These Days Call for Motivators… and Fairy Godmothers Photo Credit: WBCC “By the time we ask for help, we’re often in a desperate state. I tell clients: It’s OK not to know everything. But tell someone! Ask for help – and sooner rather than later. I preach this a lot: Be OK with not being OK.” – Natalie Williams
Natalie Williams is part business coach, part motivational speaker and part fairy godmother. As the executive director of The Women’s Business Center of Charlotte (WBCC), she helps women decide if they want to start a business and how to grow an existing business. And she does almost all of it without charging a fee. Explore how Natalie and her team are helping start-ups and seasoned business vets jump in and succeed. This story was written in partnership with Wells Fargo Corporate Philanthropy and Community Relations.
Wesley Mancini Gets Blitzed by Matt OlinAward-winning fabric designer Wesley Mancini has a tenure of nearly four decades in “the greater Charlotte area” (33 years in QC proper!) and has experienced a lot, but nothing could have prepared him for the kind of disruption that a global pandemic would have on the largest mill in the world. Want to learn more about this Charlotte leader? Spend a few minutes getting “Biscuit Blitzed” with Wesley and Matt Olin. 
SouthEnd ARTS Invites Artists to Explore “Justice”Appropriately, “justice” is at the forefront these days. It’s the subject of demonstrations, conversations, legislation and consternation. Now, SouthEnd ARTS is inviting Charlotte creatives to explore the topic by submitting work for their first virtual arts exhibition entitled “Justice I” this October. Interested creatives should submit their work on what justice means to them by August 12. Those who are chosen will have their work presented on the SouthEnd ARTS website on October 2. Winners of the cash prizes will be announced during the event and selected art will be featured on SouthEnd ARTS’ website for 90 days of sales.
Sophie Miller’s Voice is Brave & BeautifulThe world is full of reasons to be upset these days, but the creative spirit shines through adversity. It reaches out and lifts us all. It finds its way into the streets and lifts up our community. That is certainly the case with Sophie Miller, a young singer in Charlotte who sat in her front yard and entertained her neighbors with a rendition of ‘Brave’ by Sara Bareilles. Sophie chose this song, “First, because I have been a fan of hers for as long as I can remember. And second, because this is such a strong and meaningful song that encourages us to speak up in support of ourselves and one another.” 
The “SHOUTing from the Rooftops” series is produced by Charlotte Is Creative in partnership with Charlotte Center City Partners and Charlotte SHOUT!
 PHOTO CREDIT: ASC Applications Underway for Two ASC Support Grants“[G]rant writing at its best is a practice of intention setting – dream boldly.” – Liz Fitzgerald, ASC
The Arts and Science Council is now accepting applications for both their Cultural Vision Grants and the Artist Support Grants (formally called the Regional Artists Project Grant). Whether you’ve applied before or this or this is your first time, you’ll need a strategy. To aid with your preparation, the ASC has scheduled virtual workshops for both grants to answer questions and guide you through the process.
Access to Capital Grant is “Open For Business” a Few More Days
Foundation for the Carolinas and the City of Charlotte have extended the deadline for the Access to Capital Small Business Recovery grant until August 2. Qualifying small businesses can receive up to $25,000. Read more about this grant and submit your application.
 PHOTO CREDIT: City of Charlotte Hear More About the Making of the Black Lives Matter Mural
Online Thursday, July 30 at 11AM – FREEWe’ve written quite a bit about Charlotte’s Black Lives Matter mural in The Biscuit, introducing you to the artists who helped create it, as well as BLKMRKTCLT and Brand the Moth, who helped organize them and protect the mural. Now, it’s time to hear from Taiwo Jaiyeoba, assistant city manager with the City of Charlotte. Tai’s tweet invited creatives to dream about what it would be like to tell the “Black Lives Matter” story on city streets and set the whole thing in motion. This Thursday, Interact Studio is devoting their weekly “Human Touch” online discussion series to this side of the story. Matt Olin and Tim Miner of Charlotte Is Creative will moderate a discussion with Taiwo and his teammate, Monica Holmes, on how the mural came to be, where it’s going, and other creative placemaking efforts. This 40-minute event is free. Reserve your place here.
Charlotte’s creativity is so abundant, no one publication can catch it all. Here are some stories from our media pals that will help you fall deeper in love with the creative scene in the QC: The Charlotte Post reported on the artists involved in the ever-growing number of murals at the Kiplin Automotive Group on Brookshire Blvd. Want to view a unique art installation about the media? Queen City Nerve wrote about a new Rick Lazes exhibit at the Mint Uptown that tunes into TV. Charlotte Pride will embrace the matrix and host their Virtual Festival and Parade 2020 on August 1st. WBTV reports on the way one cycling team got creative to honor their friend Laura “Cootie Jones” Whittaker after the annual 24 Hours of Booty had to go virtual. Since they couldn’t circle the Booty Loop as planned, they set up the “Cootie Loop.” The Block gave us insight into Vernisha Crawford, the founder and CEO of Bringing You Excellence LLC, and what she’s learned from the “oh sh*t” moments of being an entrepreneur. Charlotte Agenda shared 8 Charlotteans who are taking TikTok by storm.
Decades before the “Pink Building” on South Boulevard was blinding Charlotte drivers with its unique color scheme, there was another tower reflecting the sun’s harsh rays into the eyes of those stuck in traffic. Built in 1972, Independence Tower is the granddaddy of Charlotte buildings with incredibly reflective, brilliantly colored windows. Anyone who has been trapped on Independence Boulevard during a rush hour sunset (especially those unlucky few who forgot their sunglasses at the office) understand the pain — and beauty — of having to stare at this dazzling gold tower. So loved is it, artist Christopher Holston included it in a Zoom background he created for us to celebrate Charlotte. (Feel free to download it and enjoy it for personal use.) Independence Tower is currently home to the headquarters for Norsan Media, one of the nation’s premier Hispanic media companies bringing Latin American news, culture and entertainment to radios, televisions, newspapers, and events in Charlotte and the Southeast. Directions: 4801 E Independence Blvd, Charlotte, NC 28212 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. The last batch featured: - A photographic vision of Charlotte in the time of COVID-19 by Kayden Hunt
- A 5-minute Biscuit Blitz with Senator Jeff Jackson
- A chat with Bold Music about getting bolder in tough times
- A how-to cocktail video from mixologist Rachael Green to celebrate National Tequila Day
- More information than you ever thought you’d need on the Johnson & Wales Wildcat
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