Eric Ndelo Keeps it Cool, Creative, and MacFly Fresh PHOTO CREDIT: MacFly Fresh “We are screen printers for the people!”
If you know anything about MacFly Fresh Printing Co., then you know the statement above from Eric Ndelo, the co-founder and creative director of MacFly, is more than true. They are focused on helping the Charlotte creative community bring designs to life through their screenprinting work, all while ensuring everything is as “fresh” as possible. “Fresh” is an important word for the printing company. It’s in the name. It’s in their slogan: Fresh Goods Pressed Daily. It’s in everything they do. Whether you need custom shirts, hoodies, bags, masks or mugs, MacFly has you covered. If you can name it, they can probably print on it. All while guaranteeing maximum freshness, both literally and figuratively. Eric and the team at MacFly Fresh have helped nonprofits, artists, musicians, and small business owners build their brands and solidify their fresh visual identity for years. But how did it all get started? Before helping others build their brands, Eric had to build a few of his own and take a life-changing trip in the process. Read our Queen City Creative profile of Eric and MacFly Fresh here.
Thoughts in an Unrest State“Let’s address the elephant in the room: the uneasiness and unjust for the Black bodies that are in this land we live upon.”
Over the past few months, we’ve run head-on with the spike of the Coronavirus/COVID-19 and a growth in unemployment. Within these difficult times, those in the African American or POC communities haven’t outrun the virus of racism, in the systemic sense and that of police brutality. This is an editorial from Jalil Pack, a Charlotte-born creative recently featured in The Biscuit. After watching an impassioned Instagram post he made in the wake of George Floyd’s death, we asked Jalil to share his thoughts in writing. Read it here.
 PHOTO CREDIT: Jonny Digital Queen City Creatives React to the Death of George FloydCreatives imagine into reality the feelings and thoughts many of us are having difficulty expressing. Over the past week, we’ve seen an awe-inspiring amount of moving artwork, powerful photographs, images and thought-provoking words from creatives in the Queen City as they process the death of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor and so many more and cry for social justice and equity. We want to share some with you. Please click the button below and see the unforgettable work from Charlotte creatives. 
Charlotte Art Auction in Honor of George FloydAt The Biscuit, we love riding along with Matt Morrison (AKA @CLTGraffiti) as he explores visual works of Charlotte artists — from murals on buildings to tags under bridges — from the back of his bicycle every day on Instagram. Along the way, he’s gotten to know the creatives expressing themselves through art outside for all of us to enjoy (or discover). Now, he’s putting the contacts he’s made to work raising funds for Charlotte Uprising, by organizing daily art auctions from Queen City creatives on his feed. Matt has a passion for visual art … and he’s putting that passion into action for his community.
She Built This City Picks Up a Paintbrush
… and is Looking to HireTo add a unique spark to their outreach efforts, Charlotte nonprofit, She Built This City, teamed up with local mural artist, Sharon Dowell (helped by Christopher Holston and other volunteers from the National Association of Women in Construction) to paint the outside of their new mobile classroom. Watch a video of the painting process here. And, more coolness is afoot at She Built … and you may be just the person to pick up a hammer and help construct the future of the organization. They are looking for a left-brained/right-brained person to take on the role of part-time project coordinator. The position is expected to transition to full-time in October and support planning and coordination of programs and training exercises, manage communications and social media, manage technology and budget and other tasks. Applications will be accepted through 6/15. Read more about the position here.
Seven Charlotte Creatives Get a HUG
Each month, Charlotte Is Creative awards HUGs (Helpful Unfettered Gifts) to creative individuals and projects at work in the Queen City. We like to call these micro-grants “little love bombs of cash” to nudge forward their for-profit or nonprofit endeavors. During COVID-19, HUGs have been $100 disbursements to stretch funds as far as they could for “shovel ready” projects. 35 HUGs were awarded in April, May and June. Applications for July HUGs are open now and will be awarded at the traditional amount of $250. Apply for a HUG here. June 2020 HUGgees were: Podcasts and Media Performing Art Visual Art - Dawn Gibson
- Mitchell Kearney
Creative Community Engagement - Camerin Watson
- The Dean’s List
- The Dottie Rose Foundation
HUG Micro-Grants are sponsored by T. Reid & Company, Savvy & Company, Google Fiber and generous individual donors. Please donate to a HUG in any amount here.
City of Charlotte Releases Temporary Outdoor Dining GuidelinesWith many ready and itching to start visiting their favorite eateries, restaurants have been working to ensure they are able to keep patrons safe. To aid restaurant business during Phase 2, the City of Charlotte has developed temporary outdoor dining guidelines that allow for the use of parking spaces and extra sidewalk space for outdoor dining. These new guidelines allow restaurants to convert up to 25% of parking spaces into temporary outdoor seating and also allows restaurants to use sidewalk space as well. Outdoor dining can still only allow up to 49 patrons. This comes just in time as the weather is getting warmer and everyone is ready to gather again.
Apparo to Help Nonprofits GAIN new IT Resources
Apparo, an organization that provides IT help and training for nonprofit organizations, is preparing to kick off their new, free community GAIN (Growth, Agility and Innovation for Nonprofits) program in August and the Mission Possible Award program in September. You can get more information on both of these projects on their website at www.apparo.org.
Built in 1922, the Mecklenburg Investment Company (MIC) Building is one of the last remaining buildings in Charlotte’s historic Brooklyn neighborhood. Brooklyn was a predominantly black community that existed as a “town within a town” in Charlotte’s Second Ward until the neighborhood was almost entirely displaced in the 1960s and 70s. The MIC Building was a key structure in Brooklyn that housed black businesses, professional offices, and civic and social organizations. It was funded by and named after the Mecklenburg Investment Company, an investment group comprised of black leaders in the Brooklyn community that was created to support black businesses. The group was founded by Mr. C. R. Blake, Sr., Mr. A. E. Spears, Thad L. Tate, and Dr. A. J. Williams. We featured Thad Tate’s statue located on the Little Sugar Creek Greenway on “Where Are We In CLT?” back in March. Take a look and read more of his story here. The MIC Building is still a vital part of Charlotte’s Uptown community with both Studio 229 and the Brooklyn Collective seeking to continue its legacy. Directions: 229 S Brevard 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: - A collection of inspiring examples of QC Creatives dealing with the death of George Floyd
- A Biscuit Blitz with the Charlotte author, Patrice Gaines
- A series of photos from Yanira Fuentes about her time during COVID-19
- A class on how to have difficult conversations about race from Ohavia Phillips
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