Newsletter 1/29: 🏆 Nominations now open for 40 Over 40 Awards!
Plus: Elected officials urge Atrium Health to consider working with debt-reduction charity; Words of life wisdom from people aged 40+; Logo unveiled for new high school; Pineville Walmart shooting
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Help us find and recognize unheralded leaders — who are in their 40s, 50s, 60s or beyond
The Charlotte Ledger is pleased to announce that nominations are now open for The Charlotte Ledger 40 Over 40 Awards, Presented by U.S. Bank!
Now in its fifth year, the 40 Over 40 Awards recognize difference-makers in our community who are in their 40s and beyond. Unlike other award programs in Charlotte, which seek to recognize young up-and-comers or well-recognized leaders who already have walls full of plaques, our 40 Over 40 awards celebrate people who have gone largely unrecognized — hard-working, dedicated folks who have taken the lessons from their 20s and 30s and applied them in their 40s, 50s, 60s and even further.
In addition — and we hate that we have to say this nowadays — our 40 Over 40 awards are not a pay-to-play operation. There’s no nomination fee, no corporate shakedowns to buy tables or to shell out for expensive congratulatory ads, for instance. We outsource the contest judging to an independent panel without regard to which nominees might have deep pockets. (We can’t imagine doing it any other way.)
You can help us find and recognize 40 more people this year. Whether the winners are in their 40s or in their 90s, we’re hoping to identify folks who are making Charlotte better in a variety of ways and sectors, all over town — in business and education, nonprofits and healthcare, entrepreneurship and voluntarism.
Winners of last year’s Charlotte Ledger 40 Over 40 Awards, at a fun 1980s-themed celebration at the Charlotte Museum of History last April.
Nominations close Feb. 21, the judges will get to work, we’ll announce the winners in March and have a genuinely fun celebration on April 30.
It all costs money, though, and we are fortunate to have a few sponsors who agree with the vision of the 40 Over 40 awards and are helping underwrite the event. U.S. Bank is back as the title sponsor, and Ducie Stark — Residential Real Estate Broker with Dickens Mitchener returns as a gold-level sponsor, so thank you to both of them. If you or your company would like to help recognize and celebrate unsung leaders in our community, please reach out to support@cltledger.com, and Brie or Allison on our team will be happy to talk with you.
➡️ More information on 40 Over 40 here.
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Today’s supporting sponsor is the event venue at McColl Center. McColl Center is the unique and artistic venue where your company's event, celebration, or social gathering becomes a masterpiece. Schedule a tour and learn more.
Words from the wise: Life advice from previous winners of The Ledger’s 40 Over 40 Awards
Trust your instincts. Build a strong support system. Learn when to say “no” and when to say “yes.”
Those are some pieces of advice and perspectives that prior winners of The Ledger’s 40 Over 40 Awards have shared. On The Charlotte Ledger Podcast, host Steve Dunn of Miles Mediation and Arbitration regularly interviews award recipients and asks them what advice they would share with their younger selves.
Today, as we open nominations for the awards (above), we are sharing some of those responses with you, to help inspire you at the start of 2024.
To hear the full conversations with past recipients, check out The Charlotte Ledger Podcast on major podcast platforms including Apple Podcasts and Spotify.
Answers have been edited for brevity and clarity.
Trust your instincts: “The advice that I always think of that I wish I could give to my younger self was to trust my own instincts and not be so persuaded by what other people are saying to me. I’ve realized that I have pretty good instincts, and if I go with those, I’m much happier, and that relates to so many parts of life. Life is a harrowing journey for all of us, for sure, but that’s true at every age. I think that as you get older, you’re facing different experiences and different challenges, but you’re also better positioned to go through those things.” — Kim Aprill, co-founder and executive director of Feeding Charlotte, an innovative nonprofit making a bridge between those who have excess food with local nonprofits and churches serving the hungry.
Keep setbacks in perspective: “Perception is key. When you’re younger, everything that happens you think is the biggest thing ever. Nowadays, it doesn’t bother me as much. I try not to sweat the small things nearly as much. But I think the biggest thing is just understand that not everybody is out to get you. It feels like it sometimes, but not everybody is. Try to enjoy the little things. Just really embrace those things, because you don’t know what tomorrow holds. I have a new appreciation for life, and I would tell my younger self to have a lot more fun.” —Shawn Flynn, chief communications officer for Holy Angels, an organization in Charlotte that provides care to those with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
Live each day with meaning: “I think when you are older, it does bring a sense of urgency to living each day meaningfully and knowing that, yeah, time is not unlimited. You want to use your time as best you can and for the greatest purpose. That’s the joy for me, that I get to work at a place that I just have such immense respect for the people that I work with.” —Joe Hamby, director of community education at Roof Above, an interfaith nonprofit working to ensure everyone has a safe, affordable roof over their head.
Be mindful of your commitments: “I’m really bad at saying ‘no’ in every aspect of my life, and it has gotten me some wonderful opportunities and also it’s gotten me into some hot water. I care deeply about my marriage and my children and how I’m behaving and showing up as a mother, and as a neighbor, and as a friend, and as a volunteer in the community. I really am just beginning to realize that I can’t show up at 110% in all of those facets of myself at the same time. Life has stages and phases, and it’s hopefully long, so I absolutely plan to get to the end of my life, whenever that is, and be like, ‘Man, I had it all.’ But I think that ‘having it all’ will look different at different phases of my life.” —Glenda Bernhardt, CEO of the Greensboro Jewish Federation (She was serving as CEO of Freedom School Partners at the time of her award, an organization dedicated to promoting the long-term success of children by preventing summer learning loss and fostering a passion for reading and learning.)
Stay positive: “When I look back, I think the best thing you can do is, when you approach any job or want to get involved in something, have a good attitude, be solution-oriented, don’t be afraid to talk to people, build good relationships. It’s really the human connection.” —Lauren Deese, executive director of Charlotte Wine + Food, a nonprofit organization that brings together wine and food connoisseurs to raise money for children’s charities in the Charlotte area.
Have a sense of purpose and draw on support: “You bring everything in your life experience to where you are. What are the three things that you need when you depart from that experience? It’s all about being in transition. A call, a well and a tribe. A call is a deep and well-considered and energizing sense of purpose. The well is what is your source of sustaining strength and wisdom? You have to have a well. My well is expressed through the church. That is my deepest well. Family is in that as well. Then a tribe. In the best sense of the nine Native American tribes in North Carolina, in terms of the wisdom and the support and the culture and the history, you have to have a tribe to accomplish those things.” —Elizabeth Hardin, former vice chancellor for business affairs at UNC Charlotte
Just say ‘yes’: “This is my philosophy: I say ‘yes’ all the time, like to crazy stuff, if people need help or if people want advice. And yes, my time can be limited sometimes, and so I’m not always the best at getting back at things. But I always tell people to diversify and say ‘yes’ to things.” —Amy Aussieker, executive director of Envision Charlotte, a public-private nonprofit organization that focuses on sustainability initiatives in Charlotte.
—LB
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How local stocks of note fared last week (through Friday’s close), and year to date:
Charlotte leaders urge Atrium to consider working with a charity that abolishes medical debt
At-large Charlotte City Council member Dimple Ajmera is urging Atrium Health to consider working with RIP Medical Debt, a national nonprofit that buys unpaid medical debt and forgives it.
Ajmera said she reached out to Atrium CEO Gene Woods last month after reading a Charlotte Ledger/N.C. Health News article about the hospital’s refusal to enter into discussions with RIP.
“I asked them to consider this initiative,” she said. “I really hope that they will consider it because this will help relieve a lot of people … from medical debt.”
Mecklenburg County Commissioner Laura Meier told The Ledger/N.C. Health News that she, too, would like Atrium to consider working with RIP.
RIP Medical Debt has an unusual model: It buys large bundles of delinquent medical debt from hospitals at a steep discount, and then sends patients letters forgiving the debt. The program benefits those who earn less than 400% of the federal poverty level or whose debts exceed 5% of their annual income.
Charlotte’s two big hospital systems — Atrium and Novant — have both declined to sell their debt to RIP Medical. They each told The Ledger/N.C. Health News that they already have robust financial assistance programs to serve patients. Atrium also said that the community would be better served by directing one-time funds toward other programs. Other hospitals have worked with RIP and issued news releases touting their collaboration as proof that they are taking “steps to reduce the burden of healthcare costs.”
Ajmera said she also talked to Atrium’s Marcus Kimbrough, who handles government affairs and community engagement in the Charlotte area and asked him to bring the issue before the board of the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Hospital Authority, which next meets Feb. 6. The authority is the public entity that does business as Atrium Health. The board appoints its own members, who must be approved by the chair of the Mecklenburg County commission.
Ajmera acknowledged that the Charlotte City Council lacks the power to tell the hospital system what to do, but she said she feels a responsibility to advocate for the issue as a citizen because medical debt affects so many Charlotte residents. About 1 in 5 families in Mecklenburg County have medical debt in collections, according to an Urban Institute analysis.
Meier said she, too, thinks the decision about whether Atrium should work with RIP Medical Debt should be made by the hospital authority board.
“They’re the ones who should make the decision. They should hear all sides,” she said. “They are supposed to be public meetings, but I am not sure why it’s such a headache to bring something like that before the board.”
In response to an email asking if the authority board would discuss the topic at its next meeting, Atrium spokesman Dan Fogleman didn’t answer directly. He replied that working with RIP is not something the hospital intends to pursue, and he reiterated Atrium’s view that its existing policies “offer robust, equitable and long-term support to patients of all income levels” and that money is better spent on other programs.
In response to several requests over the past year, Fogleman has told The Ledger/N.C. Health News that the board’s agendas are not available to the public before the meetings.
Hospital authority board chair Angelique Vincent did not respond to a message from The Ledger/N.C. Health News.
Fogleman requested that The Ledger/N.C. Health News not attempt to contact Charlotte-Mecklenburg Hospital Authority commissioners, who are public officials, and instead route questions through Atrium’s public relations department. —Michelle Crouch
Related Ledger/N.C. Health News article:
A fierce logo for the new Ballantyne high school
The branding of the new Ballantyne Ridge High School that’s due to open this fall in the Ballantyne area is coming right along. Principal Mike Miliote this month released the school’s logos, which incorporate the school’s mascot, the wolves, along with the school’s colors of orange and blue. (The howling wolf built into the “R” is a nice creative touch.)
You might be interested in these Charlotte events
Events submitted by readers to The Ledger’s events board:
WEDNESDAY: Sustain Charlotte Social: Equity + Growth in CLT, 6-8 p.m., Town Brewing Co. Sustain Charlotte is hosting a public panel discussion with Charlotte City Council members about equity and smart growth to discuss how Charlotte can grow equitably and give the public an opportunity to ask questions. Light fare provided! Free.
FEBRUARY 8: Charlotte Private Business Roundtable — Double Your 2024 Pipeline, 11 a.m. - 12 p.m., virtual event. Join Hillandale Advisors’ first Roundtable with Charlotte Co-Founder & VP of Growth, Pat Morrell of Aiwyn, as he shares his company’s path from an idea in 2020 to 95 customer wins in three years. Register online or email Matt@HillandaleAdvisors.com. Free.
FEBRUARY 9: The Book of You, 6-8 p.m., Plaza Midwood Library. Write the next chapter of your wellness journey at the Library — an event featuring local wellness experts, mini-massages from Mood House, juice shots, fun swag plus light bites from Babe + Butcher, wine and beer. Event is a part of the “Around the World in 21 Branches” touring festival. $50.
◼️ Check out the full Ledger events board.
➡️ List your event on the Ledger events board.
In brief:
BofA CEO disrupted by climate activists: Climate protestors interrupted Bank of America CEO Brian Moynihan’s talk at a Massachusetts country club last week and confronted him about the bank’s financing of the gas and oil industries. A video posted by the group Climate Defiance shows activists pursuing Moynihan throughout the building when he attempted to leave, as they chanted, “Off fossil fuels, Brian, off fossil fuels!” and “We need clear air, not another billionaire!” (Rolling Stone)
CMPD to increase presence uptown: Responding to concerns about crime uptown, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police say they will have “increased visibility” of marked police cars and uniformed officers in five areas around the center city: at Trade and Tryon, the Charlotte Transportation Center, Romare Bearden Park, First Ward Park and Fourth Ward Park. (WFAE)
Pineville Walmart shooting: Pineville police said a customer shot an employee in the knee at the Walmart in the 8600 block of Pineville-Matthews Road on Sunday following an argument. The suspect was arrested and the employee was taken to the hospital with life-threatening injuries. (WSOC)
Charlotte Fire’s Grubhub delivery: A Steele Creek man and his wife who had ordered Taco Bell for breakfast on Grubhub were surprised when a Charlotte firefighter delivered their food instead. The delivery driver had been involved in a wreck, and firefighters finished the job by dropping off the food. “I’m just delivering your Taco Bell — they had a wreck, so here’s your food,” the firefighter said, in a video captured by a Ring doorbell camera. (WSOC)
Superfans urge preservation of Chuck E. Cheese band: Chuck E. Cheese superfans say they’re hoping to find a way to save the animatronic band at the Chuck E. Cheese restaurant on Pineville-Matthews Road, as the national chain says it plans to phase out the singing animal robots. One fan says there’s a historical aspect to the effort, since the characters at the restaurant date to the 1980s. (WSOC)
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