It’s Time For CLT Nonprofits to Fuel Up
Three Organizations Combine to Help Nonprofits Rocket Ahead“…we spent many hours, laughs and Zoom calls brainstorming how we could come together and serve our Charlotte community on a larger scale. We wanted to collaborate on a new, engaging approach to reach more nonprofits. With the increasing number of people who are losing their jobs and who need a community to help lift them up, we know that many Charlotte-area nonprofits are struggling and we want them to know that we’re here to serve them!”
After teaming up to collaborate on some “good ideas, some great ideas and some pretty bad ideas”, Apparo, Restore Global and Charlotte ToolBank created “Rocket Fuel for Your Mission” a supportive contest that ends, well, TODAY!

BROKEN NEWS! We’ve found the answer to Charlotte’s biggest secret!For years, scholars and citizens alike have broken their backs to prove or disprove the existence of the Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence. After years of questing, we have an inside man who’s finally ready to tell the terrible truth about the Meck Deck.

Meet Desmond Wiggan at Packard Place Public House Wednesday, May 20 on ZOOMPackard Place Public House is hosting weekly virtual gatherings every Wednesday where people can come together to share and collaborate on ideas as well as network and of course, show off what they brought to drink. It’s the next best thing to hanging out at your favorite pub with your favorite pint. This week, Desmond Wiggan will share his experiences as co-founder and CEO of BatteryXchange. This Wednesday’s online event is 4:30-6:30pm. Sign up here.
 
SHOUTing Match! Krystle Baller & Wanda Petunia Rock OutWhat do you get when you cross a self-care pig named Wanda Petunia and a Lady Rockstar? You get one fantastically awesome video about how Wanda Petunia the Inspiring Pig is dealing with quarantine and the ups and downs on how she gets through it. Social Distancing Miss You Pig Time is the brainchild of Amy Jane Williams and Krystal Baller. The video takes us through the oh-so-many days of stay-at-home and we see how Wanda spends her time. She finally cooks a meal at home, plays her ukulele, learns new songs, gets in on a little TikTok and even watches Tiger King! Wanda represents all of us right now and this quirky and marvelous creation helps make it through another day in “these unprecedented times.” Watch the video here.

UNC Charlotte Students “Share their Heart & Music”To share their talents and their love with fellow students, faculty, staff and the Charlotte community, UNC Charlotte’s musical theatre department released the above video of “Heart & Music,” from A New Brain by William Finn (an arrangement by Sam Pomerantz). It played last week on CLT After Dark. And, we show it to you again, here.

This Ain’t Your Daddy’s City Planning… Unless You’re One of Taiwo Jaiyeoba’s Seven DaughtersNot every assistant city manager/city planner can pull off TikTok, but we are blessed to live in a city where ours can. Enjoy the video Taiwo Jaiyeoba posted about “What Makes a City?” by clicking the image above. And, read the 5 ridiculous questions we asked him, here.

Creative “Thank You’s” to Delivery HeroesWith help from Charlotte SHOUT!, we issue a creative challenge each week in The Biscuit. We recently asked Queen City creatives to create an “easy to share” thank you for all the delivery people, the Door Dashers, the Grub Hubbers and the Postal Workers who have worked so hard to bring us packages, food and vital communication during the COVID-19 outbreak. Our winner was Kimberly McGuire! Please share this image to thank delivery folks online, use the hashtag #CLTShout and check out Kimberly’s work here. It’s not part of the contest, by the design team at Theory House worked this up a few weeks ago for use on social, too! 
 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.
Providence Day Raises $150,000 for Loaves & Fishes Loaves & Fishes were surprised with a $150,000 donation from Providence Day School. A few weeks ago, the school’s Parents’ Association put out the call to raise $25,000 … and the school took it to heart. More than 580 current students, parents, faculty, staff, alumni and grandparents giving to the cause. Read the full story here. The Charlotte Ledger reports (and WFAE shared) that bike shops are peddling hard to keep up with new business. QC Metro tells the story of West Charlotte graduate and successful barber, Kenny Quiller, who is giving back to the high school cosmetology program that helped shape his career. The Charlotte Post spoke with CT Anderson, Andrew Wilson and Jonell Logan about how Queen City creatives are hustling to make it in the time of COVID-19. Queen City Nerve put us in the picture about Arial Robinson’s Modern Day Black Alphabet photo book.
 
If there are two things we could all do to make these times a bit brighter, it’s spread a little love and lend a helping hand. Check in on your friends and family, your neighbors and coworkers, your favorite barista and your high school English teacher — anyone you think might be going through a tough time. And especially check in on those who you think aren’t. Chances are they’re having a rough go of it, too. See if they need anything, even if it’s just a listening ear. The “we exist to love and serve” quote might be a small part of Charlotte artist Osiris Rain’s Binocular Wall mural at CBI Workspace Solutions but it carries huge significance in our daily lives. We are here to love and serve our fellow Charlotteans, so if you need a helping hand, don’t hesitate to reach out. These beautiful words are accompanied by an even more beautiful mural of multiple faces looking through reflective “binocular lenses.” On CBI’s website, they talk about the message behind the project: “True love manifests itself through treating one another with love, dignity and respect. We are a diverse group of individuals from different backgrounds and we must challenge ourselves and those around us to take time to look through someone else’s lens. Only by seeing the world through the perspective of another can we gain compassion and empathy for our fellow man.” This Queen City exploration is powered by OrthoCarolina. Directions: 4020 Yancey Rd, Charlotte, NC 28217 Explore other “Where Are We in CLT?” destinations here.

Don’t go ’round hungry. If you missed the last batch of The Biscuit, don’t worry. We’ve kept it warm for you. Our last batch features: - A walking trek through Charlotte murals with photographer Brooke Brown
- An editorial from Wendy Hickey about the help need to keep ArtPop poppin’
- An interview with designer Rachel Martin about rebranding her company
- A video animation Taylor Lee made using Bojangles’ flour
- A Twist & SHOUT cocktail video with Bob Peters
Click here to dig in, y‘all. The Biscuit is proudly sponsored by: |  |
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