Interact Studio

Human Touch - Community Voice Award - Tony Mecia of the Charlotte Ledger

Tina Postel - Loaves & Fishes/Friendship Trays

Our friend Matt Olin of Charlotte is Creative is joining us to talk with April Whitlock, the Executive Director of the LendingTree Foundation, about the LendaHand Alliance Cohort.

LendingTree has just launched this signature philanthropy program, a three-year program for 10 Charlotte-based nonprofits designed to maximize community impact through trust-based philanthropy and meaningful relationships.

The first LendaHand Alliance cohort includes:

ArtPop Street Gallery

Charlotte Is Creative

Charlotte Rescue Mission

Common Wealth Charlotte

Digi-Bridge

Do Greater Charlotte

Dottie Rose Foundation

Freedom Communities

The Relatives

West Side Community Land Trust

When Camp North End first opened its factories in 1924, innovation was at the core of everything. Over the decades, the space has been used to build Model-Ts for the Ford Motor Company, to support American soldiers in World War II, and to manufacture missiles during the Cold War. Now, nearly 100 years later, things look a little different at Camp North End but that spirit of innovation remains.

Over the past few years, Camp North End has blossomed into a hub for artists, chefs, and entrepreneurs to work, play, and continue to innovate their craft. Camp North End creates a welcoming space for creativity and community in Charlotte with shops, restaurants, murals, and events designed for all people.

When Varian Shrum, the Community Manager of Camp North End, joins us on the Human Touch, we will discuss the past, present, and future of Camp North End.

Since 2003, Tom Gabbard has been at the helm of Blumenthal Performing Arts as the organization’s President and CEO. During Gabbard’s tenure as CEO, the Blumenthal has become a Top 10 market for touring Broadway shows in North America. Currently, the Blumenthal is being visited by the Wicked Witch of the West as Broadway’s WICKED runs at Ovens Auditorium through October 3, 2021. The Blumenthal also played a major role in the production and management of Immersive Van Gogh Exhibit Charlotte, a one of kind art experience running at Camp North End through October 31. When he joined us on the Human Touch, he shared his thoughts on the current state and future of theatre, the creative culture of Charlotte, and what goes into hosting high-profile events such as WICKED and Immersive Van Gogh.

Jeff Dugdale is the Associate Athletic Director and Aquatics Director for Queens University of Charlotte. In his 12 years coaching the men’s and women’s swimming programs at Queens, Jeff has been a part of 12 NCAA Championship titles — 6 for men’s and 6 for women’s — including this year’s 2021 championship.

In that same time, he has been a Seven-Time CSCAA Coach of the Year, 11-Time Bluegrass Mountain Conference Coach of the Year, and the 2019 Jimi Flowers Coach of the Year. And he coached four Queens athletes who participated in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

But for Jeff, his role in the Queens athletic department is about more than training students to be the best athletes they can be, it’s also about teaching them how to be the best leaders possible — in and out of the pool.

When he joined us on the Human Touch, he shared his thoughts on coaching, leadership, and the role mental health plays in athletics.

Demeka S. Kimpson, band director at Sedgefield Middle School, is the 2021 CMS Teacher of the Year. Kimpson is in her 16th year of teaching at Sedgefield, a Title 1 school. She is loved for her creativity and fierce commitment to the well-being of her students and their families. During the pandemic, she has worked tirelessly to keep the music alive for her students. She joins us on Human Touch for a conversation about providing an inclusive, quality educational experience to all students, and teaching through a pandemic.

Cheryl L. Richards, Ph.D. began her term as president of Johnson & Wales University’s Charlotte Campus, on June 15, 2020, in the grip of COVID. Previously Dr. Richards served as the founding chief executive officer and regional dean of Northeastern University’s Charlotte Campus. As someone with a distinguished career in higher education, she talks with us about the impact of COVID on Charlotte campuses, and what’s ahead for the University.

On this episode of Human Touch, we discuss the role that culture and community play in growth and success with Tino McFarland, CEO of McFarland Construction, and Executive VP/COO Ben Wilhelm. Tino and Ben will share how they built one of the fastest-growing black-owned businesses in Charlotte—and what’s ahead for construction, given the rising costs of materials.

Do you Dream Big? Kathy Izard suggests everyone does. Kathy is an award-winning author and speaker who has helped bring great change to homelessness, housing, and mental health in Charlotte — and just recently has worked with her daughter to create a community called Women | Faith & Story. The award-winning author and speaker will discuss answering the “whispers” that push you to your calling, overcoming self-doubt, doing good, and dreaming big.?