About Community Building Initiative
Community Building Initiative (CBI) is a nonprofit organization that was established in 1997 by government and civic leaders to achieve racial and ethnic inclusion and equity in the Charlotte-Mecklenburg community. The organization's mission is to intensify the commitment and increase the capacity of individuals and organizations to build a more inclusive and equitable community.
CBI has been working tirelessly for over two decades to create an environment where everyone feels valued, respected, and included. The organization believes that diversity is not only essential but also beneficial for any community. CBI works towards creating an environment where people from different backgrounds can come together, share their experiences, learn from each other, and work towards common goals.
The organization's approach involves building relationships between individuals from different backgrounds through dialogue, education, training, advocacy, research, policy development, leadership development programs. CBI believes that these activities are crucial in creating a more inclusive society where everyone has equal opportunities regardless of their race or ethnicity.
One of CBI's most significant achievements is its ability to bring together people from diverse backgrounds who would otherwise not have interacted with each other. Through its various programs such as Community Leadership Institute (CLI), Youth Leadership Institute (YLI), Racial Equity Advocacy Cohort (REACH), among others; CBI has been able to create platforms for people to engage with each other on issues affecting their communities.
CLI is one of CBI's flagship programs designed for emerging leaders who want to make a difference in their communities. The program provides participants with leadership skills training while also exposing them to various issues affecting Charlotte-Mecklenburg communities such as affordable housing crisis or access healthcare disparities.
YLI focuses on developing young leaders aged between 14-18 years old by providing them with leadership skills training while also exposing them to various social justice issues affecting their communities such as police brutality or school-to-prison pipeline.
REACH program brings together advocates committed towards advancing racial equity within Charlotte-Mecklenburg County through advocacy efforts aimed at influencing policies that promote equity across all sectors including education system reform initiatives like restorative justice practices which aim at reducing suspensions/expulsions rates among students of color
CBI has also been involved in research aimed at understanding the root causes of inequality within Charlotte-Mecklenburg County. Through its research arm known as "Equity Research Action Coalition" (ERAC), CBI conducts studies on topics such as economic mobility disparities or health outcomes disparities among different races/ethnicities living within Mecklenburg County
In conclusion,
Community Building Initiative (CBI) plays an essential role in promoting racial equity within Charlotte-Mecklenburg County by bringing together individuals from diverse backgrounds through dialogue-based approaches aimed at fostering mutual understanding while addressing systemic barriers hindering progress towards achieving greater inclusion/equity across all sectors including education system reform initiatives like restorative justice practices which aim at reducing suspensions/expulsions rates among students of color