23 Jul Vision in Action: A Note from CEO Anna London
As we begin a new program year, I want to take a moment to reaffirm who we are and why we do this work. At Charlotte Works, we remain rooted in our mission to engage our community, empower individuals, and employ those ready to work. While our service delivery has evolved to meet the changing needs of our region, our commitment to the people who power this community is unwavering.
In reflecting on the year ahead, I’m reminded of a quote by Joel A. Barker:
“Vision without action is merely a dream. Action without vision just passes the time. Vision with action can change the world.”
These words remind us that bold ideas alone are not enough and neither is busy work without purpose. But when vision and action are brought together, transformation becomes possible. That’s exactly what we’re working toward in Mecklenburg County.
Action: Investing in People
Charlotte Works delivers services under the federal Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) which provides a national framework that supports individuals in finding good jobs and employers in finding skilled talent. These programs are administered in North Carolina by the Department of Commerce and delivered locally by Charlotte Works through the NCWorks Career Center system.
While the federal landscape may shift, the foundation of workforce development in America is more than a century old. Charlotte Works remains committed to ensuring our community has consistent, high-quality access to employment and training resources regardless of the political or economic environment.
We remain committed to investing in people, meeting them where they are, and helping them take the next step toward stability and economic mobility.
This year, through WIOA, we are investing nearly $3 million to support adults and dislocated workers, and $1.6 million to support youth services. In addition, we’ve secured nearly $2 million in non-WIOA funding to expand and enhance these efforts even further.
- The $3 million investment in adults and dislocated workers supports those who may be employed but underemployed, working toward advancement, or recently laid off and seeking to re-enter the workforce with confidence and new skills. These are parents, career changers, and everyday residents striving for a better future.
- We are investing $1.3 million in out-of-school youth programs operated by our long-standing partner Central Piedmont Community College, which has a proven track record of helping young adults re-engage, skill up, and access meaningful career pathways. These services target young people ages 16–24 looking for a second chance to get back on track.
- For in-school youth, Charlotte Works now delivers services directly that allows us to streamline operations and reduce overhead costs, and deepen our connection with Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools, and offer more personalized support. Services are provided both within schools and at the NextGen Suite at the NCWorks Career Center, making career exploration, mentoring, and wraparound support more accessible than ever. Co-locating these services alongside adult career programs also creates a unique opportunity for a two-generation approach where we can serve both parents and students under the same roof, helping entire families move forward together.
Our services also continue to be accessible at a number of partner sites across the community that be seen on the map below.
Vision: The PATH Forward
Our action is not without vision and it is designed to impact real change not just pass the time. That’s why we are aligning our work with the real-time needs of local employers through a groundbreaking partnership with the Charlotte Executive Leadership Council (CELC).
Through Pipeline Acceleration for Talent & Hiring or PATH, we’re connecting hiring managers directly with the ecosystem of partners preparing talent. This isn’t just another meeting or data set. It’s about building relationships, exchanging insights, and shaping a workforce system that actually works for both employers and job seekers. This initiative is our vision in motion at the intersection of strategy, relationships, and our purpose.
Together, We Can Change the World
Charlotte Works has existed for nearly 30 years. Workforce programs have existed in some form in this country for more than a century. But the real test of our impact isn’t longevity, it’s progress.
We are not here to pass the time.
We are here to build a better system, but we cannot do it alone. A system where employers and workers meet without barriers. One where career paths are clear and accessible. One where economic mobility isn’t just a buzzword, but a reality for families across Mecklenburg County.
So let us not dream alone, nor act without direction. Let us walk forward, together with a shared vision and with unity in action to truly change the world.
In Service,
Anna London
President & Chief Executive Officer
Charlotte Works