In this episode, host Beverly Knox Davis sits down with Jessica Lefkowitz, founder of Hearts for the Invisible Charlotte, for a candid and eye-opening conversation about homelessness in Charlotte. Lefkowitz shares her unexpected journey from professional bartending to full-time advocacy after witnessing the rapid growth of a local “tent city” during the pandemic.

The discussion explores how her organization evolved from grassroots street outreach into a funded initiative capable of helping hundreds of individuals transition into shelter and permanent housing. Together, Davis and Lefkowitz challenge common misconceptions about homelessness, emphasizing that it affects every neighborhood and cannot be solved through displacement or judgment.

Lefkowitz underscores that while food, clothing, and emergency supplies matter, the only long-term solution is stable housing paired with dedicated case management. The episode ultimately highlights the power of community partnerships, empathy, and consistent human connection in creating meaningful, lasting change for the city’s most vulnerable residents.

A Heart For The Invisible Charlotte

https://www.heartsfortheinvisibleclt.org

To volunteer, donate, or get involved, visit abrighterdayoutreach.org or call 704-612-6390

In this powerful episode, host Beverly Knox Davis sits down with Jessica Lefkowitz, founder of the Hearts for the Invisible Charlotte Coalition, to explore what it truly takes to address homelessness with dignity and impact. Lefkowitz shares her journey from professional bartending to full-time advocacy after witnessing the rapid growth of Charlotte’s tent city during the pandemic.

The conversation unpacks how her organization secured critical government funding, expanded street outreach, and helped move hundreds of individuals into shelter and permanent housing. Together, they challenge common misconceptions about homelessness, emphasizing that it affects every neighborhood and cannot be solved through displacement or judgment. Instead, the episode highlights the power of consistent human connection, stable housing, specialized case management, and cross-sector partnerships as the only sustainable path forward.

This episode is a call to see people first — and to act with empathy, accountability, and collaboration to support Charlotte’s most vulnerable residents.

A Heart For The Invisible Charlotte

https://www.heartsfortheinvisibleclt.org

To volunteer, donate, or get involved, visit abrighterdayoutreach.org or call 704-612-6390

In this episode of the A Brighter Day Outreach Podcast, host Beverly Knox Davis digs into the heartbeat of local community concerns while welcoming Monifah Drafford, consultant and candidate for County Commissioner, District 2. Together, they explore the candidate’s upcoming campaign milestones — including a virtual kickoff event and filing day — and address the community’s understandable skepticism after decades under a long-serving incumbent.

The Monifah underscores the importance of showing up, following through, and staying accessible to the people she hopes to represent. She distinguishes herself by focusing on accountability, clear communication, and a commitment to listening rather than overpromising.

Beverly also shines a light on A Brighter Day Outreach’s ongoing impact, highlighting the recent publication of a student-written book through their Break Every Chain program. The episode wraps with an invitation for listeners to support the organization’s work in the historic Hoskins and Thomas communities as they continue empowering youth and families.

A thoughtful conversation about leadership, trust, and building real change from the ground up.

To volunteer, donate, or get involved, visit abrighterdayoutreach.org or call 704-612-6390

In this episode of A Brighter Day Outreach, host Beverly Knox Davis sits down with Mo Drayton, consultant and candidate for County Commissioner, District 2, to explore the urgent needs, challenges, and hopes within the historic Hoskins community.

Drayton breaks down her four-point platform, centered on:

Protecting historic neighborhoods

Improving livability and access to essential resources

Expanding pathways to opportunity

Strengthening community engagement and advocacy

Together, Davis and Drayton shed light on critical disparities in District 2 — including environmental hazards and a troubling gap in life expectancy compared to nearby districts. Beverly also discusses the ongoing struggle for adequate funding for A Brighter Day Outreach, despite its deep and proven impact in the community, emphasizing the need for stronger accountability and better resource distribution.

The episode also captures Drayton’s enthusiasm for meeting residents face-to-face, hearing their stories, and shaping policy that honors the legacy and resilience of the people who call District 2 home.

A powerful conversation about advocacy, equity, and the real work required to support a thriving community.

To volunteer, donate, or get involved, visit abrighterdayoutreach.org or call 704-612-6390

This episode of the A Brighter Day Outreach Podcast features founder Beverly Knox Davis sharing the heart and mission behind serving the historic Hoskins community in Charlotte, North Carolina. New Food Pantry Manager, Veronica, speaks candidly about the growing needs facing local families—especially as SNAP and EBT resources continue to shrink—and explains how the organization has implemented new systems to ensure food and supplies are distributed fairly, efficiently, and with dignity.

A central theme of the conversation is the belief that real service is demonstrated through compassion, respect, and non-judgmental love. Beverly emphasizes that how the team treats people matters more than anything they say, highlighting that many individuals who come for assistance are experiencing vulnerability for the first time. Through powerful personal stories, she illustrates the emotional weight that visitors often carry and the responsibility A Brighter Day Outreach has to create a safe, encouraging space.

Ultimately, the episode reinforces the organization’s commitment to being a source of light, hope, and stability. Beyond meeting physical needs, A Brighter Day Outreach strives to ensure every person leaves the food pantry feeling seen, valued, and uplifted.

To volunteer, donate, or get involved, visit abrighterdayoutreach.org or call 704-612-6390

This episode of the A Brighter Day Outreach Podcast, hosted by Beverly Knox Davis, features Veronica Alexander, the new manager of the Brighter Day community hub and food pantry. Alexander shares her personal journey growing up on government assistance, which inspires her commitment to serving the community with dignity. The conversation emphasizes the importance of efficiency in running the pantry and announces a new requirement for recipients to verify household size to ensure fair resource distribution.

To volunteer, donate, or get involved, visit abrighterdayoutreach.org or call 704-612-6390

In this episode of the A Brighter Day Outreach Podcast, founder and president Beverly Knox Davis shares an inspiring update on the organization’s mission to serve the Historic Hoskins community in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Currently assisting over 250 families each week through the Brighter Day Community Hub, Beverly outlines urgent funding goals — including $150,000 to pay off the hub’s mortgage by year’s end, $300,000 to sustain staffing and essential operations, and a $250,000 Mecklenburg County grant to transition the property from residential to commercial use.

She encourages supporters to get involved through financial contributions, volunteering, and donating essential goods from the organization’s Amazon Wishlist. With the holidays approaching, A Brighter Day Outreach is also seeking 40 turkeys for Thanksgiving and Christmas gifts for older teens to ensure no family is left behind during the season of giving.

Beverly emphasizes that every act of generosity helps fuel their mission to provide food, emergency assistance, and community support for local families in need. She invites listeners to share the podcast, follow A Brighter Day Outreach on social media, and become part of the growing network of individuals and organizations committed to creating lasting change in Charlotte’s west side.

✨ Together, we can build stronger families, brighter futures, and a more connected Charlotte.

To volunteer, donate, or get involved, visit abrighterdayoutreach.org or call 704-612-6390

In this inspiring episode of the A Brighter Day Outreach Podcast, host Beverly Knox Davis, founder and president of A Brighter Day Outreach, sits down with Stephanie Chavis, founder of Excel Peer Support Services, to share stories of healing, connection, and collaboration within the historic Hoskins community of Charlotte, North Carolina.

Beverly and Stephanie reflect on how divine timing brought their partnership together—after a few missed attempts, Beverly’s “spirit said, ‘Be still,’” allowing the perfect moment to align. The result: a powerful partnership rooted in compassion, empowerment, and action.

About the Guest – Stephanie Chavis

Originally from Lumberton, NC, Stephanie moved to Charlotte in search of new opportunities and a way to give back. After overcoming her own challenges and finding strength through peer support, she became a Certified Peer Support Specialist, dedicating her life to helping others rediscover hope. Her journey led her to A Brighter Day’s food pantry, where she saw firsthand the need for expanded community resources—and the partnership was born.

Excel Peer Support Services: A Holistic Approach to Community Care

For the past three years, Excel Peer Support Services has been transforming lives by addressing immediate and long-term needs. Stephanie and her team provide an impressive range of services, including:

Housing Assistance: Helping clients navigate HUD housing, Habitat for Humanity, and emergency housing referrals.

Financial Support: Offering rental and utility assistance to ease financial burdens.

Therapy & Counseling: Providing both group and individual therapy, with future plans to expand to children and families.

Substance Abuse Recovery: Hosting daily SECOT substance abuse classes and connecting individuals with long-term rehabilitation programs.

Transportation Services: Ensuring clients can reach medical appointments and recovery programs safely.

Community Collaboration in Action

Excel has become an integral part of A Brighter Day’s community hub—setting up outreach tables, offering food, and conducting on-site assessments to connect residents with immediate services. Together, they are creating a safe space where every person is treated with dignity, respect, and care.

Their collaboration will continue at the 4th Annual Historic Hoskins Parade and Festival on October 4th, where both organizations will once again serve food and provide community resources.

As Beverly beautifully summarizes, A Brighter Day Outreach was “birthed to serve a desert area”—a place without access to basics like a grocery store or library—and now, through partnerships like this, that desert is blossoming with hope.

Connect & Get Involved

Excel Peer Support Services will continue to visit A Brighter Day Outreach every two weeks. For immediate help or information about signing up for services, contact Stephanie Chavis at 910-258-2868.

If you have skills, talents, or a heart to serve, A Brighter Day Outreach welcomes you to join their growing team as they continue building a brighter future for the Hoskins community.

To volunteer, donate, or get involved, visit abrighterdayoutreach.org or call 704-612-6390.

In this episode of the A Brighter Day Outreach Podcast, host Beverly Knox Davis welcomes Miss Minnie McPherson, the new Program Director for the Break Every Chain program at Thomasboro Academy.

Miss Minnie shares her inspiring personal journey, from becoming a young mother to navigating career changes, all while being guided by the influence of her own mother’s resilience. Her story reflects a deep commitment to giving back and ensuring that children in the community feel valued, loved, and supported.

Together, Beverly and Miss Minnie discuss the vital work of Break Every Chain, a program dedicated to teaching emotional intelligence skills to second graders. The initiative is designed to help dismantle the school-to-prison pipeline by equipping students with the tools to manage emotions, build confidence, and develop healthier decision-making skills.

Since its launch, the program has already shown significant improvement in student outcomes, proving the transformative impact of early intervention and consistent mentorship.

This conversation shines a light on the power of community-driven programs and the difference dedicated volunteers like Miss Minnie can make in shaping a brighter future for children in Hoskins and beyond.

To volunteer, donate, or get involved, visit abrighterdayoutreach.org or call 704-612-6390.

This episode of the A Brighter Day Outreach podcast features Beverly Knox Davis, founder and president of A Brighter Day Outreach, who shares important updates and makes an appeal for support. The podcast generally focuses on positive outcomes and real stories from residents and supporters of the historic Hoskins community.

Davis highlights an urgent need for financial contributions to their capital campaign, aiming to raise $150,000 by December. This critical funding is needed to pay off the remaining balance of the hub and cover operating expenses, such as the "insane" light bill, especially given the food pantry operates twice a week with additional overflow days. Davis emphasizes the significant financial strain of maintaining their services and seeks help from donors and sponsors.

Beyond financial donations, the organization also appeals for specific item donations. They are in need of toiletries, paper towels, deodorant, toothbrushes, and toothpaste to assist unhoused individuals or those currently facing challenges.

Looking ahead, Davis outlines a long-term ultimate goal of $2.1 million. This larger sum would enable the organization to expand its services, acquire additional real estate, bring more food into the area to address major food insecurity problems, and create paid positions, including an operations manager and program director.

Listeners are urged to contribute financially through various channels: by visiting their website, social media platforms, calling, emailing, or even mailing a check to 510 Sinclair Street, Charlotte, North Carolina, 28208. Davis also mentions the importance of volunteering. The support is vital to continue serving the people in the Hoskins and Thomasboro communities and beyond, as individuals travel up to two hours to receive assistance, indicating a widespread need. Davis expresses gratitude to all supporters and partners, emphasizing the organization's mission to ensure neighbors feel loved, appreciated, and supported in their time of need.

For donations and services contact www.abrighterdayoutreach.org

Beverly Knox (Davis), Founder/President

A Brighter Day Outreach

www.abrighterdayoutreach.org

704-612-6390

Mailing Address: Post Office Box 681153, Charlotte, NC 28216