Did you know that due to our region’s auto-dominated transportation network and sprawling land use patterns, Mecklenburg residents spend on average 26% of household income on transportation versus a national average of only 19%?
Protected bike lanes would provide a safe, efficient, and highly affordable transportation option for all residents, of all income levels! Talk about sustainable mobility!
Get inspired to ride by watching this #iBikeCLT campaign video:
Council Transportation and Planning Committee Speaks Up for New Policies, 8 and 80 Year Olds, and Active Transportation!
Connectedness and interrelationship were the themes of the day yesterday at City Council’s Transportation and Planning (TAP) Committee monthly meeting. Indeed, Committee Chair Lyles’ opening remarks began with these two very important words.
As you may know, our city is growing. And growing fast. Within the next 25 years we can expect as many people as currently live in Raleigh (400,000) to show up in Charlotte looking for jobs, schools, homes and hopefully a vibrant culture.
Right now our city is reviewing two very important documents that will be the guidelines by which we decide how to grow. Our city’s zoning ordinance is currently being rewritten and our Transportation Action Plan is due for its five year update.
Click here to read more on our blog!
Volunteer with us this Spring and be a voice for local sustainability!
Volunteering is a great way to get involved with us and support our work! We need at least two friendly volunteers to manage our information booth at each of the following community events:
Ballantyne Earth Day Event
Thursday, April 21, 11:30am - 1:30pm @ Ballantyne Corporate Park. This event will feature local, eco-friendly vendors, music, giveaways, food trucks, free shredding and free e-Cycling.
UNC Charlotte's 24th Annual Earth Day Environmental Festival
Wednesday, April 20, 10:30am - 2pm @ UNC Charlotte Main Campus, Belk Tower. Every year, the Office of Waste Reduction and Recycling sponsors an Earth Day Environmental Festival on the campus of UNC Charlotte.
TWC Arena Event (including concerts, hornets games, etc)
Levy Restaurants at TWC Arena partners with nonprofit groups like us to help raise additional funds! If you are intersted in being part of the excitement of an upcoming TWC event by volunteering to work either a beverage or food station, we'd love to have your support through this unique and fun opportunity!
Details and training will be provided for volunteers for each of these events!
Please let us know if you are available to volunteer for any of the above events! Reply to this email or email Branyn Calegar directly: branyn.caleg[email protected]. Your support is very much appreciated!
Thank you to all who submitted nominations for the 2016 Sustain Charlotte Awards! Nominees will be announced soon!
We're proud to welcome LITTLE as a Gold Awards Sponsor and Sean Busher Imagery as a Silver Sponsor! We are thankful for their commitment to our community's long-term health and vitality. 
Many thanks to our sponsors so far: MassMutual Carolinas (Platinum), Rodgers (Gold), Charlotte Magazine (Gold), S&D Coffee and Tea (Silver), O2 emc (Silver), the Duke Energy (Silver), Blumenthal Foundation (Silver), Moore & Van Allen (Silver), Whole Foods Market (Silver), Healthy Home Market (Silver), NC Sustainable Energy Association (Bronze). 
In an effort to more effectively share our stories and communicate our mission, our goal this year is to produce videos! To do so in a way that is both engaging and professional, we are in need of a few materials. If you'd like to support this effort, please consider donating the funds needed for one or more of the following items (or the items themselves): microphone ($79), iPhone lenses ($115) and video stabilizer ($300).
Thank you for your consideration! Click here to donate the amount of your choice!
Local residents like you play a critical role in ensuring we have the resources to carry out our work in the community to inspire choices that lead to a healthier and more vibrant community for generations to come! Help us do more by becoming a Sustain Charlotte member today for as little as $3/month -- that's one cup of coffee! Click below to learn how easily you can support our mission and your community via membership. *Membership at the $5/month level includes a free Sustain Charlotte T-shirt (made of 100% recycled material by our Gold Partner Recover)!*
Protected Bike Lane Could be Coming to Uptown [Fox46 Charlotte]
"The non-profit Sustain Charlotte wants CDOT to take a look at a number of different protected bike lanes. It is supporting one lane being put into Uptown and would later like to expand these lanes throughout the region. 'Right now a lot of people do not choose to bike for transportation simply because they do not feel safe,' Founder of Sustain Charlotte Shannon Binns said." YOU can help change that by supporting our #ibikeCLT campaign! Visit sustaincharlotte.org/ibikeclt to learn how you can help!
Charlotte Rents Are Up – Now We’re the 21st Most-Expensive City [The Charlotte Observer]
"Bad news if you’re a renter in Charlotte: Apartment prices are still rising. The latest report from Zumper, which tracks apartment rents in the largest U.S. cities, shows Charlotte is now tied with Houston as the 21st most-expensive city in which to rent. That’s despite a massive wave of more than 12,300 apartments under construction and another 13,500 planned. Most are high-end apartments with rents to match, and aren’t bringing down average rental rates in Charlotte as they open." We believe it's imperative that the city looks closely at the policy tools available to them to improve the affordability of new housing in Charlotte!
Support our campaign for a protected bike lane through Uptown!
Would a protected bike lane make you feel more comfortable riding your bike through Uptown? Do you want one (or many!) of these in Charlotte?
If so, sign our statement of support for a protected bike lane through Uptown, connecting Irwin Creek and Little Sugar Creek Greenways! Please share the link with your friends and family! 
7:00pm - 10:00pm @ West wall of the UNC-Charlotte Center City Building, 320 East 9th Street, Charlotte, NC. Particle Falls is an animated light projection on the side of the UNC – Charlotte Center City building that reveals in real time, the invisible dangers in the air we are breathing. This is a dramatic public art and science project that raises awareness of the presence and impact of particulate pollution. Click here for more information.
March 18, 19, 20 - Best Minds #CityJamCLT
Event kicks off Friday, March 18, 5:30pm @ Advent Coworking, 933 Louise Ave., Charlotte 28204. City Jam is partnering with Digital Charlotte to brainstorm ways to bridge the digital divide. This year's Best Minds Conference is centered around finding real solutions for real Charlotte issues. Wethinknext #CityJamCLT is an event where you can create the future! Learn more and register for free here.March 18 - KEEPING WATCH on AIR Opening Reception
6:00pm-8:00pm @ The Projective Eye Gallery, UNCC Center City Building, 320 E. 9th St, Charlotte, 28202. The College of Arts + Architecture and the UNC Charlotte Urban Institute present the third year of the KEEPING WATCH initiative with a focus on local air quality and the role that Charlotte's tree canopy plays in a healthy environment. Programming throughout the spring will include exhibitions, panel discussions, public art, film screenings, and community activities. Click here for more information.
March 19 - “End of Season” City Wide TreeStore
9:00am - 11:00am @ City of Charlotte Landscape Management, 701 Tuckaseegee Road, Charlotte 28208. Are you a resident of Charlotte? Do you need some trees for your yard? TreesCharlotte is hosting a free TreeStore. Each Charlotte household is eligible for up to two free trees. At the TreeStore, you will be trained on how to properly plant and care for your tree(s). Proof of Charlotte residency as well as a valid email address must be provided in order to participate. Click here for more information.
March 22 - Charlotte MOVES: Transportation Plan Updates 2016
4:00pm - 8:00pm @ Grady Cole Center, 310 North Kings Drive, Charlotte, NC. The Charlotte Area Transit System (CATS), Charlotte Department of Transportation (CDOT) and Charlotte-Mecklenburg Planning Department are hosting this joint public workshop. Drop in and learn about plans underway to address Charlotte’s growth and transportation needs. Come share what you want to see and how you want to move as Charlotte grows! Click here for more information.* April 5 - Sustain Charlotte + Green Drinks Charlotte Monthly Mixer *
6:00pm - 7:30pm @ Wooden Robot Brewery, 1440 S Tryon St #110, Charlotte 28203. Join us for an informal and fun evening of conversation and networking! Our Monthly Mixers provide an opportunity where you can learn more about us, our partners, and meet others interested in local sustainability issues. At 6:30, you'll hear from Sustain Charlotte Silver Partner, Stantec, who will share about their sustainability efforts. There are no membership requirements and everyone is warmly welcomed. Click here to RSVP.
April 8 - NC BREATHE Conference
8:00am - 5:00pm @ UNC Charlotte Center City, 320 E. 9th Street, Charlotte 28202. This is ann interactive forum for North Carolinians to share the latest research related to the impacts air pollution has on human health, the environment, and the economy, and to discuss the critical role policy making plays. For more information and to register, click here.
April 19 - KEEPING WATCH on AIR Science Cafe
5:30pm @ UNC Charlotte Center City, 320 E. 9th Street, Charlotte 28202. The Charlotte Area Science Network presents a Science Café discussion on air quality, featuring Dr. Brian Magi of the UNC Charlotte Department of Geography and Earth Sciences. This presentation discusses air quality science, already successful efforts by our county air quality office to mitigate air quality problems, and what sort of air quality problems may emerge in the coming decade as Charlotte grows. Sustain Charlotte is a community partner of the Keeping Watch Alliance! For more information, click here.
* April 21 - 2016 Sustain Charlotte Awards *
5:30pm - 8:30pm @ LaCa Projects Gallery, 1429 Bryant Street, Charlotte 28208. Please join us for an inspiring, informative, and exciting evening on Earth Day eve to celebrate our region's most outstanding sustainability leaders! Click here to learn more.
May 1 - Open Streets 704
11:00am - 4:00pm. Open Streets 704 is a series of four Charlotte events made possible by a grant from the Knight Foundation. Open Streets 704 will literally open a length of city streets for an afternoon just for people! Taking cues from similar events around the country and the world, Open Streets 704 aims to build a better, healthier, connected community by encouraging Charlotte and Mecklenburg area residents to walk, bicycle, and experience the city together in a way that’s just not possible in a car. This event will stretch from the NoDa neighborhood down North Davidson Street to Memorial Stadium at Seventh and Kings Drive. Family-friendly and FREE to all. Sustain Charlotte is a community partner for this event! Click here to learn more.
MANY THANKS TO OUR PARTNERS
Is your company interested in joining the Sustain Charlotte Partner Network? Our generous partners play a critical role in supporting our work. Through our corporate membership program, we provide year-round brand exposure, positive publicity, and business development opportunities to those businesses and nonprofits that are helping make our community more sustainable through their products, services, or commitment to move their organization towards greater sustainability. Become a partner today!
Wooden Robot Brewery - TreeCycle America
GOLD
#thesavageway - Alfred Williams & Company - Belk - Boingo Graphics - Charlotte Magazine - DPS Construction - Environmental Window Solutions - National Gypsum - NC GreenPower - New Belgium Brewing - Packard Place - Pinckney Marketing - Recover - S&D Coffee & Tea - Triple C Brewing
SILVER
Choices Do Matter - Duke Energy - Greffen Systems - The Home Collection - Logan Community Music School - NC Sustainable Energy Association - Pasta & Provisions - Radiator Specialty Company - RED Group - Stantec - SunTrust Mortgage - UNC Charlotte IDEAS Center
BRONZE
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