The Bridges Are Already Built 

Reflections on Connection, Coalition, and Community from the SHARE Charlotte Community Impact Summit

by Brandi Cagle 

Last week, SVP gathered alongside nonprofit leaders, community partners, creatives, and changemakers from across Charlotte for the 2026 SHARE Charlotte Community Impact Summit. Throughout the day, conversations moved across topics ranging from civic engagement and food insecurity to creativity, collaboration, and community leadership. Yet despite the variety of speakers and sessions, many of the conversations seemed to return to the same underlying question: in a rapidly growing city, how do we remain connected to one another? 

Charlotte continues to grow at an extraordinary pace. During the summit, Tracy Russ noted that the region has now surpassed three million residents, with more than 54,000 newcomers arriving over the past year alone. At the same time, civic participation and social connection continue to decline nationally, while loneliness has reached historic levels. That tension between growth and connection created an important backdrop for many of the day’s conversations. 

One panel that especially embodied those themes featured several of Charlotte’s eastside leaders, moderated by journalist Tonya Jameson, including Ann Gonzales of the Carolinas Asian-American Chamber of Commerce, Greg Ascuitto of CharlotteEAST, and Manolo Betancur of Manolo’s Bakery. Their conversation centered around cultural connection, coalition-building, and what it truly takes to build trust within communities. 

At one point, Greg spoke about the importance of simply knowing your neighbor. Starting small. Neighbors helping neighbors. Tonya emphasized that consistency in community work is what builds trust over time. Manolo reflected on the importance of shifting from “I” to “We,” acknowledging that collective thinking does not always come naturally within American culture, where individualism often takes center stage. 

When asked what still prevents stronger collaboration and partnership-building, Manolo’s response drew a visible reaction from the room. He named four barriers: love, identity strongholds, fear, and jealousy. Honest answers like that seemed to create space for more honest conversations throughout the day. 

Another powerful moment from the panel centered around last fall’s ICE raids across Charlotte, which heavily impacted East Charlotte’s Hispanic community. As an East Charlotte resident myself, I remember the daily visuals and tension surrounding those moments vividly. Manolo’s Bakery became a gathering place for support, advocacy, and solidarity during that time, but as the panelists shared, the response stretched far beyond one neighborhood. People from across Charlotte showed up. The phrase used to describe that collective response was a “huge army of angels.” 

What struck me most was that the conversation never framed community support as charity or performance. It was about showing up for one another and resisting the fear of “intruding” into communities different from our own. One of the most powerful lines shared during the summit came from Manolo himself: “We have so many bridges built. It isn’t that. We need people to take the risk and cross those bridges.” 

That sentiment carried naturally into the launch of fftc:FWD, a new civic empowerment and engagement initiative from Foundation For The Carolinas’ Robinson Center for Civic Leadership. The initiative is designed to help people better understand community issues, discover who is already doing meaningful work across Charlotte, and more easily connect with opportunities for engagement and action. 

One phrase shared during the presentation captured that spirit well: “We need more of us to move us.” 

Rather than positioning civic engagement as something reserved for institutions or experts, the initiative emphasized collective participation and shared responsibility. In a city growing as quickly and dynamically as Charlotte, that framing felt especially timely. 

One of the most thoughtful aspects of fftc:FWD was its intentional integration of local artists into the initiative’s issue-based storytelling. Artists were commissioned to visually interpret topics ranging from housing and economic mobility to sustainability, healthcare, education, transportation, and AI. The artwork gives those issue areas emotional texture instead of presenting them as sterile categories. In a space so often driven by metrics, systems, and terminology, it felt meaningful to see creativity positioned as part of the civic conversation itself. 

That same intersection between systems and lived experience surfaced again during a discussion on food insecurity led by Tina Postel, CEO of Nourish Up. Her remarks challenged the false belief that food insecurity exists only within houseless populations. In reality, many working families quietly experience food insecurity every day while balancing rising costs of housing, healthcare, transportation, and childcare. 

She emphasized that it is not simply an availability issue, but an issue of access and distribution. More importantly, she reminded the audience that food, healthcare, education, and housing are all interconnected. None of these challenges exist in isolation. 

One statement she shared truly felt aligned with the broader spirit of the summit: “The goal should be to put ourselves out of business.” It was a simple but powerful reminder that nonprofit work, at its core, is about building healthier and more sustainable communities over the long term. 

What I appreciated most about the summit was its continual return to participation. Not perfection. Not expertise. Participation. Give. Volunteer. Advocate. Know your neighbor. Cross the bridges that already exist. 

Even the creative moments woven throughout the day reflected that spirit. Through partnerships facilitated by Charlotte Is Creative, the summit opened with a performance by Phoenix Down RPG featuring Umoja (“unity”) by composer Valerie Coleman, symbolizing the interconnected ecosystem of nonprofits, foundations, donors, community organizations, and residents all existing within the same community ecosystem. 

And the closing moment may have captured the spirit of the day best of all. 

Led by my dear friend Zacch Estrada-Petersen, Founder and Director of the Brighter Day Community Choir, the audience was invited to gradually build rhythm and voice together through the song “Lean on Me.” After a full day of conversations about trust, loneliness, coalition-building, food insecurity, civic participation, and connection, it felt like a fitting close. 

Not because everyone in the room shared the same perspectives or experiences, but because the summit continually reinforced a simple truth: stronger communities are built when people choose to show up for one another. 

We’re excited to share SVP Charlotte’s 2025 Impact Report.

Each year, this report offers a moment to step back and reflect on how SVP shows up alongside nonprofits across the Charlotte community. In 2025, that looked like funding, skilled volunteer support through Spark Teams, and the continued growth of SEED20, all working together to strengthen nonprofit organizations and the communities they serve.

It’s also a look at what happens when partners bring their time, expertise, and networks to the table. Across our work, SVP Charlotte served 41 nonprofits, contributing to a growing network of organizations working toward stronger outcomes for our community.

What You’ll See in This Report

This year’s report highlights both the work that took place and what continues to build from it, from hands-on strategic support through Spark Teams to increased visibility and funding opportunities through SEED20.

SVP partners contributed 286 hours of skilled volunteer support this year, working directly with nonprofits on strategy, operations, and growth. That kind of support doesn’t just move projects forward, it helps organizations build the capacity to sustain and deepen their impact over time.

View the Report:

THANK YOU to our partners, nonprofit leaders, and community members who make this work possible.

Social Venture Partners Charlotte Invests in The Bulb Gallery as 2026 Investee

Investment grant provides unrestricted funding and hands-on partnership to strengthen The Bulb

Gallery’s community-led food access model

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Social Venture Partners (SVP) Charlotte has named The Bulb Gallery as its 2026 Investee grant recipient, recognizing the organization’s innovative, community-rooted approach to increasing equitable access to fresh, nutritious food across Mecklenburg County.

Founded on the belief that access to healthy food is foundational to health, dignity, and economic mobility, The Bulb operates a barrier-free mobile farmers market model that brings fresh, high-quality and relevant produce directly into under-resourced neighborhoods most impacted by food insecurity culturally —no ID, referrals, or payment required.

Beginning in 2026, SVP Charlotte will invest up to $25,000 annually for three years in The Bulb as part of an expanded, multi-year commitment that deepens capacity-building support across its investee portfolio.

This increased level of investment will also extend to current SVP Charlotte investees, including The Arts Empowerment Project and GardHouse, reflecting SVP Charlotte’s strengthened focus on long-term organizational sustainability and impact.

“I’m grateful to SVP Charlotte for their faith and confidence in our mission and look forward to having the counsel and guidance of their experienced professionals just as The Bulb reaches an exciting transition point in our growth,” said Elizabeth Dickens, Board Chair of The Bulb.

The SVP Charlotte Investee partnership pairs unrestricted financial support with hands-on engagement fromSVP Charlotte Partners—a powerful network of skilled professionals committed to supporting nonprofit leaders. These donor-volunteers bring deep expertise in strategy, operations, finance, governance and organizational growth, working side-by-side with investees to address real organizational needs.

This model goes beyond traditional funding by offering nonprofits sustained access to high-quality professional support, helping strengthen internal infrastructure, clarify strategy and build the systems needed to grow impact in a sustainable, values-aligned way.

A Place-Based Response to Rising Food Insecurity

Food insecurity remains a defining barrier to equity in Charlotte, contributing to higher rates of chronic health conditions and economic instability for families. With federal funding for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) cut in July 2025, more than 138,500 lower-income individuals in Mecklenburg County will no longer receive critical food benefits, further adding to the challenge of healthy food access for families in the Charlotte area.

The Bulb’s place-based model is designed for consistency, dignity, and long-term impact—operating on a reliable schedule and embedding mobile markets directly in neighborhoods where access gaps are greatest. Across 15 recurring market sites, in 2025 The Bulb served nearly 85,000 individuals, hosted 392www.svpcharlotte.orgmarkets and distributed over 430,000 pounds of fresh, nutritious produce, including over 300,000 pounds rescued from area businesses and diverted from landfills. Beyond environmental gains, neighbors report improved health outcomes and meaningful grocery savings, allowing families to redirect limited income toward essentials such as rent, utilities, and healthcare.

The organization was a member of the SEED20 Class of 2019—a pitch program to amplify and accelerate innovative area nonprofits— and enters this new partnership with SVP Charlotte poised to deepen its impact and reach additional communities in the years ahead.

“As thousands of Charlotte families quietly struggle to put food on the table, community-rooted solutions like The Bulb are playing a critical role in meeting immediate needs while advancing long-term health and economic resilience,” said Kristin Winkle Beck, Executive Director of Social Venture Partners Charlotte. “We are thrilled to walk alongside innovative organizations like The Bulb to help more of our neighbors in Charlotte to thrive.”

About The Bulb Gallery

Founded in 2016, The Bulb Gallery is a Charlotte-based nonprofit with 10 years of service across Mecklenburg County. The organization operates 15 barrier-free mobile farmers markets providing fresh, nutritious produce and advancing equitable food access rooted in dignity, sustainability, and community resilience. The Bulb works in partnership with grocery stores, local farms, and community members to responsibly source produce, strengthen the regional food system, and advance environmental sustainability. By operating as a trusted, place-based resource, The Bulb strengthens local connections and supports long-term household stability. Program delivery is supported by a dedicated professional staff and an extensive volunteer network that together ensure high-quality, responsive service across all market sites. For additional information, please contact Lisa Mathews at Lisa@thebulbgallery.org.

About Social Venture Partners Charlotte

Social Venture Partners (SVP) Charlotte is a network of engaged philanthropists investing in and strengthening innovative nonprofits addressing the Charlotte region’s greatest challenges. Founded in 2005 and celebrating 20 years of impact in 2025, SVP Charlotte has invested $1.8 million in 26 grassroots nonprofits, pairing unrestricted funding with hands-on, skills-based volunteer support to help organizations build capacity and long-term sustainability. SVP Charlotte envisions a thriving nonprofit community where all people can pursue their full potential. For additional information, please contact Kristin Winkle Beck at kbeck@svpcharlotte.org

What does 20 years of impact look like?  This video highlights the leaders, Partners, and nonprofits who helped strengthen our community through collaboration and shared purpose. Take a look back at the journey and the people behind it.

Thank you to Mark Weber, Susan Daniel, Debbie Darden, Alyssa Sharpe, Henry Lander, Emily Elliott Gaffney, Sil Ganzó, and Kim Alexander for helping to tell our story!