We are excited to announce the official welcome our newest staff member, Jordan Moore! Mr. Moore has joined the Sustain Charlotte team as the Bicycle Program Director thanks to the generous support of the Knight Foundation.

Instead of our usual Monthly Mixer next month, we encourage you to attend the Mayoral Candidates Forum on September 1, organized by We're The Future We Vote. This event will be held at the Booth Playhouse at Blumenthal Performing Arts Center from 6:30pm - 8:30pm. This is a free event, but tickets are going fast! Click here to reserve your seat today.

We are currently seeking sponsors for our Biketoberfest on October 17! Please contact Branyn Calegar at b[email protected] if you are interested. Click here for more information.

This July, residents of Mecklenburg, Union, and Iredell Counties had the opportunity to comment on transportation projects proposed for state funding by the Charlotte Regional Transportation Planning Organization (CRTPO). At a time when the state transportation funding process has become very data driven, it's more important than ever for residents to voice their support for transportation projects that meet the needs of our rapidly developing region. Sustain Charlotte staff wrote a letter in support of more funding for pedestrian, bicycle, and transit projects. We invited all individual and organizational members of the Transportation Choices Alliance to sign it, and submitted the joint letter on July 31. Click to our blog to read the letter and more.

It’s Bike Week! We created a guide to show you how to begin commuting on two wheels easily and safely. Click here to read the blog!

Last week's Green Drinks Charlotte + Sustain Charlotte Monthly Mixer was a big hit! Tommy George, owner of Sustain Charlotte Silver Partner Pasta & Provisions, inspired the audience by sharing the many ways in which his business is contributing to a more sustainable Charlotte community (image below). Click here to read about this company's sustainable business practices!

We are happy to give a warm welcome to our newest members: Joy Bunch, Curtis McCoy and Jacky Aaron! We sincerely appreciate their support of our mission and your community through their membership.  

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 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 to learn how easily you can support our mission and your community via membership:

I-485, the Road that Shape-Shifted Charlotte Growth

According to PlanCharlotte, "a road does more than offer pavement to motorists. Planners know building a road can shape the way an area grows. The final section of I-485 opened June 5, but for two decades before that, the route of the highway was luring development...With Mecklenburg County hitting 1 million people this year, and with Charlotte projected to be one of the fastest growing cities in the country, the key issues around outerbelt construction have been its impact on traffic congestion and safety and how to manage the growth such highways ignite." Click here to read more.

This summer Sustain Charlotte hosted three student interns. Matt Dockery is from Charlotte and currently attending Appalachian State University where he is majoring in Sustainable Development, with a concentration in community, regional, and global planning.

Why did you choose your major and how will your internship with Sustain Charlotte help you develop professionally?

I chose my major because sustainability has always been something that interests me. Educating people on the dangers that we face in the future due to climate change, lack of resources, and overpopulation is essential to developing a new way of life that adapts to our changing planet.

What project(s) are you working on for your internship?

Many cities around the US are adopting Pay As You Throw (PAYT) programs to try and cut down on waste that goes into landfills. In these programs, residents are billed based on how much they throw away in hopes that it will encourage them to recycle more and throw less away. I am looking at some case studies of cities around the country that have started using this program and am highlighting the advantages in hopes that Charlotte may adopt this type of program in the near future.

What's the most unexpected or inspiring thing you've learned so far during your internship?

It is very inspiring to see people get involved with city affairs. The city government relies on feedback from its residents to improve the city in any way possible. It is very rewarding to be a part of an organization that encourages change in a city that I have been a part of for over 17 years.

* July 13 - August 23: Race to the Beach Clean Commute Challenge * 

Sustain Charlotte is a sponsor of this year's clean commute challenge, named Race to the Beach, that runs July 13 - August 23. It's not too late to join for a chance to win weekly prizes and a weekend beach getaway! If your company or organization is interested in hosting a team, please contact [email protected]. For more information and to register as an individual, click here. 

August 19: Charlottean of the Year Summer Panel Event

5:30pm - 8:00pm at the BB&T BallPark. Charlotte magazine invites you to join us and some of our 2014 Charlotteans of the Year for an evening of inspiration, enlightenment, and engagement. Our director, Shannon Binns, will be on the panel representing Sustain Charlotte as one of last year's Charlotteans of the Year! Click here for more information and to purchase a ticket.

Save the Date: Making Energy Work Conference, Oct 6-7

@ The Raleigh Convention Center, 500 S Salisbury St, Raleigh, NC 27601. NCSEA's Making Energy Work Conference is the setting for collaboration to move our clean energy economy forward. It is an opportunity to learn about the next in clean energy, network with clean energy leaders, and identify solutions that advance our clean energy economy. Click here for more information and to register.

* Registration is now open for the 2015 NC Bike Summit to be held in Charlotte, Oct 15-17 *

@ UNC Charlotte - Center City Building, 320 E 9th St. Charlotte. The 2015 NC Bike Summit promises to be packed full of information useful to  bicycle advocates, transportation planners, business owners, elected officials, tactical urbanists, public health practitioners, and livability and sustainability professionals. Sustain Charlotte is proud to be the local host for this event. 

* Save the Date: Sustain Charlotte's BIKETOBERFEST, Oct 17 *

Following the 2015 NC Bike Summit, Sustain Charlotte will be holding our very first Biketoberfest -- an event that will bring together biking enthusiasts and 'newbies' alike in a city-wide celebration! We are currently seeking sponsors, click here for more information.

 MANY THANKS TO OUR PARTNERS