February 26, 2026 | Faith, Community and Non-Profit Leader Check-In Meeting
- meckmin
- 9 hours ago
- 17 min read
Welcome to MeckMIN's Thursday Zoom Check-In Meetings
These meetings are open to anyone interested in supporting compassionate community response, especially in partnership with the most vulnerable among us.
Meetings are held online every other Thursday from 11:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. Email LeDayne Polaski for Zoom access code. In addition, if you would like to receive notification when these minutes are posted, please email LeDayne and ask to be added to the Thursday meetings email list.
You can find the recording HERE
75 participants
OPENING REFLECTION
When we speak we are afraid our words will not be heard or welcomed. But when we are silent, we are still afraid. So it is better to speak.
Audre Lorde
MECKMIN UPDATES
PLEASE SHARE THESE EVENTS WITH YOUR NETWORK AND WITH ANYONE YOU THINK MIGHT BE PARTICULARLY INTERESTED – AND PLEASE CONSIDER COMING YOURSELF
THURSDAY MEETINGS
We are meeting in 2026:
Mar 12
Mar 26
Apr 9
Apr 23
May 7
May 21
No meetings in June
July 16
July 30
We have FOUR spaces open at our FREE AI Basics for Faith, Community and Nonprofit Leaders training this Saturday, February 28 from 9 am to 1 pm at MPUMC. This is a GREAT OPPORTUNITY. Similar trainings cost upwards of $1,500! The workshop is hands-on and aimed at beginners. We’ll have LOTS of volunteers on hand to help those of us who need extra support in getting started.
If you are wondering how you and your organization can use AI to serve the common good and don't know quite how to get started, this workshop is for you. Email us at meckmin@meckmin.org to sign up.
INTERFAITH HARMONY MONTH - Building Bridges in a Divided World
MeckMIN invites Mecklenburg's faith community to join in the celebration of Interfaith Harmony Month during February 2026. Join us for our nterfaith Harmony Month Celebration Dinner February 24th! Interfaith Harmony Month is a series of events across the month that promote and celebrate the values of interfaith bridgebuilding by providing wonderfully diverse opportunities for our communities to get to know one another in engaging ways. Check out the calendar for February on the MeckMIN site to find something that inspires you. ALL ARE WELCOME!!
Friday, February 27
Bahá’í Ayyám-i-Há Celebration
6:00-7:30PM
Bahá’í Community of Charlotte invites you to join our Ayyám-i-Há Celebration, a Bahá’í festival held each year as a time of joy, generosity, and service. Through hospitality and acts of kindness, it reflects the Bahá’í emphasis on unity and caring for the wider community. All are Welcome! Light refreshments and desserts will be served. Charlotte Bahá’í Center 3514 Marvin Road, Charlotte, NC www.bahaicharlotte.com, Nima Nematollahi, info.charlottebahai@gmail.com (704) 307-1674
Saturday, February 28
Church Tour and Family History Presentation
4:30-5:30PM
Please join us for a church tour, light refreshments and short presentation on family history and how you can connect with your ancestors. We look forward to seeing you! The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints 2500 Rocky River Road, Charlotte, NC 28213 Nellie Johnston neljohnston@gmail.com, (704) 614-6038
Saturday, March 7
Hindu Color Festival
12:30-3:30PM
Holi is the Hindu festival of colors, celebrated to mark the arrival of spring and the victory of good over evil. It involves throwing colored powders and water, dancing, singing, and enjoying festive foods, symbolizing joy and community spirit.
Join us at the Hindu Center for this celebration. Wear very casual clothes. Easily washable color powder will be used.
7400 City View Dr., Charlotte, www.hcclt.org (704) 535-3440
Sunday, March 8
“Imagine” Interfaith Concert
7:00-9:00PM
Advent Lutheran Church,8840 University City Blvd, is hosting an interfaith choir concert. All singers
are invited to participate; churchadministrator@adventlu.org (704) 549-1555
A 2-DAY CONCERT with REHEARSALS: Saturday, Mar. 7, 10am-12:30pm Contact organizers for more information
More info: https://adventlu.org/
Phone: 704-549-1555
Concert Dates: Saturday, Mar. 7, 2-4:30pm, Sunday, Mar. 8, 2-4:30pm
Over the next three months we will be engaged in a crucial fundraising campaign with a goal of $35,000 raised for MeckMIN to support this call and our other crucial work. Now more than ever, we need spaces that bring people together. Help us continue the work of building bridges. Your support empowers us to create spaces where faith communities work together for the common good.
Ways to move this work forward:
Spread the word: Share this campaign with your networks and help widen the circle.
Serve: Offer your time and talents to help build stronger connections across our community.
We’re deeply grateful for your partnership in this work. Together, we are building something that lasts.
HELP US KEEP THESE MEETINGS GOING:
We know MeckMIN is important to you and that you value these meetings. Help us show our board and our community that this work matters and is worth the substantial investment of staff time and resources by supporting this work with a financial donation. If you feel moved, please mention this meeting in particular. There are several ways you can support us. We hope you will choose one, two or all:
Become an Affliate Member (for nonprofits and community groups)
If you become an affiliate member, you can publicize your work as often as you like throughout the year through our e-newsletter, website, Facebook and Instagram. You'll also get recognition of your membership on MeckMIN's website. Depending on your budget, affiliate memberships are as little as $100 a year and give you access to share the good work you are doing all year long. It's a true win-win! To become an affiliate member, use this link.
Houses of faith can also become members and receive the same benefits.
For $200 organizations can sponsor a specific general MeckMIN newsletter which goes out to almost 4,000 people and has a 53% open rate (well over average). As a sponsor you’ll have:
your logo at the top of the newsletter
an acknowledgement for your sponsorship
your content as the top article.
Only one sponsor will be accepted per newsletter, making your message highly noticeable. To sign up for a specific date, use this link.
You can also sponsor a Faith, Community and Nonprofit Leader newsletter for $100. This more targeted newsletter goes out to over 800 clergy, community leaders, and nonprofit leaders and has an open rate of 55% (well over average). As a newsletter sponsor, you will be thanked in the newsletter as a sponsor, have your logo featured, and be able to share an announcement as the featured article. Only one sponsor will be accepted per newsletter, making your message highly noticeable. To sign up for a specific date, use this link.
Again, you can do one, two, or all.
Sponsorships are available for the 2026 Community Leaders Awards Breakfast, and we want you to be sure to reserve your spot.
Save the date for breakfast – May 7 at 7:30 a.m.
Your sponsorship of the 2026 Community Leader Breakfast Awards helps us honor exemplary local leaders and organizations with three awards: The Sydnor Thomson, Jr. Community Leader Award, The Bridge Builder Award, and the Interfaith Youth Award.
BY BECOMING A SPONSOR YOU WILL:
Gain visibility among individuals and groups representing eleven faith traditions and a wide array of racial, ethnic, cultural, and language backgrounds.
Help us build bridges to strengthen our community and serve the common good.
Honor three remarkable local leaders who exemplify commitment and service
You or your organization can sponsor at the Presenting Sponsor level as well as becoming a table sponsor - securing 8 seats.
This year's breakfast will be held on Thursday, May 7 from 7:30-9:00AM at Friendship Missionary Baptist Church. This is our biggest fundraiser of the year, and your paid ticket supports our work all year to foster understanding, compassion and justice.
Helps us celebrate three amazing individuals working in our community. Through these awards, we honor individuals who embody understanding, compassion, and justice; who respect the dignity of every person; and who lead with collaboration across differences to foster interfaith, racial, and ethnic understanding while addressing real needs in our community.
Your presence isn't just appreciated — it's powerful.
OTHER INTERFAITH OPPORTUNITIES
Iftar Dinners from Mosaic of Charlotte
Hamide Uruc, uruchbusra@gmail.com
Mosaic of Charlotte invites you to join them for an Iftar Dinner this Ramadan. On March 12th they are hosting a Friendship Dinner for the whole community at Caldwell Presbyterian Church from 7-8:30.
You are also invited to connect directly with a family through their “Meet Your Neighbor” program. We live in a beautifully diverse community, yet often we miss the opportunity to truly know one another. Misconceptions and unfamiliarity can create invisible barriers between people of different backgrounds and faiths.But we believe that real, lasting connections are built not through formal events, but through genuine human interaction—sharing a meal, exchanging stories, and recognizing our common value. You are invited to join a Mosaic family to do just that during this holy time.
Friendship Iftar Dinner:
Meet Your Neighbor:
Facing History & Ourselves President Dr. Desmond Blackburn to speak March 3
Douglas Greene, Douglas.Greene@jewishcharlotte.org, Director, Jewish Community Relations
Jewish Federation of Greater Charlotte, 704.944.6858
The Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC) and Outshine Hate invite the Charlotte community to an evening conversation with Dr. Desmond K. Blackburn, President and CEO of Facing History & Ourselves. This community conversation at Shalom Park will focus on identity, moral responsibility, and how to navigate moments of division as a community so that we strengthen rather than fracture civic life.
Dr. Blackburn speaks about intersectionality in a grounded way, connecting historical memory, lived experience, and moral agency across communities and helping participants see how antisemitism, racism, and other forms of hate operate both distinctly and relationally. His work opens space for people of different backgrounds to listen without defensiveness and engage without minimizing each other’s experiences. In many ways, it mirrors MeckMIN’s commitment to bridge-building and religious literacy across differences.
I believe clergy, lay leaders, and interfaith partners would find the conversation constructive and relevant to their ongoing work in the community and invite you to join us.
The views and opinions expressed below are those of the speakers/presenters and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of the MeckMIN board or our member organizations.
CITY OF CHARLOTTE UPDATES
City of Charlotte Community Microgrants – DUE MARCH 1
The Community Microgrant is a citywide opportunity that supports short-term, resident-led projects focused on connection, well-being, and neighborhood problem-solving. This grant offers low-barrier funding between $500 and $5,000 with no match requirement, making it accessible for projects that can be implemented quickly but leave a lasting impact. With no match requirement, the program is designed for short-term efforts that create long-term impact.
For example, Windsor Park recently used their $5,000 Community Microgrant to purchase board games for all 519 students at Windsor Park Elementary. They hoped to encourage families to enjoy screen-free time together over winter break. The success of the project and grant sparked additional donations of games and LEGO sets to the school’s library from residents, strengthening the partnership between the neighborhood association and the school.
Want to do something like this in your neighborhood? Projects should align with one or more focus areas: Innovation and Sustainability, Community Health and Wellness, or Neighborhood Engagement and Belonging. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis through March 1.
NONPROFIT UPDATES
INTERNATIONAL HOUSE: CREATING A FAITH BASED DATABASE
Kristin Tokic, tokick@queens.edu
International House is creating a database of houses of worship here in Charlotte: International House Charlotte - Faith-Based Directory Survey – Fill out form
Please share your organization’s information so we can include it in this directory and connect our newest neighbors with your work. It will be internal for now, as a reference but they may make it public in time.
Children’s Theatre Charlotte
Children’s Theatre Charlotte is offering a backstage Pass March 13 at 3:30 pm at Imaginon. Community leaders and others are invited to tour the space and learn more about how to attend or have a performance come to you.
What: Join us for a private tour and engaging Q&A with our directors, board, and executive leadership, exploring who we are, what we do and how you can get involved!
When: March 13 | 3:30 PM
Where: ImaginOn
Interested? Email Kristin Tokic at tokick@queens.edu for details.
Foster Village Charlotte: March Coffee for a Cause event!
Meredith Barbee, Advancement Operations Manager, Phone: (980) 237-0261, Email: meredith@fostervillagecharlotte.org
Join us for Coffee for a Cause, a meaningful morning dedicated to raising awareness about foster care in our community. Listen to a panel discussion on the current state of foster care and the impactful programs of Foster Village Charlotte, which provide crucial support to foster families. Learn about the specific needs of these programs and how you can play a role in strengthening our village.
Hosted at the Long Room Charlotte, enjoy specialty coffee from Pertinacious Coffee while connecting with community members who share a passion for making a difference. Whether you're a foster parent, advocate, or simply curious about how you can help, this event is an opportunity to learn, engage, and be part of the movement to support children and families experiencing foster care.
Get Your Ticket! (Use the code ADVOCATE to get a ticket for only $10)
Health Career Fair on Saturday, 3/14/26 from 10 am - 1 pm.
Monique Weeks
MBA, Director of Outreach Engagement and Transportation (Mobile Units)
Community Health Care Coordinator, 704-957-2465 - Cell, mweeks@cwwilliams.org
CMS/CTE in partnership with CW Williams Community Health Center are hosting a Health Career Fair on Saturday, 3/14/26 from 10 am - 1 pm.
Resources will include healthcare employers & organizations, health career job search platforms, colleges, universities & training programs, and education financial services. We are looking for additional vendors and we invite you to share the attached flyer.
Care partner Summit from Parkinson Association of the Carolinas, March 21
The Parkinson Association of the Carolinas (PAC) is proud to invite you to our second annual Care Partner Summit, a FREE, in-person event created especially for those who care for a loved one living with Parkinson’s disease.
Join us on Saturday, March 21, 2026, from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM in Charlotte, NC for a meaningful day focused on you—the care partner. This summit is designed to offer practical strategies to support your own well-being while continuing to provide the best possible care for your loved one.
Attendees will hear from expert speakers, enjoy lunch, and have the opportunity to connect with others who understand the caregiving journey. Whether you are new to caregiving or have been supporting a loved one for years, this event offers education, encouragement, and community in a supportive environment. Your loved ones can stay at the IVY while you attend the conference.
All attendees will also be entered into a drawing for a FREE, 90 minute massage, compliments of Stillwater Massage and Bodywork.
The deadline to register is March 8, 2026 Frequent meeting attendee Carolyn Dowdy will be a featured speaker so be sure and say hello! We hope you will share this with your community so they can identify the care partners who are in their congregations.
Nina Wynn
A Charlotte branch of the Singing Resistance is currently organizing in Charlotte. Join together Feb 28th from 11 - 1:45 to sing and plan for the future. For more information, go to www.instagram.com/singingresistancecharlotte.
Faith in Housing Lunch and Learn March 18th at the Goodwill Opportunity Campus
Davie Keely RAP Health Justice
This gathering is designed for:
Faith-based organizations exploring how their land or property could support housing
Developers, architects, consultants, and other technical assistance providers interested in partnering with faith communities
Community partners who want to better understand Charlotte's faith-based housing efforts
What you can expect:
Hear directly from congregations currently participating in the Faith in Housing cohort
Learn what they're working on and what they've learned along the way
Get an early look at upcoming technical assistance grant opportunities
Hear from City staff and elected officials about the broader vision
Time to connect, gather, and ask questions. Bring business cards to network!
Whether you're just curious or actively exploring development, this session is an opportunity to learn what's possible and who's already doing the work.
Spots are limited and registration is required. Each attendee must register individually. Visit link to register https://seam.ly/VRnLMKsz
Dahlia Grove - Golf Tournament
Dahlia Grove, Inc, Founder and Executive Director
704-891-3033, Gayle@Dahliagrove.org
We are so grateful for the support you have shown us over the years and for the ways we continue to grow this meaningful relationship together.
One way you can partner with us this year is by supporting our annual golf tournament at Olde Sycamore Golf Club on April 27, 2026. We would be honored if you would share this opportunity with your churches, communities, and local businesses. The success of this event truly depends on friends like you. You can participate by registering to play or by becoming an event sponsor.
Another meaningful way to support our work is by inviting us to speak to your groups. We would love the opportunity to raise awareness and share the heart behind Dahlia Grove. Our mission is rooted in love and reconciliation, and we witness every day how powerful love can be in transforming lives. It would be my honor to share more with your congregation, civic organization, or business networking group.
Thank you for being such an important part of this journey with us.
RESOURCES FOR NONPROFITS
TRAINING:
Queens University: Certification in Social Justice and Community OrganizationThe Social Justice and Community Organizing Certification program equips participants with political education and practical skills to effectively organize for social change.
AVAILABLE MEETING SPACES
Nonprofit Meeting spaces - Check out this link here
GRANTS AND FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES
Grant Funding Focus is a collaboration with Inclusive Data and Living Better Life where we have developed a curated collection of federal, state, and private grant funding opportunities that fall within our current areas of focus.
Through this offering, we hope to enhance the capacity of the nonprofit sector to access resources and, with that, the opportunity to increase their impact on the health and well-being of communities across North Carolina.
If you know anyone within your organization and your broader network who may be interested in receiving Grant Funding Focus on a monthly basis, please encourage them to subscribe.
The TreesCharlotte’s CommunityWoods program is an opportunity to bring more trees, shade, and green space to your neighborhood. CommunityWoods is designed to support Mecklenburg communities by planting and maintaining trees that improve our local environment, strengthen neighborhood pride, and enhance quality of life.
Why Apply?
Beautify your streets with healthy, well-placed trees
Reduce heat and stormwater runoff
Build community connections through shared stewardship
Increase property values and neighborhood walkability
This is a community-driven initiative — we want to support residents and partners who are passionate about creating thriving green spaces right where they live.
Learn more & apply here by March 15 (applications thereafter are reviewed on a rolling basis) https://treescharlotte.org/get-trees/neighborhoods/
Applications are open now and we encourage groups of neighborhoods, community organizations, houses of faith, schools, and local partners to apply. If you have questions about the program, need help with the application, or want to discuss ideas for your neighborhood please reach out to Joi Mayo, 980-477-0170, joi@treescharlotte.org
GENERAL INFORMATION
STATE OF NC UPDATE – Measles Info to Share
Francisco Guzman, Latinx/Hispanic Policy, and Strategy Project Manager
/ Gerente de Proyectos de Política y Estrategia Latinx/Hispana,
Office of Minority Health and Health Disparities / Oficina de Salud de Minorías y Disparidades en Salud,
773-703-1691, francisco.guzman@dhhs.nc.gov
As you know, Measles is a highly contagious, vaccine-preventable disease that is spread by direct person-to-person contact as well as through the air. NCDHHS reports 23 confirmed measles cases in NC since late December 2025. Most cases have been linked to known outbreaks (including the large outbreak in upstate South Carolina) and have affected unvaccinated people, especially children.
NCDHHS now recommends that families of infants 6-11 months talk with their health care provider about the option of early MMR vaccination if they live in or routinely visit areas with community transmission, including:
Buncombe County
Charlotte metro counties: Cabarrus, Gaston, Iredell, Lincoln, Mecklenburg, Rowan, Union. (See the press release: NCDHHS Shares Provider Guidance, Updates as Measles Cases Rise)
NCDHHS continues to update dph.ncdhhs.gov/measles with new resources and information. Recent updates include:
Public-facing dashboard updated
Communications Toolkit (English/Spanish)
FAQ: what if my business/organization has a measles exposure
Tips for locating your vaccine records
If you cannot obtain a copy of your vaccination record, or you think you have not received the measles vaccine, you have two options. You can get a blood test to check for evidence of vaccination, or get vaccinated against measles
What you should know
If you think you or your child may have symptoms, call your health care provider before going in.
MMR vaccination protects against measles and is recommended for everyone ages 1 year and older who is not vaccinated.
Unsure of your vaccination status? NCDHHS measles immunity checker tool is available for people who aren’t sure whether they need additional protection.
Where to get vaccinated
Start with your health care provider. If you're uninsured or underinsured, find no- or low-cost vaccines near you:
No-cost vaccines for eligible children: Vaccines for Children
Contact your local health department
Find a federally qualified health center
More guidance and shareable resources
For guidance, resources, and vaccine information, visit: dph.ncdhhs.gov/measles
No Kings 3 March: Saturday, March 28 | 1:00 PM | First Ward Park
Samantha Turner on behalf of the No Kings organizing team Samanthacltppc@gmail.com
In this moment of deep moral testing for our city, our state, and our nation, we are calling on clergy, faith and moral leaders across traditions to stand together as a visible, united moral coalition at No Kings 3.
When: Saturday, March 28
Time: 1:00 PM
Where: First Ward Park
No Kings 3 is more than a rally. It is a public witness for dignity, democracy, and the sacred worth of every person. At a time when fear, division, and the targeting of vulnerable communities are being normalized, the faith community must be unmistakably present — not on the sidelines, but shoulder to shoulder, offering moral clarity and courageous leadership.
If you’re able to join, we’re asking clergy to:
Stand with the clergy bloc during the main program
Wear clerical attire or symbols of your tradition if you’d like
Join a brief pre-event orientation beforehand
Invite members of your congregation or community to attend alongside you
If you feel called to be part of this moral coalition, please confirm your participation here:
This is not a moment for hesitation. It is a moment for action and presence. Our communities are watching. Our people are looking for moral leadership. Future generations will ask who stood up when it mattered.
Thank you for the work you continue to do and for the ways you show up for this community. I hope we can stand together again on March 28, guided by love and committed to justice.
Potential ICE facilities in Charlotte and Concord
Mary Ross, maryrossva@gmail.com, 919-451-2341
Chris Ikana, Chrisikanabusiness@gmail.com
Be aware that the Dept. of Homeland Security is expanding its work in North Carolina. These can have a deep impact on the community. We have an exponentially larger undocumented population thank Minnesota and there is concern that there will be greater activity here, especially with the World Cup coming up. We are looking for clergy to make a collective statement about this issue. Reach out to Chris or Mary for more details. You can also follow www.instagram.com/indivisiblecabarruscounty and this website with general information on the current 5 sites of concern in NC: https://www.communitycivilactivist.org/ncdetention
A few articles about the expansion:
The 2026 ABA/NLADA Equal Justice Conference is being hosted in Charlotte, North Carolina from May 13-16, 2026. This is a large, annual justice-focused conference that brings together legal services and pro bono advocates from across the country to share and learn about developments and innovations in the civil legal services space. You can learn more about, and register for, EJC here.
Frontline Justice will host a FREE community justice workers pre-conference on May 13, from 9:30 am to 4:30 pm. This convening will provide the opportunity for shared learning, meaningful exchanges, and to hear firsthand from those on the frontlines who are providing this important help.
This gathering is ideal for the following:
Community justice workers
Staff in legal aid organizations and medical-legal partnerships
Staff and leaders in community-based organizations (e.g., United Way, Goodwill, AARP, neighborhood nonprofits)
Benefits navigators, housing counselors, case managers, workforce, and social service staff
Promotoras, peer specialists, lay advocates, and other trusted navigators
In addition, Frontline Justice is hosting our community justice worker convening as a pre-conference in Charlotte on May 13. We’re providing a platform to showcase impactful on-the-ground work, explore strategies to scale it, and discuss practical solutions to address common challenges.
Check out the details, and submit a proposal!
Location: Le Méridien Charlotte, Charlotte, NC
Date: May 13, 2026
Time: 9:30 am to 4:30 pm
Proposal Info: https://zurl.co/pHRDc
If you have any additional questions, please contact us at info@frontlinejustice.org.
PRAYER FOR LEADERS
Caring for myself is not self-indulgence. It is self-preservation, and that is an act of political warfare.
Audre Lorde
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