Our Community Initiatives

Building Bridges

At Whitehead Associates, our core commitment is to make intentional choices toward positive change at work, in our homes and in our community. One of the most exciting facets of our journey is finding people who share similar goals and creating powerful connections that move us closer to the bright future we all envision.

"In the Community" seeks to share the stories of some of our committed community partners so that others can get involved, or draw inspiration and encouragement by their example.

BLI - Mecklenburg County Bar Leadership Institute

Bar Leadership Institute was created in 2001 to help cultivate personal and professional conviction, leadership and civic engagement in its graduates. The initiative to create BLI was borne of a need to engage the legal community to take ownership and responsibility for the environment it operates in, sustains, and creates.

Mike Whitehead is the BLI program facilitator as well as a presenter during the seminar series.

BLI is an intensive leadership series extending over six months offered to a hand-selected group of attendees. Currently there are only 20 spots available annually to receive this special training. The program includes an intentional opening ceremony featuring keynote speakers comprised of both state and federal judges, a weekend retreat facilitated by Whitehead Associates, and a four month series of seminars. The content includes:

the impressive and substantive historical contributions of Charlotte lawyers,
issues such as city and community growth and planning in Charlotte,
issues facing state and local governing bodies,
the current state and conditions for professionals within the law practice
leadership and what that means for modern legal professionals,
legal developments affecting public schools,
case studies in ethics,
using social capital to improve the bar and the legal system.

BLI is not only developing an impressive lineage of talented graduates, but is creating ethical, compassionate, purposeful leaders dedicated to instilling these values by example, and holding one another accountable. At Whitehead Associates, we believe that by focusing on recognizing and supporting organizations like Mecklenburg County Bar Leadership Institute, we can create meaningful positive change in the profession, and by extension the community it serves.

BLI just celebrated its seventh group of graduates in May of this year, raising its number to 140 lawyers in Charlotte.

BLI was started by Mark Merritt of Robinson, Bradshaw and Hinson and 2000 President of the Mecklenburg County Bar, and Dr. Mary Howerton, consultant and past director of the Mecklenburg County Bar. BLI is championed by respected attorney Robert W. King of Moore and Van Allen as a vehicle to sustain leadership qualities in legal professionals. BLI is a joint undertaking between Mecklenburg County Bar and the Mecklenburg Bar Foundation. For more information or an application, please visit www.meckbar.org.

Council for Children's Rights

The Council for Children’s Rights is a group of twenty-four highly trusted attorneys, advocates and professional staff dedicated to serving children and connecting them to vital services.

Many children are terrorized by physical and sexual abuse, neglect, domestic violence and substance abuse. These vulnerable children do not have a safe home, an appropriate education or mental health treatment. The Council for Children's Rights is the voice championing these childrens’ right to thrive.

The Executive Director of The Council for Children’s Rights Brett Loftis is a graduate of Whitehead Associates Quest for Personal Leadership (QPL) program and an intentional community partner.

“We believe that every child has the right to a sound, basic education; that every child is safe from abuse and neglect; that every boy and girl receives adequate health care as well as mental health treatment; that every child lives in a safe home; that all youngsters accused of alleged crimes have the right to due process and access to a qualified defense attorney; and, finally, we believe that every child holds a promise and that it is our responsibility as adults to allow the promise of each child to take root.”   www.cfcrights.org

Hear Brett Loftis speak concerning local children’s rights issues:
WSOC-TV Video
The Charlotte Observer November 2007
The Charlotte Observer January 2008
The Charlotte Observer February 2008

Jacobs Ladder Job Center

Jacob's Ladder Job Center, Inc. helps the unemployed and underemployed find and keep living wage jobs. We prepare our clients to be the best candidates for entry-to-mid level positions by helping them practice their resume writing and interviewing skills. Clients are also coached by volunteers and staff on professional dress and 21st Century business etiquette.

Jacob's Ladder also addresses the hidden barriers to finding employment. Lack of disposable income, transportation, homelessness, affordable childcare, and health issues often complicate a job search. Jacob's Ladder staff and volunteers partner with individuals to locate appropriate resources as well as provide services to increase hireability.

By helping people join or rejoin the workforce, Jacob's Ladder enables individuals to be responsible for their own prosperity and contribute to the economy and community as a whole.

Volunteer to develop Charlotte's workforce: www.jacobsladdercharlotte.org

More about Jacob's Ladder:
Statistics
News

Thomasboro Elementary

Thomasboro Elementary School Thomasboro Elementary is a sterling example of what is going right in our educational community.

Not because of stellar test results, or beautiful grounds, or for lines of parents insisting that Thomasboro be proclaimed their neighborhood home school. What is going right at Thomasboro are people, partnerships and purpose.

Thomasboro is challenged with a student population that consists of 94% free and reduced lunches. Translated, this means that the children who go to Thomasboro and the families they come from qualify for financial assistance to help pay for the $1.60 daily lunch that the school system offers.

It is hard to teach a hungry child, or a child that is thinking more about the holes in her shoes than multiplication tables. And while many of us know this intuitively, it is not our reality.

So when parent volunteer positions across town at Elizabeth Lane Elementary were filled up, they took their service to Thomasboro where miracles have happened. Armed with cookies and just a few ideas from their own PTO, Kathy Capps, Missy Rainier and their volunteers have become integral members of the Thomasboro community. The relationships with teachers, principals, students, parents and other staff members have helped to generate ideas and partnerships that have bolstered support from organizations like St. Luke's Catholic Church and Evergreen Investments to provide social and material resources to address the school's needs.

At Whitehead, we feel privileged to become a part of the Thomasboro success story. On June 2nd, 2007, a host of community and corporate sponsors helped us to create a celebration of the Thomasboro staff, as well as making known the partnerships that have helped sustain them through their challenges. Simple conversations have grown into a groundbreaking example of what sincerity and mutual caring can yield.