History of CBI

In the fall of 1996 a series of incidents and circumstances in Charlotte-Mecklenburg focused attention on racial division within the community. A police shooting, the prospect of public school resegregation, as well as the increasing ethnic diversity of the community all contributed to a climate of unrest. Another factor contributing to civic unrest was the influx of large numbers of new residents who were either unaware of or unconnected to Charlotte’s historical image of having dealt positively with issues of race and discrimination.

The Community Building Task Force was created in 1997 to respond to these pressures at the request and with the support of Foundation For The Carolinas, the Mecklenburg Board of County Commissioners and the Charlotte City Council. A landmark civic engagement event entitled "Something Has Begun" drew over 600 residents to launch the effort in December 1997.

The organization, re-named Community Building Initiative, became a permanent organization in 1999, and thousands of residents have become involved since that time. From large-scale civic engagement events, small-group and organizational resource team work, to individual growth and discovery, Community Building Initiative has evolved to serve the community as a permanent resource for individuals, community organizations and institutions to turn to for strategic assistance in addressing issues of racial and ethnic inclusion and equity.

Phases

Click on the links below or to the right for details about the phases of CBI from 1996 to the present.