Charlotte Storytellers 2020

INVITATION TO SUBMIT VIDEOS

Charlotte Networking for Development and Opportunity (CanDo!) is accepting short video stories for a curated YouTube channel series. Stories should reflect the following theme: Physically Distant but Socially Close: Community in a Time of Pandemic. To be considered, stories must adhere to the following guidelines.

    • Be between two and five minutes in duration;
    • Be positive, uplifting, inspiring and/or humorous;
    • Be based on true events or experiences; and
    • Be non-political.

Videos may be submitted to charlottecando@gmail.com until June 30, 2020.

Civil Dialogue Subject of CanDo! Conversation

Many observers have commented on the lack of civility that has come to characterize the Internet age. Expressions such as trolling, flame wars, and tweet storms have become a part of the everyday lexicon. Incidents of online bullying are on the rise.

Charlotte Area Networking for Development and Opportunity (CanDo!) will be addressing this important topic in the first of a series of four CanDo! Community Conversations to be held in 2020. This meeting will be held on Wednesday, February 26 in the Spartan Room of the Charlotte Community Library beginning at 7:00 a.m.

CanDo! board member and Charlotte High School Principal Jeff Bohl will be leading the discussion. “Social media has increased friction locally and across the county,” he said, “and made positive dialogue harder to have. During this Community Conversation, attendees will brainstorm ways to use community events to promote more positive communication when we disagree about issues.”

CanDo! Community Conversations is a new initiative in 2020. They are designed to engage a broad cross-section of area residents in thoughtful discussion about pressing problems.

“Charlotte has many positive attributes including a willingness to work together to solve important challenges,” said CanDo! Chairman Leah LaFave. “Setting the standard nationally for civil dialogue is just the kind of remarkable idea that CanDo! was formed to promote.”

The Charlotte Community Library is located at 226 S. Bostwick Street. The public is invited to attend. Coffee and a light breakfast will be provided free of charge.

CanDo! Community Conversations are made possible through the generous support of Eaton Federal Saving Bank and Wells Fargo Advisors.

Charlotte Soup Returns October 23

CanDo! will host Charlotte Soup this month, repeating an event based on a similar idea from Detroit. The concept is simple; citizens come together to share a meal and then generate ideas to help improve the community!

Charlotte Soup in 2018 funded two new attractions in the community. A Community Sing and Pass-It-On project.  A Community Sing took place Memorial Day Weekend on Court House Square.  Pass-It-On is still in the creating stages and will be taking action soon. The 2018 winners included, Charlotte Christmas and Art of Charlotte. In 2017, Charlotte Christmas was held at Camp Frances and featured lighted trails, horse-drawn wagon rides, reindeer, Santa Claus and a campfire. In 2018, Charlotte Christmas was held at Court House Square and is now planning for the 2019 event. In addition, in 2017, Art of Charlotte took place in downtown with live music, visual arts and local cuisine.

The CanDo! board of directors is interested in building on past success by identifying new projects to fund. To take part, participants buy a $10 ticket. $5 covers the cost of the meal –soup, beverage and a cookie — and $5 goes into a collection to fund a community improvement project. Participants work in groups to generate ideas, and at the end of the night, everyone will vote on the projects that they would like to see funded. One project will be funded from the money raised by the event and a second project will be funded with a grant from CanDo!

Charlotte Soup will take place from 5:30-7:30 pm on Wednesday, October 23rd at the Eaton Area Senior Center, 804 S Cochran Ave, Charlotte, MI.  Plan to attend and be part of the next GREAT IDEA for our community.  All Charlotte community members are welcome. Tickets can be purchased in advance from the County Journal offices.  Tickets will also be available at the door.

Ticket Information and questions about the event can be directed to CanDo! Chairperson Yvonne Ridge at charlottecando@gmail.com or yridge@charlottemi.org.