How will we

Bridge the Difference?

Charlotte is a city of over 850,000 diverse residents with varying viewpoints. Bridge the Difference aims to bring our community together for conversations about policing, public safety and community impact. These community conversations are taking place all across Charlotte, and your perspective is critical to bridging gaps and creating mutual understanding.

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Goals

1

Involve

Involve the community inclusive of all perspectives to engage and understand wants/actions.
2

Understand

Increase understanding and trust through a series of conversations about police and community relations and public safety.
3

Mitigate

Mitigate potential challenges/issues in advance of the RNC and other major events with effective community outreach and interaction.

Upcoming Events

YOUTH: Building a Positive Future

When: Thursday, April 18, 2-4 p.m.
Location: ImaginOn: The Joe & Joan Martin Center — 300 E. 7th St. Charlotte, NC 28202

The Bridge the Difference community engagement series is featuring an event for youth produced by the youth!

Staying home for Spring Break? Looking for some Fun? Looking toward the future?

Join James Ford, CMS Teacher of the Year and Founder of the Be More Foundation, for an afternoon centered around Building a Positive Future —Showing Youth their Potential and How to Attain what they Aspire!

Be at ImaginOn Theater, 300 E 7th Street on April 18, 2019,  from 2 – 4 p.m., and be a part of the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department’s Bridging the Difference initiative.

Built by teens from Generation Nation and Young Black Leadership Alliance, this event offers speakers such as life coaches, the police chief and teen leaders like Righteous Keitt.

There will be dozens of vendors on site such as Big Brothers Big Sisters, Police Activities League, and Right Moves for Youth that will be ready to sign you up for opportunities within the community. PLUS, the first 250 attendees will get a free gift!

Parking options include:

  • At ImaginOn – free validated parking (limited parking available)
  • Other parking decks around Uptown
  • Free parking at the CMPD Law Enforcement Center Parking Deck at 601 E. Trade Street (Enter off North Davidson). A free shuttle will be provided to ImaginOn.
RSVP

YOUTH: Building a Positive Future

When: Tuesday, April 30, 6:30 – 8:30 p.m.
Location: Johnston YMCA (in NODA) – 3025 N. Davidson St. Charlotte, NC 28205

The Bridge the Difference community engagement series is featuring an event for youth produced by the youth!

Generation Nation and the Young Black Leadership Alliance are partnering with the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department to feature youth-centric programming aimed at 8th – 10th graders.

Join us as we work to bridge differences throughout Charlotte. More details to come!

RSVP

Bridge the Difference and get involved by volunteering (sign-up form below), sponsoring or creating an event. Email BridgingtheDifference@CMPD.org for more information. 

Videos

Media Coverage

WJZY-TV (FOX NEWS) – CMPD Chief Kerr Putney hosting event to “bridge the gap”

WCNC-TV – CMPD Chief Kerr Putney tells WCNC he wants feedback from the community 

The Charlotte Weekly – Police Bridging Differences Leading up to the RNC

WBTV 1:1 Interview with Chief Putney on Bridging the Difference – Nov. 12, 2018

WSOC-TV – Nov. 12 – CMPD Chief Focused on Creating Peace ahead of RNC

WCCB-TV Nov. 12 – CMPD Chief Kicks off Bridging the Difference Campaign Ahead of RNC

Charlotte Post – Nov. 2, 2018 – “In Other Words” – CMPD Chief Kerry Putney reveals an initiative to engage the community in law enforcement support and accountability ahead of major events.

Spectrum News – Nov. 1, 2018 – CMPD: Bridging the Difference Before RNC 2020

Charlotte Magazine – October 2018 – CMPD’s “Bridging the Difference”: A First Step in RNC 2020 Prep

The Pat McCrory Show with Bo Thompson – WBT Radio – October 2018 – CMPD Chief Kerr Putney and Robert Dawkins Talk Reducing Violence

WFAE Charlotte Talks – CMPD Chief Kerr Putney On Keeping Guns Out Of Schools, Preparing For 2020 RNC

Desired Outcomes

Shift

See a shift in accountability/support spectrum results from before/after meetings to demonstrate progress in thinking, conversation and understanding

Challenge

Challenge attendees to have ongoing conversations and engagement about these important issues

Solicit

Solicit volunteers for large city events – target the need for city ambassadors

Encourage

Encourage questions beyond this event.

Create

Create a movement with #BridgeCLT, and shift attention to conversation, not confrontation

Resources

Take the implicit bias test

Take the Test

Book – “The Person You Mean to Be”

Buy the Book

Become a Volunteer

Please pledge your commitment to be a Charlotte Ambassador (community volunteer).

We are looking for people who want to:

  • Be a part of impactful conversations
  • Share information with others
  • Welcome outsiders into our community
  • Assist local law enforcement to keep our city safe by providing additional eyes and ears in the community

TRAINING:

REGISTER FOR AMBASSADOR TRAINING HERE!

Sessions will be held in March, June and September. Help us bridge the difference, and become an ambassador in the Charlotte community.