The Relatives’ Family Update
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Dear Relatives,
Safety, stability, and shelter are at the core of The Relatives’ work. Every youth and young adult deserves to feel safe and have the opportunity to achieve a stable future. Unfortunately, this isn’t always a reality for many of the kids in our community. Until it is, The Relatives will be here to provide a safety net and support system for youth in crisis.
This is why The Relatives serves as the designated Safe Place agency for Mecklenburg County. A network of over 685 local businesses, churches, transportation services, and community locations display the yellow and black Safe Place sign. Safe Place provides access to immediate help and supportive resources to children, teens, and young adults in need of help.
We’re proud to celebrate National Safe Place Week March 21st-27th. This year’s Safe Place Week is going to be very special for two reasons: our East Blvd. Crisis Center, a designated Safe Place, has received some much-needed renovations, and the annual Robert’s Walk event is going virtual!
I hope you’ll join me in celebrating Safe Place Week and honoring Robert’s journey from crisis to stability by taking part in our first ever virtual Robert’s Walk. Sign-up to walk (or run, bike, or even roller skate!) a mile below.
Thank you for ensuring The Relatives can serve as a safety net and support system for our community’s most vulnerable population.
Your support provides youth in crisis with safety, stability, and shelter.
Trish Hobson
Executive Director
A Fresh New Look for the Crisis Center
The Relatives Youth Crisis Center is moving back to its home on East Boulevard in the Dilworth neighborhood after undergoing extensive renovations.
As many of you know, our Youth Crisis Center, a recognizable landmark for many in the community, is located inside a historic home, which requires regular upkeep. Through a lengthy study of the building, it became apparent some major renovations were needed throughout the interior and exterior of the home. These renovations are now complete, and we are happy to announce our move back! We have breathed new life into the space, with all new floors, bathrooms and a kitchen renovation. The 100-year-old home has been updated with new appliances, extra storage, and refreshed spaces to better serve the youth who rely on the crisis center as a place of refuge.
Beginning March 22nd, the Crisis Center will resume all programming, crisis counseling, shelter, and Safe Place activities at our permanent location, 1100 East Boulevard.
We are so grateful to the City of Charlotte and the Cannon Foundation for making this much-needed renovation possible!
Walk A Mile With Robert
Every year, The Relatives hosts an event called Robert’s Walk, where participants walk from Freedom Park to the East Blvd. crisis center in honor of those who have taken the journey from crisis to safety and stability. The walk, which is about a mile, follows the path of Robert, a teenager, who was homeless and sleeping on a bench in Freedom Park. One day he walked up East Blvd. from the park, saw the yellow Safe Place sign on the porch of the youth crisis center, and found the help he desperately needed.
This year, we’re pivoting and asking people to #WalkAMileWithRobert during Safe Place Week (March 21st-27th), post a picture of their walk (or run) and use the “walk a mile” hashtag. Participants can sign-up and receive a free t-shirt for being a part of this event (while supplies last)!
Charlotte Wine + Food
Charlotte Wine + Food has been a part of our Relatives family for the past 5 years. They typically host their main event in April, which benefits various organizations supporting children in our community. We have been fortunate to be involved and have received over $100,000 as a result of our partnership.
While they had to postpone and scale down 2020’s event, they continued to support us by bringing in over 100 meals so that our kids could enjoy some of Charlotte’s finest dining, and have provided gift cards to thank our staff for going above and beyond.
CW+F is finally ready to celebrate properly with the 2021 Charlotte Wine + Food Week, April 14-18! This year’s programming stands to delight and entice just like any other as we come together in celebration over fine wine, food, fun, and fundraising! Click here to learn how you can support The Relatives while enjoying food and wine!
