating with Cheryl, and are excited to have presented the Belle by Cheryl Collection at High Point Market in fall 2018.” For Luckett, who founded her design firm in 2012 after 15 years in corporate America, interior design isn’t just her passion; it’s her purpose. It has always been of interest to her, even from her college years, when her room was used to tour prospective students through The Magnolia features tufted back and pleated skirt. Tennessee State University. Colorful and classic; versatile and vibrant, each of the five “It wasn’t until much later that I realized that it was my not only my pieces in the collection tells the story of the designer’s journey. For passion, but my ministry. My perspective on design is a very personal instance, one French-inspired piece carries a name (The Ivy) that one,” she says. “I love creating spaces that are a bit sophisticated but points to her membership in Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., and still very approachable; easy and livable. I’m also a big fan of color and the parsons table (named The Park) references the name of the pattern, and my projects are often laced with both.” SPONSORED CONTENT

REALTORS® PLAY MANY ROLES INCLUDING ADVOCATE, DONOR AND VOLUNTEER By Ed Baesel, 2018 Board Chair of the Housing Opportunity Foundation

hen you think about your Realtor®, you probably think about their role as advisor, negotiator, and coordinator of the largest transaction you’ve ever made. But here in Charlotte, our Realtors® do more than help you buy and sell houses. Because they are committed to creating a community where all housing needs are met, they also serve as an advocate, donor and volunteer with the Housing Opportunity Foundation. The Housing Opportunity Foundation provides Charlotte-area Realtors® the chance to give back to their community as well as serve as an advocate and volunteer. As the charitable arm of the Charlotte Regional Realtor® Association, our Foundation’s mission is to create housing opportunities through advocacy, education, funding and leadership. The foundation carries out their mission in a number of ways including conducting a number of programs, services and

events. All of these initiatives combined provide outlets where the public, nonprofit community and other partners can join the Realtor® community to make a positive impact on meeting unmet housing needs. For example, this year marked the third annual Strides For Shelter 5K Run/ Walk held in June. The event is open to both the Realtor® community and the public. Since its inception, the Strides for Shelter event has raised more than $40,655, which has benefitted a supportive housing community developed by the Urban Ministry Center and Housing First Charlotte Mecklenburg in 2016; A Child’s Place, a local nonprofit working to erase the impact of homelessness on children and their education in 2017; and this year the Men’s Shelter of Charlotte to help with critical repairs and renovation for their North Tryon Street campus. The foundation also hosted its annual Opening Hearts, Opening Doors Luncheon in September, which

awards funds through its Community Grants Program and Habitat Support Grants Program to area organizations in Mecklenburg, Iredell counties and the surrounding region to address unmet housing needs. This year, more than $64,999 was awarded to 15 area non-profits and eight area Habitat for Humanity agencies. Even though we’re nearing the end of 2018, the foundation will also recognize its annual Humanitarian of the Year, who will be able to designate $5,000 from our foundation to a nonprofit organization of their choice. The award was established in 2007 to recognize individuals, projects or groups that have made outstanding contributions in their community. To learn more about the Housing Opportunity Foundation or if you are interested in sponsoring an event to support our mission, please contact Terri Marshall, Executive Director, at 704‑940‑3148.

November-December 2018 | Pride Magazine

AT HOME

Cheryl Luckett and Sylvester Alexander pictured with the Park, a fully upholstered Parsons Table.

local church she attends. The distinctive line also incorporates fabrics from Southern designers and artists. She hopes the idea of manufacturers partnering with designers to create their own lines will continue to grow, bringing more diversity to the industry. “There are talented interior designers from many different backgrounds within the industry; however, historically, opportunities for designers to work with brands to create licensed product lines have been few and far between,” Luckett says. “Thankfully, social media and a greater appreciation for the influencing power of designers is changing the landscape. Furniture and home industry manufacturers are now seeing the value of teaming up with interior designers to create greater brand awareness and to bring a fresh perspective to their product lines. This shift will hopefully provide more diversity in the realm of licensed collections.” Belle by Cheryl Luckett launched at the High Point Market in October and is available to the trade through Sylvester Alexander Fine Upholstery. Luckett is also making select options available for purchase to the public through her website: www.dwellbycheryl. com. Armed with the success of the refined and sophisticated designs of her current collection, Luckett is excited about what the future could bring: “There’s something very rewarding about creating something from nothing. I hope this will be the first of many licensed products for me. Fabric, rugs, wall coverings—who knows what’s next, but I’m open to it all!” P

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LIFESTYLE TRENDS

Seniors in the City

The Changing Face of Retirement By Angela Lindsay

hile many people would categorize the current era as the age of millennials, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the aging population in the United States that is actually skyrocketing. The number of people age 65 and over is projected to climb from 43,000,000 to 83,000,000 by 2050. According to Seniorcare.com, about 10,000 baby boomers are turning 65 today and every day over the next 15 years.

However, age is having less and less to do with how seniors are choosing to approach their so-called retirement years. For instance, a record number of people age 85 and older are working, according to a

recent Washington Post article. It reported that, overall, 255,000 Americans 85 years old or older were working over the past 12 months. That number represents 4.4 percent of Americans in that age bracket, up

from 2.6 percent in 2006 and is the highest number on record. Fifteen percent of the population in North Carolina is age 65 and over, while eight percentÂ of the population of Charlotte is comprised of seniors (www. census.gov). In addition, bankrate.com ranked Charlotte as number 13 out of the top 50 U.S. cities for retirement, based on factors such as cost of living, crime rate, public transportation and the overall well-being of seniors, as measured by theÂ Gallup-Sharecare Well-Being Index. So, how are these seniors in the city spending

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LIFESTYLE TRENDS their retirement years? Check out some of the statistics below and find out.

Facts & Stats About Charlotte Seniors

29%

34%

of seniors living in Charlotte are living alone.

of Charlotte seniors have a college degree.

Source: Census.gov

18%

of seniors in Charlotte are employed. Source: Census.gov/ACS

There are

11,865

working seniors in Charlotte.

48%

of senior homeowners in Charlotte have a mortgage.

There are

17,941

seniors living alone in Charlotte. Of these, 75% are female. Source: Census.gov

Source: Census.gov/ACS

21%

of Charlotte senior households have an annual income of less than $10,000 and 23% less than $20,000.

of seniors in Charlotte are veterans.

CMY

Source: Census.gov/ACS

The median household income for seniors in Charlotte is

$39,640 Source: Census.gov/ACS

38%

15%

of senior households in Charlotte earn less than $30,000 per year, while earn more than $100,000 a year.

Source: Census.gov/ACS

Only 5% of the seniors in Charlotte fall below the poverty level.

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The average Social Security income in Charlotte is

$17,396/year Source: Census.gov/ACS

The average health cost in Charlotte is almost

5% lower

than in most of the nation.

Source: CharlotteSights.com

Resources For Seniors

55-64

The age group that volunteers the most, in Charlotte, at a rate of 36.5 percent Source: CharlotteFive.com

Charlotte is consistently ranked by Forbes as one of the best places in the United States for people 55 or older to retire to.

The Charlotte area is filled with eldercare facilities, fitness centers and magnet hospitals and ranks higher than the U.S. average for water quality and physicians per capita. Source: CharlotteSights.com

There are at least

two dozen social groups specifically geared toward seniors in the Charlotte area.

•N orth Carolina Division on Aging and Adult Services 693 Palmer Dr., Raleigh, NC 27603 (919) 855-3400 www.ncdhhs.gov/divisions/daas •L and of Sky CRC 339 New Leicester Hwy., Suite 140, Asheville, NC 28806 (828) 251-6622 www.landofsky.org •C entralina Area Agency on Aging 9815 David Taylor Dr., Charlotte, NC 28262 (704) 372-2416 centralina.org/centralinaaging/

•M ecklenburg County Department of Social Services 301 S. Billingsley Rd., Charlotte, NC 28211 (704) 432-1111 www.mecknc.gov/dss/Pages/ home.aspx •T he N.C. Seniors’ Health Insurance Information Program (SHIIP) Albemarle Building,  325 N. Salisbury St. Raleigh NC 27603 855-408-1212 (toll free) www.ncdoi.com/SHIIP/ •C harlotteSeniors.com www.CharlotteSeniors.com 980-216-1111 P

Source: Meetup.com *ACS: American Community Survey

PERSON-CENTERED LIVING FOR

EVERY PERSON.

The Aldersgate Mission says it all: We honor elders and are committed to creating and fostering diverse, caring communities where everyone has a voice and value. Learn more about our visionary community at AldersgateCCRC.com.

3800 Shamrock Drive, Charlotte, NC 28215 704.532.7265

November-December 2018 | Pride Magazine

LIFESTYLE TRENDS

Saving Those Pennies Financial Tips for Seniors T By Angela Lindsay

he concept of saving those pennies for a rainy day, which we were taught to do as children, may come in handy as we start thinking about our retirement years. However, for many seniors, money problems are already an unfortunate reality.

A Washington Post article concerning a report from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) found several common financial struggles faced by people over 60. One such issue is seniors carrying a lot of more debt, which can come in the form of helping out children and grandchildren, while Marsha Barnes others may still be paying off their mortgages or student loans, according to the CFPB. Marsha Barnes, a personal finance expert and founder of The Finance Bar, agrees that seniors assisting their adult children financially creates a challenge, as does lingering debt. “While golden years should include walking into a somewhat debt-free lifestyle, more seniors are faced with working beyond retirement age to tackle financial obligations,” she says. Barnes also cites increased cost of living as a common problem. The CFPB says that seniors may face complications with reverse mortgages, which are loans that allow homeowners to tap into the equity and delay repayments until they die or sell the house. Homeowners are generally still required to pay the property taxes and homeowner’s insurance. People who fall behind on those payments may be at risk of facing foreclosure and losing their homes. Complicating matters is the fact that seniors are often targets of scams or identity theft, which can be difficult to recover from, according to the report. It also found that seniors frequently filed complaints if they had a hard time correcting errors on their credit reports or disputing unauthorized purchases on their credit cards. In that vein, there is also confusion over

banking products and fees for seniors. Many of the complaints filed by older consumers were related to confusing charges on their bank and credit card statements, according to the CFPB, and sometimes consumers spotted suspicious subscriptions or services that they didn’t recall signing up, for or had a hard time understanding how interest charges worked on their credit cards. Barnes adds that the uncertainty of legislative changes can pose a problem, as well, for those who will depend on Social Security and Medicare or Medicaid to supplement their income and health insurance. “There are growing concerns of what this will look like in the near future,” she says. Then, there are the challenges seniors may face with managing finances after the death of a spouse. Many of the older consumers filing complaints with the CFPB said they had difficulty gaining access to certain assets, such as savings accounts, even after providing the necessary documents. According to the report, some people who had taken out reverse mortgages had trouble staying in their homes if the agreement was in the deceased spouse’s name. Early planning is key, and one of the best ways to ward off many common financial pitfalls in retirement years. Says Barnes, “Not being aware of how to plan for retirement creates financial

challenges for seniors. In our 40s, 50s and 60s, as consumers and employees, there aren’t many conversations being had around what life looks like when we decide to stop working; therefore, when this time comes, we are not prepared.” As seniors begin to move toward retirement, it will become increasingly important to consider how to make their retirement income last for an additional 30 years or more, and how this will be driven based on the cost of inflation, she adds. Her suggestions include building up an emergency savings account with six to 12 months of living expenses: “While this may appear to be a huge undertaking, it is necessary to plan for the income that you may be losing well in advance.” Creating a detailed list of all current debt and the amounts owed, and beginning to make strides toward paying off this amount while avoiding accruing additional debt, are also crucial steps she says: “Take time to create a retirement budget that outlines what expenses you will have at retirement, where you would like to live and how much money you’ll need each month to still engage in experiences that you enjoy. Retirement should be about exploring life in ways that you may not have been able to partake before.” P

LIFESTYLE TRENDS

A Place to Call Home Options for Senior Living By Angela Lindsay

s the aging population has sharply increased, so has the need for residential options for seniors. In fact, the real estate market for people 55 and over in Charlotte is booming. In 2015, about 20 percent of county residents were over age 55, up from about 16 percent in 2000. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the number of people in Mecklenburg County aged 65 and older, the primary demographic for most senior housing, has shot up by more than 27 percent from 2010 to 2015. This dramatic rise has prompted the demand for and subsequent explosion in senior living residences in the city.

There are 78 nursing homes in the Charlotte metropolitan area. Of these, five received an overall top performing rating by U.S. News & World Report for 2017-18. On a scale of one to five (poor to top performing), the following received a rating of five: The Steward Health Center in Charlotte, Sharon Towers in Charlotte, the Jesse Helms Nursing Center in Monroe, the North Carolina Veterans State Hospital in Salisbury, and WillowBrooke Court Skilled Care Center for Seniors in Matthews. To qualify as a Best Nursing Home, facilities had to earn an average rating of 4.5 out of five during 10 months of federal reports ending in August 2017, and consistently meet performance standards set by U.S. News, such as earning at least a four overall rating for all 10 months by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (the federal agency that sets and enforces standards for nursing homes). For more than a decade, the state has paid about $33 daily per client for adult day care and about $40 for adult day health care at a center that employs a registered nurse, according to northcarolinhealthnews.org. Most of the money for adult day care comes from the state’s federally-mandated Home and Community Care Block Grants, it reports,

and that pot of about $33 million has to cover services from Meals on Wheels to in-home care, and many more, across 100 counties. As times have changed, residents in Charlotte now have an increasing range of options for senior living, such as small townhouses, for-sale condominiums, for-sale single family houses such as those found at Trilogy Lake Norman or Cresswind and rental apartments such as those at Anita Stroud Senior Apartments. While several existing senior communities such as Aldersgate and Sharon Towers are expanding, many of the newer facilities are not at all like your grandmother’s nursing home. Many adult residences have become more luxurious, replete with high-end amenities and noninstitutional active and social options, such as Tai Chi gardens, spas, meditation spaces, multiple dining options and even shared office space for seniors who want to keep working part-time. It’s no longer a “one size fits all” proposition, as evidenced at Imagery by Lennar Homes, which is in construction on Mountain Island Lake. The community boasts that it is a place “where adult living isn’t a lifestyle, it’s an art form” and challenges would-be residents to “get ready to re-imagine your

active adult life.” The two- to-four-bedroom homes at Imagery, some with lakefront views, will range from 1,400 to 4,000 square feet, and come equipped with hardwood floors, quartz countertops, stainless steel appliances, tankless water heaters, yard maintenance and other amenities. Imagery also offers activities such as boating, tennis, pickleball, bocce, hiking trails, painting and pottery and contains a resort-style pool, clubhouse and lakeside beach. The rental apartments at University Square offer a hair salon, interior mailboxes, movie theater, fitness room and transportation access. There are also mixeduse developments cropping up, as well as age-restricted housing being built alongside regular apartments and houses, such as Rea Farms. That can help reduce a sense of isolation and allows seniors to still enjoy community access and recreation. So, if and when the time comes to think about where your parents or even yourself may want to reside after retirement, the good news is that Charlotte has alternatives to satisfy a variety of needs and requirements without seniors having to sacrifice the lifestyles and level of care that residents desire. P

November-December 2018 | Pride Magazine

LIFESTYLE TRENDS

Aging In Place More Than Just Home Repairs

By Kayla Becoats

e’ve all seen the commercials. In fact, the thought of our grandparents and even parents being helpless and alone in their homes is terrifying. Even if aging isn’t a top priority for the majority of people in the United States, for 47.8 million Americans age 65 and older, it’s a reality. The U.S. Census Bureau estimates that by 2060, seniors will comprise 20 percent of the population. This continued growth, coupled with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s report of an estimated 15,600 nursing homes in the United States, suddenly makes the necessity for an alternative approach to taking care of the elderly seem dire. It raises the question—what other option is there?

Aging in place refers to elderly people who choose to remain in their homes for as long as possible. Moving is physically and emotionally demanding for anyone, but for seniors, it is especially overwhelming, due to the need to readjust to new living spaces, people and routines, when their bodies are beginning to slow down. For many elderly people, the benefit of aging in place is that it allows them to continue their quality of life in their established residence, while aiming to ensure their safety and comfort.

According to Alison Starkey, a licensed physical therapist and certified aging in place specialist (CAPS) aging in place takes early preparation. Her business, Gaitway of Charlotte, is a consulting firm tasked primarily with evaluating how it can help seniors remain in their homes. Starkey and her team believe aging in place is a process in which preparation is fundamental, because of the impact aging has on someone’s basic needs. It requires taking a look at the entire scope of a person’s daily

activities and assessing what must be done so that the quality of life may be preserved and improved upon as necessary. Starkey’s expertise dispels the notion that aging in place focuses primarily on home renovations. While it is true that widening doorways, replacing doorknobs and adding wheelchair ramps are some of the ways in which mobility around the home is enhanced, there are other factors that must be considered. Starkey says those are, “How do you get your medicines, shopping and groceries done? Do you have an adequate support system?” The nuances of these seemingly simple questions are why businesses such as Gaitway of Charlotte exist. They provide screenings for medication management, nutrition, driving and cognition before providing recommendations, with the intent of helping clients get their affairs in order. Furthermore, any suggestions provided by this type of business aim to connect clientele in need with contractors, physical therapists, personal shoppers or any other professional their individual situation requires. This type of network fosters a sense of security for not only those choosing to age at home, but their loved ones, as well. The significance of having community support of initiatives such as aging in place can even be seen in our city. In June 2018, the Charlotte City Council allocated $500,000 to establish the program “Aging in Place.” Created to provide tax breaks for elderly homeowners with an annual income of less than $45,000, this program could allow seniors to spend their money properly as they get older. Additionally, city-based initiatives such as the city’s “Aging in Place” program show that there are a growing number of options, both cost-effective and fulfulling, for senior citizens who choose to age in their own homes. Most importantly, however, it reaffirms the idea that aging is not a death sentence, but instead a part of life that can be enjoyed with the proper amount of planning and anticipation for what the future may bring. P

LIFESTYLE TRENDS

Photo by Chou Xiong

A Life of Service and Gratitude

Unetta Moore

By Steffi Travis

hen you first meet Unetta Moore, there is instant camaraderie. She possesses an infectious smile and humble, inviting demeanor. Her hearty laugh shows her keen sense of humor and ability to dissolve tension. She describes herself as a perceptive “people-person” who is happiest when helping others to thrive and reach their potential. She attributes this to being raised by her devout grandmother, Miss Johnnie. “At an early age, I learned to get along with all types of people,” she says. “My mom died when I was eight years old, and I moved in with my grandmother, who lived in a diverse Puerto Rican neighborhood in Buffalo, New York. I was the only kid of color with American Indian heritage and a Baptist upbringing in an elementary school run by Catholic nuns.” After graduating from Riverside High School (now Riverside School of Technology) in Buffalo, Moore earned an associates of arts and science degree from

Erie Community College. As part of her work-study activities, she tutored in English and served as a financial aid student advisor. In 2005, Moore joined the United States Navy and began to fulfill her dream of serving and defending her country. She is the recipient of four Navy and Marine Corps achievement medals presented for meritorious service. As a trained SEABEES heavy equipment operator, she transported cargo, people and supplies for important stateside and oversees missions. She’s skilled in operating buses, 18-wheelers and

forklifts. The highlight of her Navy career was her post in the North Carolina/South Carolina Honor Guard, where for four years she provided funeral honors for fallen sailors and their families. Only persons who are highly motivated and maintain exceptionally high standards of appearance and conduct, and show aptitude for ceremonial duty, are selected as guards of honor. “The things I learned in the Navy, the values, honors and sense of duty, have stayed with me,” she says. “I firmly believe the military is the foundation for providing all Americans freedom.” Always scouting for new beginnings, Moore retired with distinction from the Navy in 2013, and with no break in service, not even a day, she enlisted in the North Carolina Air National Guard, and continues to serve as a guardsman today. This is a natural extension of the core values of commitment to service and teamwork that guide her daily. “Freedom and democracy require ongoing effort. As a guardsman, I serve with people from diverse backgrounds from all over the globe to keep our nation safe and strong,” she says. On 9/12/18, Moore was called into active duty to tackle the challenges presented by Hurricane Florence. One of Moore’s most challenging assignments was with N.C. Homeland Security, in which she searched for explosives in luggage and cargo at Charlotte Douglas International Airport. When that job was downgraded to part-time, she found work with the Department of Veterans Affairs in Columbia. Despite the long-distance drive between Charlotte and Columbia six days a week, Unetta was honored to transport disabled military veterans to medical appointments, counseling sessions and even cancer treatments. Recently, Moore joined the Mecklenburg County Department of Social Services as a medical transport services specialist. As with the V.A. job, she transports DSS clients where they need to go. She has traveled more than a million miles in her transport duties. In her spare time, Moore enjoys gardening and socializing with her two young adult sons and their friends. In May 2018, she put down roots in Charlotte and purchased a home through Community Link’s Homeownership Program, in which she participated in firsttime homebuyer education, counseling and financial services. P Content provided by Community Link.

November-December 2018 | Pride Magazine

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Working together for our community Novant Health salutes the veterans in our community and within our organization. We are proud to partner with M&F Bank through the Diverse Supplier Community Reinvestment program, which is committed to growing the capacity of diverse business contractors and suppliers to Novant Health. Thank you, veterans, for your sacrifices. Your talents make all of the communities we serve vibrant, healthy and strong.

NovantHealth.org ÂŠ Novant Health, Inc. 2018 10/18 â&#x20AC;˘ GCM-356614

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LIFESTYLE TRENDS

Veteran John Heath Brings Leadership Commitment to Charlotte

Sharon Burns, human resource director for Walmart, with John Heath and Randy Sims pharmacy director for Walmart.

ohn Heath is, literally, the new guy in town. But he’s not waiting to make an impact on associates and customers within the walls of the 12 Charlotte-area Walmart Neighborhood Markets he’s responsible for – or in the community he and his family of six now call home. Just over two months on the job as a market manager for Walmart, Heath — along with Pharmacy Director Randy Sims — initiated an event that provided free immunizations to more than 300 area residents. Partnering with Human Resource Director Sharon Burns, he coordinated with law enforcement to kick-start the Shop With a Cop program for kids. The program will be surprising a few families in need with Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners over the holidays. “I set out every day to be the best servant leader possible,” Heath said. “I do what I do because I know what reaching out to someone – what being that spark of encouragement – can do. My own story is a testament to that.” Following a military career that included three years with the National

Guard and three with the U.S. Army at Fort Sill, OK, Heath returned to his hometown of Leavenworth, KS. And then came an awakening. “I was surrounded by gangs and drugs,” Heath explained. “I was in a really bad situation. One of my friends was shot and killed at a club. I’ll never forget that feeling. It wasn’t the kind of life I wanted.” Heath and his soon-to-be wife, Mattie, moved to northwest Arkansas in 2006, where his sister was living. He was hired as a call center representative at Walmart corporate headquarters in Bentonville, AR, which led to an hourly position with the modular planning team. It was there, while planning merchandise displays for stores, that he met Cherie Seyfarth. “Cherie pulled me aside and told me I had a lot of potential,” Heath said. “Nobody

had ever told me that before. She took me under her wing, and talked about responsibility and managing my perception. She saw something in me and it changed my life. It was time to grow up.” That realization couldn’t have come at a better time. Within days of Heath and his wife learning they were expecting their first baby, he was promoted to an entry-level management position in modular planning. It not only afforded him an opportunity to provide for his growing family, but he also enrolled at a nearby university to work toward a degree in organizational management. Heath moved to the Sam’s Club side of the business in 2009 to help drive call center efficiencies. From there, he led the team responsible for processing membership renewals for Sam’s Clubs across the country. There, he earned the nickname of “Report Guy” for his instrumental role in building systems to incorporate critical data into the membership process. Brimming with confidence, Heath worked his way up to club manager of a Sam’s Club in Wichita, KS, where he was immediately humbled. “I thought I was ready, but it wasn’t until I came to the realization that it’s not about what others can do for me, but what I can do for others. That’s when servant leadership became my top priority.” A few more clubs, a stint as regional director for Sam’s Club in the Chicago area and the completion of his master’s degree from Southern New Hampshire University, led Heath to his new role with Walmart in the Charlotte area. But while his career has taken him to Arkansas, Kansas, Chicago, Indianapolis, Virginia Beach and beyond, Heath has never forgotten what someone else believing in him has meant. “I have a career and I’m able to provide for my family in ways I never imagined, because someone believed in me,” he said. “Now I’m in Charlotte with the opportunity to be that spark for others. I’m here for a reason, and I’m going to make the most of it.” P Content provided by Walmart.

November-December 2018 | Pride Magazine

COVER STORY

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Nellie Ashford Charlotte Folk Artist Lands Giant Display at Charlotte Airport By Eddie Bell

Photos by T. Ortega Gaines

he joyous expression that flashed across Nellie Ashford’s serene brown face as she recounted the tale of her first art exhibit at the Actor’s Theater in Louisville brightened her rented Little Rock Road studio. She’d left the theater with a sealed envelope and no mention of her achievement, which she learned of only after the 12-hour drive back to Charlotte. She opened the envelope then, and much to her amazement, she’d won first place in the art competition. In the envelope was a check for $2,500. “I was speechless,” she says.

That exhibit was Ashford’s first serious public recognition, but her true beginnings as an artist began in 1998 when she was in her mid-50s. She was on her living room floor “doodling” together with her grandson with pencils and crayons. She was using art to inspire him. She describes her grandson as a slow learner experiencing difficulties keeping up in school. She also says that she drew while in kindergarten and gave her mother the pictures for her birthday and Mothers’ Day. Ashford, 75, was born somewhere in rural North Carolina (she is adopted and doesn’t know the location), and was raised in the old Oakdale area of Charlotte. She has never received any formal art training, and learned her technique by drawing stick figures and then expanding them with the application of paint and fabric. She has also read widely about the work of successful Black artists such as Benny Andrews, John and James Biggers, Augusta Savage, Sam Gilliam and T.J. Reddy, and attended their exhibitions. She acknowledges all of them for their inspirational impact, but says her success is a “gift given to me that I didn’t know I had.” She once worked in the Charlotte-

Many of Ashford's works depict children. She created this piece in honor of President Barack Obama.

Mecklenburg school system as a teacher’s assistant, and used to give her drawings to teachers and staff members and “anybody that wanted them.” Her journey has been

nontraditional, but she no longer gives away her work. At an 18-piece exhibit of her work in the former Museum of the New South (now the Levine Museum of the New South), Ashford refused to sell any of the pieces. Her explanation: “By then, I started to feel like they were attached to me. I didn’t want to sell any of the pieces.” It took Ashford a significant amount of time to realize that she was truly talented, and her career hasn’t been straightforward. During a retrospective period, she turned inward, unsure of her next steps. She tells of learning to purchase art materials from T. J. Reddy, and learning how to conserve those materials. She also purchased supplies from Lowe’s, including Masonite and tile grout, which helped her save precious financial resources. Prior to those purchases, and still today, she uses scraps of cloth (“whatever I can find”) to make her art, and purposely uses fabrics from her mother’s old quilts. Her talent, ingenuity and years of hard work have paid off in a big way. She was chosen from more than 100 hundred artists to have two of her pieces displayed in the new terminal at Charlotte Douglas International Airport. She is the only women

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Ashford at work in her studio.

and only African American among the four artists chosen to display their work. This is an especially wonderful achievement for Nellie, because she will be honoring the Blacks who owned the land upon which the original airport was built. The two pieces chosen by the airport committee are “A Tribute to Teachers,” 60” x 36,” and “Walk Together Children,” 120” x 36.” Her already large originals will be displayed as even larger murals in the new terminal. The former is her way of also honoring teachers and their importance to society; and the latter is an acknowledgement of the integration of schoolchildren no longer separated by Jim Crow. The figures on both works are representative of all nationalities. Ashford doesn’t know when the murals will be mounted for public display, but she assumes that it will be in the near future. Her work is available at Foster’s Art & Frame Shop in Huntersville and at Red Piano Gallery 2, on St. Helena Island, near Charleston, SC. There are several planned exhibits of her work in the near future:

North Carolina Central University for its 2019 homecoming and the Folk Art Festival in Hickory, fall 2019. P

November-December 2018 | Pride Magazine

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Charlotte-Mecklenburg Students

Help Light the World, Thanks to Innovative ‘Solar Suitcase’ Program

pproximately 1 billion people on our planet have no electricity, and almost one out of three children (188 million) attend a school without electricity. Charlotte youth will help change some of that in this school year. With a shared global vision, Wells Fargo and the former CEO of Duke Energy, Jim Rogers, and his wife, M.A. Rogers, have made it possible to bring the “We Share Solar” program to 20 Charlotte-Mecklenburg schools during the 2018 - 2019 school year. “We Share Solar” is an innovative, educational program dedicated to inspiring students to learn about, build and share “solar suitcases” with the developing world. The suitcases are small, portable photovoltaic lighting systems, powerful enough to illuminate two to three classrooms and charge devices such as mobile phones or tablets. “Without electricity, everything is harder. As a fundamental human right, everyone should have access to a steady and reliable supply of power,” said Jim Rogers, author of “Lighting the World: Transforming our Energy Future by Bringing Electricity to Everyone.” CMS teachers , along with Wells Fargo volunteers, are teaching students how to build “We Share” solar suitcases that will be deployed to Kenya. “I’m excited about teaching the ‘We Share’ solar program, because I am always looking for opportunities to bring real-world examples and experiences to my students. It is important to me for them to interact with science, not just learn it,” said Jazzmin Oates, earth and environmental science teacher at North Mecklenburg High School. Careers in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM] are projected to grow to more than 9 million between 2012 and 2022 — an increase of about 1 million jobs. In conjunction with the “We Share Solar” program, students will have

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the opportunity to learn more about STEM careers from leaders in the community during National STEM Day on November 8. “As a national sponsor of the ‘We Share Solar’ program, we have been able to open new doors for students, by championing an unforgettable learning experience through a curriculum including global energy poverty, basic electricity, solar energy and engineering,” said CaSondra Devine, Wells Fargo sustainability initiatives leader. “We support the implementation of the ‘We Share Solar’ program in locations like London, Canada, San Francisco and now, in collaboration with Jim & M.A. Rogers, in Charlotte. We continue to be inspired by the impact of providing light to those in need, while fostering a generation of leaders focused on global citizenship, financial literacy and careers in STEM.” In addition, the Girl Scouts, Hornets’ Nest Council’s “Girls Go Beyond” program participated in a “We Share Solar” event in September, led by Wells Fargo’s Green Team volunteers, to build expansion kits

which will provide additional lighting for the classrooms in Kenya. “It is critical for girls to participate in STEM in a hands-on way in order to spark interest and provide experience for the future,” said Angela Woods, chief executive officer of Girl Scouts, Hornets’ Nest Council. “Thanks to this program, several girls were provided with a connection between building a solar device to the mission of Girl Scouting – to make the world a better place.” “We Share Solar” is the educational program of We Care Solar, a Berkeley, California-based nonprofit dedicated to bringing light and power to the developing world. Since 2013, We Share Solar has deployed more than 500 solar suitcases, benefiting 80,000 youth. More than 7,000 students from the United States have participated in We Share Solar programs. To learn more about We Share Solar, visit wesharesolar.org. P Content provided by We Share Solar.

ARTS & CULTURE

Viva Italy! By Lashawnda Becoats

taly is one of those places that needs no introduction. It’s a scenic country with mountains and beautiful stone pine trees that line the streets full of ancient architecture. The singsong language and mouthwatering food make it one of the top countries to visit in the world.

The world famous Colosseo. It was much larger than I imagined.

To get around, we decided to walk and use public transportation, such as the subway, bus and high-speed train. All were easy; the subway system is clean, and trains run frequently and on time. Tip: Comfortable shoes are a must (there are plenty of hills and cobblestone streets to tackle). We gladly logged an average of 20,000 steps per day as we explored side streets, random courtyards with statues and the beautiful scenic parks.

we got lost) to many of Rome’s must-see sights such as the Coliseum (the most visited monument in Italy), Fontana di Trevi (be sure to throw a coin over your shoulder and make a wish) and the Spanish Steps (climb all 135 steps to the top to see a beautiful view of the city).

Our only daily goals were to see something historical and eat something delicious. We grabbed a paper map and used the GPS on our cell phones to guide us (when

Robin and I in front of the Coliseum.

I’ve always wanted to go, so in July I decided to explore Rome and Florence with my heart sister, Robin. Rome was a great place to start, because it’s easy to navigate and many of the historic sights are located within the city. For this trip, we rented an apartment through Airbnb in a residential area near the famous Coliseum that had the local flavor I love – small boutiques with trendy restaurants/bars that offer a true vibe of the city. Tip: Residential areas can be great places to stay, because the neighborhoods are usually quieter at night than tourist areas.

There is no photography allowed inside the Sistine Chapel. This is the hallway before the entrance.

The Spanish Steps are great for people watching.

My favorite excursion was the Sistine Chapel, in Vatican City. As an art lover, my imagination could not prepare me for the beauty and magnificence of Michelangelo’s masterpiece. When I looked up and saw all the intricate details of the world-famous ceiling painting, it brought tears to my eyes. To witness this stunning artwork was a dream come true. Next, we visited the majestic St. Peter’s Basilica, which is right next door.

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Tip: If you are going to the Vatican city museums, it’s worth paying extra money for the “fast pass” to skip the three-hour or more wait in long lines to enter.

are out of this world. Don’t expect to buy a slice, either. Pizza is sold by the weight of the portion size and comes in squares. Tip: If your gelato is so creamy that it melts quickly and can’t be served in a cone, it’s a freshly-made batch with natural ingredients and is worth seconds. J After a few days in Rome, we took a high-speed train to Florence for the day, about two hours away. We spent the day bumping around Florence, which feels completely different from Rome. I loved walking on the Ponte Vecchio Bridge. During World War II, it was the only bridge the Germans did not destroy. Now it hosts tons of jewelry shops that lead into the

There are yummy pastry shops everywhere. Please leave your diet at home.

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To beat the heat (temperatures climbed to the low 90s), we ate gelato (Italian-style ice cream) and fruit-filled pastries from the many bakeries. I learned quickly that all gelato is not created equal, due to the creation process and ingredients. Food is an important part of Italian culture, and if you love pasta, bread, gelato, olives, coffee or wine, you will not be disappointed. It was fun to try foods that taste completely different when you go to the source of origin. For example, if you love pizza, get the Americanized version out of your head. Pizza is a must-try (and the styles vary from region to region), and is taken very seriously. The thin, light crust, freshly-made cheese and fresh toppings

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Pizza is served in a square and weighed on a scale.

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bustling tourist areas filled with monumental churches and high-end retailers. Known for its leather, we loved the Mecarto di San Lorenzo. I bought quality souvenirs and the cutest leather bracelets. There’s plenty to do in Florence. Tip: Bring euros if you are going to do any street shopping. Many vendors in the open markets don’t accept credit cards.

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I was so excited to visit the Ponte Vecchio Bridge in Florence.

Now that I’ve gotten a taste of Italy, I can’t wait to go back and explore cities such as Milan, Venice, Naples and Palermo. Oh, and if you’re worried about the language, don’t be. You’ll need to learn a few key phrases, but the people are friendly and will help once they understand what you need. I actually had several opportunities to use Spanish (some Italian words are very similar), and it’s a bonus, because many Italians speak two to three languages. Ciao! P

ARTS & CULTURE

Black Coffee

Former IT Director Works to Build a Coffee Empire in Charlotte By Lashawn Hudson

The sounds of smooth jazz fill the coffeehouse, and the walls are painted with bold, vibrant greens and golds that proudly display the company’s coffee bean plant logo. The surrounding shelves and store cases are filled with a variety of coffee beans, teas and baked goods. COPPA is the only Black-owned coffee shop inside of Charlotte’s exclusive SouthPark mall. Founder and CEO Jeff Tuning says COPPA was birthed in 2015 out of his love for caffe Americano, which he acquired while spending three years in Italy, working as an information technology director for the Whirlpool Corporation. “COPPA is Italian for cup,” says Tuning, 60. “When my assignment in Italy ended, I returned to the United States, and I began looking around for a similar taste and I wasn’t finding it at various coffee shops.” He says that search ultimately inspired him to shift gears from a 30-year career in IT to launch a coffee business from the garage of his home. “I bought a tabletop coffee roaster, a grinder, a small espresso maker coffee machine, and I started to roast my own coffee,” he recalls. “Roasting my own coffee intrigued me to learn more about the science behind coffee, and I began to learn how to roast coffee beans at different profiles to extract different flavors from the coffee.” After several months of trial and error, Tuning says he put out an alert to all of his business friends that he wanted to purchase his own coffee shop, and things just took off from there. “I decided to put up a website, and I started selling some of the brands that I had created online.” Tuning purchased COPPA’s first location in Huntersville. Shortly after, he partnered with Central Piedmont Community College (CPCC) to open three other locations. After fine-tuning his partnership with CPCC and closing down two of the three shops, Tuning

Photo by Bryant

tep inside COPPA Coffee and Tea, and you’re immediately transported into an eclectic and relaxing world.

Jeff Tuning, founder and CEO of COPPA located in SouthPark mall.

November-December 2018 | Pride Magazine

ARTS & CULTURE

says the unexpected happened — he was presented with the opportunity to expand to SouthPark in January. “SouthPark falls into the blessing category,” says Tuning. “They actually reached out to me. I received an email from one of the mall managers. They asked me if I would like to expand my business, and we worked out some favorable terms.” Tuning says each COPPA location attracts a different type of customer because of their locations, but the quality of the coffee and the level of customer service is the same at each location. SouthPark customers such as Beth Stewart say there are three other coffee shops in the mall, but COPPA’s superior product and customer service has inspired her and her coworkers to make a conscious effort to shop locally. “The staff at COPPA are extremely personable,” says Stewart. “They really get to know their customers and on top of that, everything they do is hand-done.” COPPA offers more than 20 coffee flavors and a variety of teas and smoothies, along with an assortment of fresh-baked goods and accessories. In addition to the three storefront locations, at Huntersville, CPCC (central campus) and SouthPark. COPPA also has an online store that allows customers to purchase gourmet coffee, coffee accessories and loose-leaf teas. If online reviews are any indication, COPPA’S vanilla hazelnut infused blend, Panther Pride, is all the rage. Tuning says when he’s not working 70 to 80 hours a week trying to build his coffee empire, he enjoys playing golf and traveling with his wife. In the near future, he says wants to expand his team, start roasting his coffee in-house again and eventually branch out into franchising. “I’m not really trying to be a Black coffee shop,” says Tuning. “I’m trying to be the best coffee shop. When you taste our drink, you should taste a difference.” P

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SceneandSeen

Welcome to Brookhill exhibit opening at The Harvey B. Gantt Center for African-American Art + Culture. Photos by Tyrus Ortega Gaines Photography

November-December 2018 | Pride Magazine

EventsCalendar

Mark Your Calendar Compiled by Shawn D. Allison, II

November 1

Dapper Street Productions sets off the month with a rousing tribute, as the lovely Nicci Canada pays vocal homage to Nina Simone. This honoring of the High Priestess of Soul is filled with her most thought-provoking and prideful sentiments. Free admission. 6 p.m. Mallard Creek Rec Center. 2530 Johnston Oehler Rd.

November 3

EpicFest is a free literary festival that brings children, teens and families together with authors, illustrators and the CharlotteMecklenburg Library. This family event welcomes book lovers of all ages into a community of readers, in a day filled with activities, performances and much more. Free admission. Noon. ImaginOn. 300 E. 7th St. Enjoy a night of theater and awareness at the allnew gospel stage play, “A Coat Of Many Colors.” Playwright Carolyn Caldwell tackles domestic violence, bullying, divorce and forgiveness in this riveting production, which is guaranteed to tug at the heartstrings. Tickets are $15. Eventbrite.com

November 10

It’s time to have some family fun with QC SuperMom and QC Stay-At-Home Moms, as they proudly present the Seventh Annual Total Children’s Wellness Fair. For this year’s theme of “hakuna matata,” come and get engaged with the

community to ensure that you have no worries about each dimension of health and wellness. Free admission. 1 p.m. 931 Wilann Dr. Young people, head down to West Charlotte High School for the return of The Hillman Experience: Operation HBCU 2018. This “A Different World”themed pep rally features an interactive panel discussion about the HBCU experience and a college fair with more than 25 HBCUs conducting on-the-spot admissions. Free admission. 10 a.m. 2219 Senior Dr.

November 28 Grammy Award-winning artist Michael McDonald stops in the QC as he presents the Season of Peace Holiday & Hits Concert. Performing beloved classics and heartwarming debuts with the voice that helped propel his extensive musical career, McDonald wants to ensure that your holidays are indeed merry. Tickets start at $30. Blumenthalarts.org

December 4-9 One of the holidays’ most beloved and humorous tales come to life onstage at the A Christmas Story Musical. Ralphie Parker schemes his way toward the holiday gift of his dreams in this rousing Tony Award-winning musical, featuring all of your favorite characters and situations. carolinatix.org

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December 7

The world-renowned Preservation Hall AllStars return to the QC for a special Jazz Room Holiday Edition concert. Enjoy your favorite holiday classics performed with a New Orleans twist in a funfilled holiday celebration that you don’t want to miss. Tickets start at $25. 6:30 p.m. Spirit Square. 345 N. College St. carolinatix.org

Save the Date!

December 12

He provides the groove and she’ll be singing—just not the blues. Come and experience the musical magic of Zo! + Carmen Rogers. This dynamic duo is burning up the urban circuit with impeccable instrumentation and vocalization that’ll leave you begging for more! $17. 7 p.m. Neighborhood Theatre. 511 E. 36th St. eventbrite.com

December 12-15

Brand New Sheriff Productions finds a new meaning of courage in the critically-acclaimed and original production of “Be A Lion!” After leaving Oz, Lion embarks on a new journey to become king of the jungle, but he encounters challenging tests to earn more than courage—he sets out to acquire the respect of all. $25. Brandnewsheriff.com

December 22

It’s time for the 2018 Queen City Christmas Expo. Bring the entire family out for an afternoon of games, gifts, vendors, live

Join us for the Pride Awards Luncheon! Thursday, January 24, 2019 at The Ritz-Carlton. Log on to www.prideawards.net to purchase tables or tickets performances, food and fellowship. Free admission. 12 noon. Carole A. Hoefener Center. 615 E. 6th St.

December 26-29

A holiday mash-up for the whole family, “The Hip Hop Nutcracker” reimagines Tchaikovsky’s classic score through the five elements of hip hop culture, with a dope display of digital scenery bringing the famed story live and in living color. $20. Blumenthalarts.org

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