Wouldn’t it be awesome to get into a time machine, go back, and examine Charlotte’s past? Or perhaps, sometimes, even change it? Obviously, we can’t do that. (Plus, Avengers: Endgame warned us about changing the past, anyway. Right?)

We can only affect the future, and that’s what “The RE: Series” is all about.

The RE: Series is a new thought leadership speaker series presented by Crescent Communities, Ally Bank and Asana Partners, and produced in collaboration with our team at Charlotte Is Creative.

We designed the RE: Series from the ground up to be a little different than your traditional speaker series. All of its components are meant to reference each other (hence the “RE:” name). Whether it’s a new take on culinary classics and cocktails, or contrasting musicians trading sets and then coming together to create a new sound, the goal is to create an experience in which the event’s elements reference each other, challenge each other, and inspire each other.

This is especially true of their approach to curating speakers – in this case, thought leaders from around the country are paired onstage with Charlotte visionaries making an impact.

Over the next few years, the series will use an array of “re” words – such as Reverb, Recalibrate, Relinquish, Relish, Refresh and Retention – as a way into topics that are deeply relevant to Charlotte.

The kickoff event occurred on 11/1/18. Hinged on the word “Re:think,” it tackled the topic of Public Space and its vital role in building community. The speakers included Ryan Gravel, founder of Sixpitch and the Atlanta Beltline, alongside James and Miracle Yoder, owners of Not Just Coffee. A video recap of that inaugural event can be viewed below.

RE:alizing Charlotte’s Potential on May 21

The second installment in the series is set for next Tuesday, May 21 (6pm) at LACA Projects, centering on the theme of “Re:alize.” Over the course of the evening, we’ll explore realizing the untapped talent existing in our community and the opportunities available to us as we continue to grow.

After cocktails, bites and music, the evening will feature a keynote talk by Craig Robinson, Global Head of Enterprise Services at WeWork. Robinson will bring his two decades of experience in team leadership, business development, corporate strategy and organizational development to the evening’s theme, providing a unique lens on talent attraction and retention – a topic of immense relevance to Charlotte these days.

Afterward, I will facilitate a “fireside chat” with two of CLT’s creative powerhouses – Barrie Benson and Chandra Johnson.

As an art dealer, collector, and owner of the celebrated SoCo Gallery, Chandra has made an indelible impact on our city’s art scene by cultivating exhibitions from a global selection of artists.

And Barrie, a well-known interior designer known for balancing modern and traditional designs, was recently featured on the cover of House Beautiful.

In line with the theme of developing Charlotte’s creative talent, the event will feature some of our favorite Queen City creatives:

• Encore Catering, the full-service catering offshoot of the non-profit Community Culinary School of Charlotte, will prepare our food.
• Divine Barrel Brewing will supply the craft beer.
• That Guy Smitty will bring the music and the pulse of the night.

The evening is open to the public … but you need a ticket.

Tuesday’s event is free and open to the public; however, registration is required and availability is limited. If you’re interested in attending, CLICK HERE and enter your email address near the bottom of the page. Please note each person needs to register individually.

Recap of The First RE: Series Event