Charlotte Real Estate Talk: Sam Fleming



The key word for environmental awareness these days is sustainable. From how we get our energy, to where we get our food… there is growing awareness of the footprint we leave behind. And talking about growing awareness… our guest today on Charlotte Real Estate Talk is all about awareness of growing. Sam Fleming of 100 Gardens a hydroponic farmer, but he doesn’t run just one farm, he runs many — at local schools. And what’s even better, is that these hydroponic farms, or greenhouses, not only provide food for school lunches, in some cases, but to sell, make money, and — here’s the best part — TEACH kids about horticulture, chemistry, agriculture, business, and a number of other academic topics. Wow! And the key to it all…. is FISH.


Charlotte Real Estate Talk: David Dillard



The Charlotte Mecklenburg Library has been a great resource for our community since its first predecessor opened in 1891 on South Tryon Street. Replaced 10 years later by one of the famous Carnegie Libraries, a public library in Charlotte has now stood on the same site in uptown since 1903. The Library’s reach has since expanded to all corners of our county through 20 branches, a children’s library, and digital access. But right now — the city/county library is making big plans for that original site on Tryon Street, for a NEW main library. It’s an ambitious, 3-year, $135-million-dollar private-public partnership, and we are full of questions about it. Luckily, David Dillard from the Charlotte Mecklenburg Library is here to tell us what we need to know!

 


Charlotte Real Estate Talk: Josh Jones



Ahhh… Spring. They say it’s when a young man’s fancy turns to love. But sometimes it also turns to home renovations, as we get a new zest for spring cleaning and upgrades in our familiar surroundings. We have advice for that too, from someone who has nearly 20 years homebuilding experience. Joining us today on Charlotte Real Estate Talk is Josh Jones, of Jones & Hedges Custom Homes, with some practical tips for making that happen — whether you want to upgrade the house you’re living in, or renovate to sell and find something else.

 


Charlotte Real Estate Talk: Jen Band



We all know being a teen is rough — a time of transition and change in our lives, where we realize we are growing up and sometimes, just aren’t sure how to handle that. Our next guest is all about handling those teen years by learning who you are, by discovering what gifts you can share with others. Jen Band is the founder of the non-profit Playing for Others, which helps teens understand who they are through personal development, service, and the arts.


Charlotte Real Estate Talk: Alex Alcorn



Art can transform a community, and it doesn’t need to be a statue in the town square to do it. Sometimes, a creative corner of a neighborhood can bring people together to work and share and get to know each other, while making an empty space a point of community pride.

The League of Creative Interventionists organizes projects like these in cities all over the U.S., including right here in Charlotte. Locally, they’ve just named their 2019-2020 Creative Interventionist Fellows, and we’ve got one here today on Charlotte Real Estate Talk. Welcome, Alex Alcorn.


Charlotte Real Estate Talk: Dr. Lori Whatley



Chances are, while you’re listening to us, you are not more than an arm’s reach from your phone. (Or you may be actually listening to us on your phone!) Well, listen up… more than 266 MILLION people aged 9 and over in the U.S. have a smart device, and they spend almost FIVE HOURS A DAY on it. Wow.

While smart devices are great for connecting us, letting us know the weather, or schedules, or the quickest route to our destination… they’re also responsible for negative health effects like sleep disorders, anxiety, depression, and ADD. Yikes. Our next guest on Charlotte Real Estate Talk is Dr. Lori Whatley. She’s na clinical psychologist who tackles these problems with families and businesses who have become technology-obsessed.


Charlotte Real Estate Talk: Tricia Sistrunk



We know a hungry child doesn’t focus as well in school, and that makes learning harder. And we take it for granted here in America, that if children can’t afford a school lunch, they can get help buying a warm meal during the day. We probably also know that’s not always the case around the globe.

Charlotte lawyer Rebecca Wofford saw that first hand in 2011 when she took law school students on a trip to Tanzania to study public education in developing countries. The kids were hungry, and the headmaster asked Wofford if there was anything she could do to help. From there, The Lunch Project was born – and its Executive Director Tricia Sistrunk joins on Charlotte Real Estate Talk to tell us how this is just not a program that sends food overseas… it does a lot more.  Welcome Tricia.


Charlotte Real Estate Talk: Kris Cole



There’s an old Far Side cartoon showing vultures sitting in a tree wearing dark sunglasses and listening to headphones. The caption says, “Birds of prey know they’re cool.” It’s always good for a laugh! But maintaining the population of sick and injured raptors in Mecklenburg County is also a lot of work.

Enter the Carolina Raptor Center — started in a basement at UNC-Charlotte nearly 45 years ago, and now grown to a place at Latta Plantation that has taken in more than 20-THOUSAND birds and released 8-thousand of those back into the wild. It’s a long, wild history… and getting bigger and better as we speak. Kris Cole joins us now on Charlotte Real Estate Talk to tell us just HOW cool these birds are!


Charlotte Real Estate Talk: Andrew Knoblich



“Get a job, kid!” – we’ve all heard it, but finding a job can be daunting. If you’re an employer, you probably know the challenges with finding summer staff. You probably didn’t know that Charlotte has a program to meet these needs.

The Mayor’s Youth Employment Program has been connecting teens and jobs for years. Andew Knoblich joins us on Charlotte Real Estate Talk to tell us all about the program and how employers – and kids – can get involved!


Charlotte Real Estate Talk: Sydney Duarte



In a city full of bankers, you often hear that what Charlotte needs is more of a funky, artsy vibe to attract young people. We’re getting there… with NoDa now a very popular place to live, and murals popping up around South End and North End as appreciation for them grows. They make Charlotte a more colorful place to call home, amid all of the glass and steel.

We have with us today on Charlotte Real Estate Talk, one of the people who makes our home more colorful with murals. Sydney Duarte – you might know her as the “traveling gypsy” on Instagram – paints murals with her mom, who is also an artist. You can check out one of them on the side of Two Scoops Creamery and we can’t wait to hear where else. Welcome Sydney, and first, thanks for making Charlotte more colorful!