I heard the gunshots.
I saw the bodies — two houses down.
I heard the screams and cries.
I heard the sirens.
This isn’t something I saw on the news. It happened on my Charlotte street.

This is the second shooting since I moved here.
The first time, bullets came through my walls.
Through my walls.
This is what it’s like to live in a war zone that no one wants to admit we’re in.

Meanwhile, Charlotte has polished panels, progressive talking points, and plenty of Black excellence on display. We have college-educated Black leaders in elected office, in nonprofits, in schools, in city government, and yet, our people are suffering. Our kids are dying. Our families are breaking.

I work with young people. I know kids who are grieving, working, and struggling to survive while also trying to show up to school every day like everything is okay. They’re not just hungry for food; they’re hungry for safety, rest, and relief. So many of them are just … tired.

This isn’t just a poverty crisis. It’s a mental health crisis. And we are all feeling it — from the classroom to the kitchen table.

The worst part? We’re not powerless. We are just disorganized.

Amazing programs are happening across Charlotte. Faith-based initiatives. Mentoring programs. After-school activities. Therapy circles. Career workshops. But they’re scattered. Disconnected. Everyone’s doing good work — in silos. We’re out here trying to build a safety net for our community, but we’re all holding different pieces of the rope.

It’s time to coordinate.
It’s time to stop talking about the village and be one.

Where are the Divine Nine chapters joining forces to build something sustainable for our kids?
Where are the HBCU alumni offering workshops at community centers?
Where are Black business owners opening their doors for youth programming?
Where are the partnerships between schools, therapists, and mentors?
Why are we all doing work, but doing it alone?

We don’t need another summit. We need alignment. We need action. We need a plan.

I’m calling a community strategy session on Saturday, July 12, at 10 a.m. at the For The Struggle office. This is for anyone tired of watching our city bleed while we sit in meetings, waiting for someone else to fix it.

If you care, show up.
If you’re already doing the work, show up.
If you want to support our kids, families and future, show up.

We have the heart. We have the power.
What we need now is each other.