1. What is the mission of RWCI?
The mission of RWCI is to promote a collaborative community centered on quality housing, education, health, wellness and opportunity.
2. What are the agency’s goals?
The ultimate goal of the initiative is to contribute to economic revitalization on West Boulevard. To achieve this vision, RWCI will: 1) develop and implement a high-quality cradle-to-career educational continuum that includes a child development center and a pre-K – 8 school; 2) ensure children and families have access to wraparound services that meet their unique needs related to health, mental well-being, job training, parent support, education, and social services; and 3) support the development of mixed-income housing that serves our targeted geographic area.
3. Why was RWCI created?
In 2009, the Charlotte Housing Authority received a $20.9 million HOPE VI grant to revitalize the Boulevard Homes as a mixed-income community that included plans for an education village and supportive services for families. RWCI was launched to lead the implementation of the education and services continuum.
4. What is the total investment in the community?
When completed, The Renaissance will be a $90M community that includes investments from HUD, Charlotte Housing Authority, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools, the City of Charlotte, tax credits, bank financing, and philanthropy.
5. Is this effort based on a successful model?
Yes, Renaissance West Community Initiative became a member of the Purpose Built Communities network in March 2013, joining a growing national movement to break the intergenerational cycle of urban poverty through holistic community revitalization. The initiative, based on the success at East Lake in Atlanta developed by Purpose Built Communities, is a comprehensive approach that includes mixed-income housing, a high quality child development center, a K-8 school, and wraparound services for children and families. Similar to Boulevard Homes, the Villages of East Lake was once enmeshed in poverty and violent crime. In 1995, community leaders set out to rebuild and renew the neighborhood. Affordable and market-rate housing was built, as was the Drew Charter School, which became a cornerstone for the redevelopment.
Today, the East Lake Community is thriving with 2,100 mixed-income residents in high-quality housing, increased employment, violent crime cut by 95%, and a school that has gone from the worst in Atlanta to one of the best in the city and the state. Students in the Charles R. Drew Charter School outperform city and state averages, and in 2012, 99% of students in grades 3–8 met or exceeded state standards in reading and language arts, and 98% in math.
The dynamic growth of East Lake has also attracted more than $175 million in new residential and commercial investment in the surrounding area, and boosted home values 3.8 times relative to those elsewhere in the City of Atlanta.
6. Where is the area that is impacted by RWCI?
The Renaissance is located in West Charlotte on West Boulevard, just east of Billy Graham Parkway. The Renaissance is only minutes away from Interstate 85, Interstate 77, Uptown and located on a bus route.
However, the initiative hopes to make an impact larger than just the physical footprint of the redevelopment site. The education and community programs planned will create opportunity for neighbors to engage in a broader community revitalization.
7. How many units of housing are at The Renaissance?
The Renaissance includes 334 units of mixed-income housing. This includes 110 apartments for seniors (age 65+) and 224 units of family housing. Two-thirds of the housing will be for families that earns up to 60% of area median income. One-third of the housing will be for market-rate tenants.
8. What does the ‘cradle-to-career’ educational continuum include?
The Howard Levine Child Development Center (HLCDC) and Renaissance West STEAM Academy (RWSA), a CMS pre-K – 8 school, is located on site. RWSA opened for the 2017-2018 school year, followed by the HLCDC in the winter of 2018. In addition, adult education opportunities are being offered on-site, including High School Equivalency (GED), Financial Literacy and more!
9. Why is early childhood education important?
Education begins at birth. High quality center-based programs have been shown to result in positive child outcomes including improved academic achievement, lower special education placements and lower rates of grade retention. The Howard Levine Child Development Center includes the following elements:
• Highly skilled teachers, with child care credentials or higher education degrees
• Small class size
• High adult-to-child ratios
• Age-appropriate, research-based curriculum
• Language-rich environment
• Warm, responsive interactions between staff and children
• High and consistent levels of child participation
• Family Support/Family involvement programs
10. What outcomes does RWCI expect?
RWCI and CMS have entered into an innovative public-private partnership to maximize the opportunity for student success for the children who live at The Renaissance and within the surrounding area. This community school model is jointly led by a School Leadership Council comprised of RWCI representatives, CMS leadership, community members, and the school principal. CMS is using voter-approved bond funding to build RWSA in The Renaissance community that opened in August 2017. The school serves as the centerpiece of the community and integrates wraparound services, such as health care and academic enrichment programs, into the academic model. As a community school, the facility will provide additional services, programs, and community activities. The education program will be grounded in the success of The Drew School in Atlanta and include a STEAM theme with a strong literacy focus. The principal of the school, Stacy Clark, is participating in a fellowship training program at the Drew School in Atlanta, GA.
RWCI has a Strategic Plan for 2019 to 2021, titled Stability and Sustainability. RWCI has set a goal for the following outcomes: Families experience housing stability, Household income increases, Children enter school ready to learn, Children thrive in the Pre-K to 8 school, Community Indicators of health improve, Maintain a low crime rate, and Residents develop into community leaders. Updates on our Strategic Plan can be found in our 2019 Annual Report.
11. Why are wraparound services important?
The Wraparound model of service delivery is comprehensive, and addresses all life domains across home, school, and community. Wraparound services are designed to be flexible and unconditional: children and families don’t fail but plans sometimes do. Wraparound is based on the belief that services and supports should meet the unique needs of students and their families and be driven by the plan the family created. Wraparound is a strengths-based, family-driven model that is designed to meet the needs of both student and families in home, school, and community settings.
12. How is RWCI funded?
In its early stages, RWCI relied upon the generosity of those who share our vision for a revitalized and upwardly mobile west Charlotte corridor. RWCI completed a Comprehensive Campaign and raised $15.4M in additional capital and operating dollars. Since 2018, RWCI relies on annual giving through the Renaissance West Annual Fund to support RWCI as the Community Quarterback, Renaissance West STEAM Academy and the Howard Levine Child Development Center.
13. Does RWCI have community partners?
Yes, RWCI depends on over 50 partners to deliver programs and services in the community. Our partners include the Charlotte Housing Authority, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools, YMCA of Greater Charlotte, The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Public Library, UNC-Charlotte Center for Urban Education, Discovery Place, and Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation.
14. Where can I find the Form 990 for RWCI?
The 990 form can be found HERE.
15. Where is the Private Policy?
The Private Policy can be found HERE.