well the pride Awards luncheon is this Thursday and over the last 30 years the magazine has selected some amazing and worthy nonprofits to be honored with the monetary donation from Wells Fargo especially this year but it's no different as we head into this year's luncheon instead of waiting to meet these amazing organizations though on Thursday we're sharing their commitment and uh their opportunities to our community and the work that they're doing right now as Dr Martin Luther King Jr once sa
id strength and growth come only through continuous effort and struggle these three founders of some of Charlotte's most impactful organizations know the cycle of continuous effort and struggle it's how they created each organization I took my 401k and I started gracious hands transitional housing and it'll be nine years next next month Sonia Chisum founder of gracious hands says she had an epiphany to love women and children back to life the group houses homeless women with children from birth
to 18 years of age providing free daycare and other essential Services Chisum says it's a segment of our population that understands the word struggle trying to make sure that every woman with a young boy has a place to call home kenth Robinson founded freedom fighting missionaries after spending time incarcerated understanding the real life battle to find a job housing and to just try and survive founded in 2020 Robinson's organization serves formerly incarcerated individuals primarily families
who have a barrier to even the most basic needs that we take for granted they have a background that has preved them from moving forward I personally experiened that myself served 10 years in federal prison and was released here to Charlotte North Carolina to begin my journey and it was quite the journey Robinson says they had to claw their way through with 20 and $30 donations to finally being able to work with local landlords and organizations to place people in housing Charlotte ranks close
to last and that effort of moving people out of um poverty into upward Mobility so it was very difficult for us at the onset you're talking about a population of people who for the most part can't even vote right now a 24 unit apartment building is being built in University East to help those who have served their time by 2025 a person has served their time they have went through the coure systems they are a human being live here in mecklinburg county and deserve a right at a second chance Donna
Reed has become a voice for teenagers aging out of foster care in fact her organization is called home for me a voice for teens in foster care she's had to speak up knowing the trauma that these teenagers face once they turn 18 if they don't have a place a plan or parents they end up homeless and hopeless Reed herself aged out of the system and understands with no support it can be a situation that spirals out of control quickly her group has helped fund housing opportunities and guidance suppo
rt including a rock solid commitment with HBCU Livingstone College to educate those teenagers worry free we become their family we become that consistency in their lives because when they are in the system they are liable to move a average of six times and when they're moved they're given a black garbage bag each one of these nonprofits vying for the money but also asking for your support to change someone's future a Priceless payoff we can't give our way out of this we have to teach our way out
of this you can watch the full interview right after the news over on WCNC plus it's free on your favorite streaming device and a reminder Pride Magazine's Pride awards for this Thursday at the rry in Camp North End beginning at 11:00 a.m. sharp tickets are still on sale you can also help these nonprofits right now just head over to wcnc.com
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