Small, but Mighty – The Latin American Chamber is Helping the Community Navigate COVID-19 with Creativity
 PHOTO CREDIT: Latin American Chamber of Commerce Charlotte “We invested our resources to help our members during the current [COVID-19] crisis, even though we were struggling ourselves.” – Rocio Gonzalez
The Latin American Chamber of Commerce Charlotte was created to foster economic growth and development of regional Latin-American-owned businesses. Their work is challenging and vital under the best of conditions, but the obstacles to recovery facing their members in the current economic and political climate are especially daunting.
Many of the businesses they support were ineligible to apply for PPP and other economic aids employed to counter-act COVID-19. They feel the same pain their constituents do. The Chamber’s own status as a 501(c)(6) organization precludes them from partaking in many of the government’s tactics. Executive director Rocio Gonzalez and her team have had to become experts rapidly to help themselves and their community.
 PHOTO CREDIT: Carmen Neely A Call and Demand for the Respect of Black Artists
By Jalil Pack
“… [the] goal is for black artists to work collectively and not have any separatist ideas or be tokenized in these environments. It creates those moments. There is just inherently a connection that exists when you are around other artists of color, other black artists specifically.” – Jessica Moss
Cities across the country are asking: Where is the recognition for our Black artists, and where are the opportunities to have their voices heard?
A group of artists from Charlotte and beyond has decided that they’re not waiting for an answer anymore. They’ve penned an online letter from North Carolina Black Artists for Liberation calling on organizations, particularly white-led organizations and businesses, to move beyond words or gestures of support into a true commitment to change.
Creative Visions Coming Alive in East Charlotte
Last year, The Biscuit reported on a new mural from artist Georgie Nakima inside the East Town Market shopping center off Sharon Amity Road. The work was commissioned by Red Hill Ventures to show the community that new life was coming to the center.
Now, with help from a Placemaking grant from the City of Charlotte that relationship is moving further ahead. This week, Nakima and Red Hill Ventures made a joint announcement of Vision East Charlotte, a new cultural space in East Town Market that will incorporate “a large scale mural, outdoor art space for community programming and rotating sculpture garden exhibit.”
John Howard Takes on TV for Monthly Design Challenge
Last month, we reported that Charlotte creative director, John Howard, was keeping himself sharp in COVID-time by challenging himself to create and post a different graphic image every 24 hours. In May, John’s theme was movies. In June, it was TV shows. Here is a collection of some of our favorites.
WORK FOR YOUR BEER: Top 3 Ways to Spend Your Rest Day
We’ve all been inside. A lot. For creatives working at home, that means you’re always at the office. And, especially for those of us who love our work, we’re finding that the siren song of “get back to work” is a lot harder to resist when “work” is only a few feet away. If you’re thinking that you need to create some separation and embrace a rest day … you’re right.
To help us all make the most of time away from work, Work for Your Beer spoke with physical therapist Jessica Sabourin of OrthoCarolina. And, she made 3 recommendations on how to best spend your rest day.
This content was created through a partnership between Work for Your Beer and OrthoCarolina, a sponsor of The Biscuit.
ACT:NOW – Act II
Saturday, July 18 at 4pm
Last week, eleven artists shared their work — a mixture of visual art, literary art, poetry, film, dance and music — during Act I of ACT:NOW, an online event highlighting artists using their work to talk about social justice and the current environment in Charlotte and the world.
It was an amazing hour with Charlotte spoken work artist Bluz serving as emcee. One of the most impactful pieces was a story by our friend and frequent collaborator, Jonathan McFadden, about the racism his father faced in Lake City, SC. To watch Act I and tip the artists involved, click here.
This Saturday at 4pm is ACT:NOW Act II and the lineup of artists sharing their work includes Asa Kryst, Curt Keyz and Cary King, Janelle Dunlap, Soutlganic, de’Angelo Dia and HNin Nie.
The local media community is working incredibly hard to provide accurate, uplifting and actionable information to assist with the new realities we face. Here are some stories from this week we think are worth your time:
QNotes explored the ways the Gay Men’s Chorus of Charlotte and One Voice Chorus are staying connected with members, rehearsing, and handling the impact COVID-19 has created on live performances.
Charlotte on the Cheap compiled a list of 16 Charlotte-area small businesses sellings masks to keep you healthy, stylish, and repping the QC.
The Charlotte Post gave insight to the Queen City New Play Initiative, a program established to support local playwrights with writing and producing their original work. The initiative was started by playwright Stacey Rose and stage director/producer Martin Damien Wilkins, two prominent figure’s in Charlotte’s theatre community.
WFAE offered a look into the struggle North Carolina’s independent movie theatres have faced during the pandemic, including the closure of the Manor Theatre, a Charlotte favorite for nearly 70 years.
QCityMetro reported that the new owners of Charlotte’s historic Excelsior Club are looking to create a “dream team” of Black architects and interior designers for the building’s redevelopment project.
Charlotte Ledger shared their latest installment of “Hidden Health Crisis,” a series that covers important non-COVID healthcare issues that are affecting lives in Charlotte and aren’t getting enough public attention.
Last week, we showed you the Butterfly Highway pit stop behind the Old City Hall in Uptown but… we never showed you Old City Hall itself! In 1924, the City of Charlotte outgrew their city hall located on the corner of Trade and 5th Street that had been build in 1891. As the city was expanding and more public services began being offered, Charlotte needed a more robust space to house the different departments.
Construction of the Old City Hall, known then as Charlotte City Hall since it was brand spanking new, was completed in the fall of 1925 on the 600-block of East Trade Street. Other structures that were included in the newly redeveloped city block were the Fire Department, Police Department, and the Health and Welfare Department.
The building was designed by Charles C. Hook, the man behind the Gateway and Century Buildings and Charlotte Fire Station #6. (It turns out that anytime we like an old building, this fella had something to do with it.) He placed the administrative City Hall building in the middle of the land to allow for future expansion.
Turns out that wasn’t enough. As Charlotte continued to grow, more office space was required for our city government and its departments. In 1984, the construction of a new building to house city and county offices was approved by Mecklenburg County voters. Now, most departments are located in that “new” building, the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Government Center.
Directions: 600 E Trade St, Charlotte, NC 28202
This Queen City exploration was powered by OrthoCarolina.
Don’t go ’round hungry. If you missed the last batch of The Biscuit, don’t worry. We’ve kept it warm for you. This batch features:
- To promote racial equity, eight musicians gathered to perform “We Can Work It Out”
- A look into the new online show, “Live from the Print Shop”
- A short ride on the Butterfly Highway
- The City of Charlotte names the BLM Mural Block “Pedestrian Plaza”
- A few questions about the plans for “Queen’s Park”
Click here to dig in, y‘all.
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