Money Magnets, sponsored by Self-Help Credit Union, is a club for kid entrepreneurs that gives families opportunities to learn from local Black entrepreneurs. Our special guest entrepreneur this month is Steven L. Stack, who was a millionaire at age 31 and now works as a generational wealth strategist. He will be joined by his 8-year-old daughter, Nia, to share their experiences. They will focus on what building wealth means, no matter where you start, and how working well with the people around you can be a solid long-term way to plan.

Steven L. Stack, Financial Coach and CEFI  www.stevenlstack.com

This is the second program in a four-part series. It’s offered online from 6-7 p.m. on Wednesday, May 26. Registration is required. 

Register

KidPreneurs in training who attend three Money Magnets programs, complete a business plan, and pitch their business idea in a R.I.C.H. Circle receive $25 in seed funding for their business plus a $25 Youth Savings Account at Self-Help Credit Union.

Money Magnets One-on-One Strategy Session

These individual coaching sessions are an online follow-up program to The Business of Family Business. Sessions are offered by appointment only and are geared toward helping kidpreneurs-in-training get one-on-one assistance with fleshing out their business ideas and learning about specific resources. Strategy sessions are open to K-5 students and their responsible adults who attended The Business of Family Business.

This program is offered online on Saturday, June 5. Register for one 15-minute session that falls between 1 p.m. and 3 p.m.

register

Upcoming Session Topics

Each of these programs is followed by relevant One-on-One Strategy Sessions.

• The Business of Caring (6/30/2021) -- Guest entrepreneur is organic product developer, Ayesha Murphy.
• The Business of Launching (7/28/2021) -- Surprise guest entrepreneur.

How It All Began

Money Magnets was one of West Boulevard Library’s responses to the Chetty Study, which highlights conditions that make it difficult for Charlotteans who are born into poverty to transition out of poverty. Money Magnets disrupts poverty by providing resources for economic empowerment to kids and their responsible adults in areas most likely to be negatively affected by this trend.

Alexandra Arrington, LCMHCA, NCC, BC-TMH   AlexandraArrington.com

Money Magnets was piloted as a start-up social entrepreneurial effort during the Charlotte Mecklenburg Library’s observance of Money Smart Week in 2019. It’s a four-session online program facilitated by Alexandra Arrington, a former kid entrepreneur herself. Money Magnets teaches elementary schoolers and their families about financial literacy, community-mindedness, and character education within the framework of business ownership. Reinforcement of literacy and vocabulary, building social capital, and encouraging calculated risk are also included. Perhaps the greatest opportunities provided are networking with and being coached by successful local Black entrepreneurs and earning a modest amount of seed money to begin their businesses plus a $25 savings account from Self-Help Credit Union.

Another benefit of our focus on kids’ experience with these concepts is that their responsible adults are also involved and work with the student to support their learning, as well as reinforce their own understanding.

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This blog was written by Teresa Cain, librarian at West Boulevard Library.

Refugee Support Services (RSS) is a “501(c)3 nonprofit post-resettlement organization that helps newly-arrived refugees make Charlotte their new home.”

Each week Emily Little, outreach specialist for Charlotte Mecklenburg Library, steps into the flag hall at Galilee Center where Refugee Support Services is located and is welcomed with smiles and nods, hellos and hugs. As she gets to the end of the hall, she stops at the “Love and Learn” room amidst cheers and shouts of, “Ms. Emily’s here!” Since 2015, Emily has visited the RSS “Love and Learn” program weekly to engage the children in storytime, read-alouds and early literacy extension activities. The children range in ages from two to four years old (often with some babies and lap sitters tagging along with the parents) and come from a wide range of countries such as Vietnam, Congo, Eritrea, Burma, Bhutan, Afghanistan and Iraq. There have been as many as 40 participants in storytime at once! The main goal during storytime is to give children and attending parents an immersive experience in English literacy practices. Emily and RSS Education Programs Coordinator, Anne Banks, have collaborated in presenting stories, crafts, songs and activities that follow a monthly theme. 

Over the years, the parents have received library cards from Charlotte Mecklenburg Library and have participated in children’s literacy workshops on site including Active Reading and Every Child Ready to Read. The opportunity to work not only with the children, but the parents as well, has helped make this program successful.

The past year brought about many challenges, but Library services continued. Ms. Anne says, “Since March 2020, Ms. Emily continues to bring her warmth, enthusiasm, and knowledge of children’s literacy to the Refugee Support Services program participants through weekly Zoom sessions. Refugee Support Services has greatly benefitted from a strong partnership with Charlotte Mecklenburg Library and their Outreach Specialist, Ms. Emily.” The children’s smiling faces and familiar voices provided a bright spot and some needed consistency in an otherwise unstable year.

At Refugee Support Services, an agency whose mission is to, “facilitate programs and intercultural relationships that promote refugee self-sufficiency and enrich our community” partnering with the Library just makes sense. The Library’s mission is to improve lives and build a stronger community — there’s no better way to do that than through partnering with RSS.

The partnership and collaboration between agencies like the Library and RSS is a perfect example of our promise Accessible and welcoming to all, our public library celebrates and supports the joy of reading and learning, fosters exploration and personal growth, and connects individuals to each other, the community and the world. In short, we help people think, “I can.”

When community agencies work together in collaboration for a common purpose, the shared motto then becomes “We can!”

Booklists to celebrate the Immigrant Experience

The Library also has curated several booklists that celebrate the immigrant experience for all ages. Check them out below and grab any of the selected titles:

Children's Picture Books on immigration

Children's Chapter Books on immigration

Teen Books on Immigration

Adult books on Immigration

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This blog was written by Emily Little, outreach specialist for Charlotte Mecklenburg Library.

Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage (AAPI) Month is May and serves as a destined time to identify the historic and cultural achievements of this diverse population within the United States largely consisting of Chinese, Indian, Filipino, Vietnamese, Korean and Japanese residents. The Library can help as it offers books, ebooks, streaming videos and more about this community. 

One way is through the library booklist specifically entitled for AAPI month with 32 titles for multiple ages. Another related booklist with 12 titles for adult readers is Asian American Authors to Celebrate Heritage Month.    

Access AAPI Month Booklist          Access AAPI Adult Booklist

This year, that observation takes a heightened alert as concerned individuals nationally and locally have drawn attention to the rise in instances of hate and violence directed towards Asian Americans. Tragically, these citizens are being accused and blamed by some for the outbreak of the coronavirus disease. 

On May 17, The Charlotte Observer published a guest editorial column from a University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill student about the urgency to protect Asian Americans locally. The column also included signatures from a city county member, county commissioner and several officers of associations affiliated with the Indian, Chinese and Asian American communities. The article concluded with a charge to encourage Charlotteans to extend their “Southern hospitality” to protect and to share awareness about the rise of anti-Asian violence. 

Regrettably, that violence has occurred as reported in local news when an Asian grocery store owner was shot in east Charlotte by an assailant intent on inflicting bodily harm last month. On the national news scale, President Joe Biden signed the COVID-19 Hate Crimes Act last Thursday, as a response to the growth of violence against Asian Americans related to the coronavirus pandemic. 

To delve further into the background of the AAPI community’s assimilation into the United States and, conversely, its bouts with periods of racism then look at the booklist entitled “Experiences of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders” with newer titles from the Library collection.

Access Experiences of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders Booklist

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This blog was written by Lawrence Turner, adult services librarian, at South County Regional Library.

What’s one more thing to add to your already hectic schedule that you have in your final year of high school or college? Partying and celebrating your forthcoming freedom from school is most likely at the top of that to-do list. But before you celebrate that freedom, consider this: an internship.

An internship is when a student works in an organization (paid or unpaid), which allows the student to gain valuable experience, learn new and valuable skills and develop priceless relationships. Internships can last for as little as three months (summer is coming) and as much as six months, so it doesn’t take up your whole final year of high school or college. Think about all the things you’ve learned as a student and the type of advantage having an internship will give you when you finally enter the workforce.

THE BENEFITS OF INTERNSHIPS

Having recognized the benefits of an internship and taken advantage of those opportunities, here are some great reasons to get an internship:

Gain Valuable Experience 

This is your opportunity to “try out” the job or career of your choice. You also gain skills that you can only learn on the job. Not only have you gained skills, but you’ve had the opportunity to demonstrate them. The individuals that you work with during your internship can vouch for your skills and experience.

Spruce up your resume

College is a great way to begin your career journey with clubs and organizations. Still, viable experience as an intern could turn the eye of many employers, creating an edge over others in the job market.

Develop Skills 

Your skillset is limited when you first finish school. An internship will help develop and enhance soft and hard skills. Today’s employers are just as interested in your soft or transferable skills as they are in the specific skills to the job.

Build Relevant Relationships 

Networking is a vital skill to have in the job market. The relationships that you build while interning is critical to your future success. Once you build those relationships, they, in turn, can set you up for success just based on the relationships that you’ve built.

Meet Your Mentor 

It would be best if you had direction, and one of the best ways to get that is to acquire a mentor. Many people meet their mentors in their internships. Mentors are experienced and trusted advisers — they are a part of that relationship-building you should be doing in your internship. Still, they work with you to ensure you are successful. Mentorship is not a one-way relationship. It requires giving and taking to be effective.

REACH OUT

So, did I spark an interest? Do you want to learn more about internships? Learning more about finding an internship is as easy as talking with your guidance counselor or visiting your college and career center. All the resources you need to get started are right there in the palm of your hands. The staff there are there to help you succeed in this aspect.  Your school may have partnered with large corporations and medium-sized businesses to offer internships to students just like you. 

When moving into the workforce soon after school, taking advantage of internships creates opportunities beyond the time spent during an internship. It’s not easy to get work right out of school, so the more experience you can gain to include in the work experience section of your resume, the better. Get a leg up on other students entering the workforce by obtaining vital skills that employers crave under your belt. Internships are not all fun and games, though. They are meant to test your ability to work a job and give you hands-on experience in the industry or field of your choice.

Internships test all the work you put in your classes by thrusting you into the reality of the job — giving you the chance to try out the job before you work the job. Now, take the first step into your future and sign up for an internship.

The Job Help Center at the Library can help with your college and career path and goals. From one-on-one resume reviews to mock interviews, the Job Help Center can help you find, apply and be ready to interview for that internship. See the calendar here.

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This blog was written and updated by De’Trice Fox, adult services librarian in the Main Library’s Job Help Center.

Let’s face it: the past year has been challenging for many reasons, but, for some, the lack of travel opportunities really put a damper on life. Now that the world is reopening, some stir-crazy feelings can be put to rest with exciting travel programs and helpful travel resources available at Charlotte Mecklenburg Library. The only passport or ticket you need is your Library card! (Need a card? Get one here.)

Whether your next trip is mentally mapped out or planned to a “T,” let the Library provide fuel for the journey.

Consider your Library card a personal travel experience curator when you use it to:

1. Plan a trip – Use traditional guidebooks to help you navigate your next adventure. Complete with titles such as The Family Travel Handbook by Imogen Hall, 1,000 Places to See Before You Die by Patricia Schultz and The Backpacker’s Bible by Suzanne King, you’ll be able to travel near, far, on or off the beaten path any day. (Library tip: Download the Hoopla app to access hundreds of recently published guidebooks, maps included, from well-known publishers such as Frommer’s and Fodor’s
    
2. Learn a new language – Parlez-vous français (Do you speak French?)? Do you want to? You can certainly learn with FREE access to Transparent Language. This culturally rich and effective learning resource is perfect for all skill levels. Transparent Language provides an engaging experience that helps learners build listening, speaking, reading and writing skills in over 110 languages. It also combines robust courses, supplemental vocabulary, extensive grammar resources and mobile apps for a complete language-learning experience.

If you prefer to learn a language in a group setting, the Library offers online conversation clubs that may pique your interest. With languages currently ranging from Arabic and English to Spanish and French. You may also meet likeminded travelers when you sign up for engaging conversation here.

1. Stay connected – You’ll likely document your travels and want to share them with family and friends along the way. If you’re unsure about the availability or the cost of internet access while you’re away, rent a Wi-Fi hotspot. Rentals are only available for use in the continental United States.
    
2. Travel by chair – Did you know the Library offers opportunities for you to explore faraway places without having to leave the comfort of your home? It’s true! Our online Armchair Travel programs provide customers a sensory experience and the chance to learn about exotic lands, important past events in a meaningful manner and much more. Armchair Travel programs are suitable for adults and teens ages 12-18. Click here to find your next adventure.

   If  solo-video travel is more your jam, escape to the sunny tropics or frigid Arctic by watching more than 220 travel videos on our video service, Kanopy. Kanopy is perfect because it has video options for children and adults.
    

3. Learn about culture and history – Learning the culture of the people and places you plan to visit is paramount. Luckily, your Library card gets you access to Universal Class where you can study the cultures of Japan, China, France, Spain and more. Click here to start learning.

If exploring culture is music to your ears, consider immersing yourself in the beats and sounds of desired travels. Find amazing Afrobeats, brilliant Brazilian sambas and bossa novas, or hear the gongs of Shanghai with a quick and FREE search in Freegal. Freegal offers download or streaming access to more than 10 million songs, including Sony Music’s catalog of legendary artists. Even better? Library customers get five (5) free downloads (songs are one download whereas videos count as two) and five (5) hours of streaming each week.

Now that you know some ways to travel the world with your Library card, the next question is: where will you go first?

Share your travels with us on our social media platforms (@cmlibrary on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter) and tell us what you love by leaving a comment, tagging us or using the hashtag #cmlibrary.

Happy travels!

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This blog was written by Asha Ellison, marketing and communications specialist at Charlotte Mecklenburg Library.

The Library is excited to offer new merchandise in June for Pride and our Black Lives Matter programming.  Shirts, tanks and sweatshirts are available in men's, women's, unisex and children's sizes.

Order your new gear here today.

Don't wait - this is a limited time offer - orders close at midnight on June 14, 2021. 

Order Pride shirts here

Order BLM Program clothing here

This blog was written as part of Charlotte Mecklenburg Library's Black Lives Matter program initiative. Learn  more about the program and corresponding events here.

The National Black Child Development Institute (NCBDI) is a nonprofit organization that works to advance and improve the quality of life for Black and Brown children and their families. NCBDI has been committed to its mission: “to improve and advance the quality of life for Black and Brown children and families through education and advocacy” for 50 years. NBCDI’s Charlotte affiliate, BCDI Charlotte, is one of the twenty-seven affiliates organizations in the United States.

The six focus areas of BCDI are:

• Family Engagement
• Literacy
• Early Childhood Education
• Policy and Advocacy
• Health and Wellness

Did you know that children could be suspended or even expelled as early as preschool? These events can have adverse effects on a child’s future that can last far beyond the time spent out of school.

One tenet of NBCDI is advocating to secure equitable access to education for all young children by eliminating suspensions and expulsions during early childhood. NBCDI authored a white paper, “Delivering on the Promise of Effective Early Childhood Education” which explores the rising rates of suspensions and expulsions in early childhood education. The white paper prompted a national campaign to address this alarming trend. Being suspended and/or expelled are both recognized as forms of structural racism which becomes obvious when one explores how these “consequences” are applied to young children. According to their research, more than 250 preschoolers are suspended or expelled daily, and in childcare centers, expulsion rates are 13 times higher than they are in kindergarten through 12th grade. Black children disproportionately experience widespread injustice and racial inequality in our early childhood education system.

BCDI Charlotte launched its awareness campaign on January 1, 2021. Through a matrix of virtual info sessions, parking lot talks and canvassing efforts using social and conventional media, BCDI is capturing the attention of lawmakers, teachers, parents, community leaders, clergy, education practitioners and collective nonprofit organizations who are understanding the importance of this work.

This month, BCDI will partner with Charlotte Mecklenburg Library to continue to promote awareness and to expand its programming reach. Join us on Thursday, June 10, 2021, at 6:30 p.m. for a panel discussion to learn how you can help prevent suspension and expulsion in early childhood.

Register

Featured panelists include:

• Dr. Devonya Govan-Hunt: President of BCDI-Charlotte
• Kenneth Flamer: BCDI-Charlotte Board Member
• Gregory "Dee" Rankin: Founder/Executive Director of Future L.E.A.D.E.R.S.
• Cemeré James: Interim President & CEO of NBCDI and Author of Delivering on the Promise

BCDI supports its mission by providing strength-based, culturally relevant, and evidence-based programs throughout the community. At the center of BCDI’s work, is the commitment to ensure inclusivity and equity as it relates to quality care and education for children.

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This blog was written by Alesha Lackey, children's services manager at Allegra Westbrooks Regional Library

This blog was written as part of Charlotte Mecklenburg Library's Black Lives Matter program initiative. Learn  more about the program and corresponding events here.

Since the death of George Floyd, all Americans have been waking up to the reality of the police brutality that Black Americans experience. There have been thousands of protests, demanding change all over the world, including those here in Charlotte. Since last May, artist Sabrina Robinson has been taking photos of Black Lives Matter speeches and protests. Jordan Anne Johnson, a volunteer writer for West Boulevard Library’s Teen Circular had the opportunity to interview Sabrina whom shared her experience and thoughts about the protests she has attended.

Jordan: How did you become a photographer?

Sabrina: I started taking photos in church as a hobby. It became fun for me and I started studying it in college, but it never occurred to me to think about being a photographer as a profession. It only got serious when I met a Washington Post photographer. He took me under his wing, and I really started thinking about photography as a career.

Jordan: What do you remember seeing at every protest?

Sabrina: I remember seeing passion at every protest. There were all kinds of people from unique demographics, backgrounds, social and economic status, etc. participating and cheering for the same thing. I saw skaters, bikers, photographers, people playing basketball, speech givers, everyone had such a passionate role that they took seriously in the movement. I can only describe it as passion.

Jordan: What is one word you would use to describe the experience of the protest?

Sabrina: The first word that comes to my mind is "Unique”. I have seen popular organizations like the NAACP organize protests with lots of people. But I have also seen what it is like when a small group of young people get together wondering what to do. The smaller ones are the most intriguing to me because you must motivate and inspire yourself a bit more than if you were surrounded by hundreds of people.

Jordan: Were the protests different from the way the news described them? If yes, how were they different?

Sabrina: The protests that I went to were different than the way that the news described them. The news makes it seem more dramatic, negative and does not tell everyone's story. Being a photographer, I can tell everyone's story and different points of view.

Jordan: What is one thing that you learned from the speeches that were made at the protests?

Sabrina: I learned a lot of things from the protest and speeches that I went to. One of the things that I did learn is what defund the police really means and how most of Charlotte city funding goes to the CMPD for rubber bullets, illegal teargas and militarized police.

Image Source: The photos used were captured by artist Sabrina Robinson and were provided by her with permission to use in this blog post.

Sabrina Robinson is an accomplished artist who uses multiple mediums, such as photography and graphic arts, to tell stories, bring awareness and normalcy to conversations around activism, civic and social change, and mental health. In her current role, Sabrina continues to use art to give voice and agency to her community by capturing various events around Charlotte like protests, frontline workers, and displaced families and channeling it into programs that provide insight, depth, and encouragement to audiences in hopes that they use their gift to amplify their voice. More of Ms. Robinson's work can be found on her Instagram page: @signedspkr.

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This blog was written by twelve-year-old Jordan Anne Johnson, a volunteer writer for West Boulevard Library’s Teen Circular. Link to the full publication: https://bit.ly/3nMNqof

Charlotte Mecklenburg Library encourages reading and learning all year long. The summer months, when students take a break from school, are critical to expanded learning. In fact, summertime poses the most academic risk because students without access to summer learning opportunities can fall behind their peers, creating an achievement gap that is hard to close.

To keep kids on track with important matters such as literacy and physical activity, the Library offers Summer Break, its annual summer learning program that encourages children to read, learn and explore.

Learn more about Summer Break at the Library

As part of Charlotte Mecklenburg Library’s Summer Break, Stories of Summer are online live programs for the whole family to learn, move, and have fun. From Japanese Folktales to Mad Science experiments to Zoo Animals, we have all the summer educational excitement and movement planned for 9 weeks of Summer!

Join us on Thursdays at 2 p.m. EST on our ImaginOn Facebook Page starting June 10 for the Stories and Fun as we kick off summer 2021 with Sigmond Theatre!

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This blog was written by Jesse Isley, children's services leader for Charlotte Mecklenburg Library.

Participate in Habitat Charlotte Region’s Women Build movement by joining our first book club in partnership with the Charlotte Mecklenburg Library.

We have selected The Three Mothers: How the Mothers of Martin Luther King, Jr., Malcolm X, and James Baldwin Shaped a Nation in which writer and scholar Anna Malaika Tubbs celebrates Black motherhood by telling the story of the three women who raised and shaped some of America's most pivotal heroes.

Check out the book here

The virtual book discussion will take place from 6-7 p.m. over a series of three Thursday evenings:

• Thursday, June 24 at 6 p.m. Register here
• Thursday, July 22 at 6 p.m. Register here
• Thursday, August 26 at 6 p.m. Register here

We encourage you to sign up for all three so you don’t miss any of the wonderful discussion that is sure to take place.

Once you register for a session, you will receive a Zoom link to join the program via email just before the event date. If you have any questions, please reach out to [email protected].

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This blog was written by Chantez Neymoss, adult services leader for Charlotte Mecklenburg Library