Charlotte Center for Legal Advocacy officially welcomed SHARE Charlotte as a new tenant of the Advocacy Center, at a special event held early today with CEO Toussaint Romain and SHARE’s Managing Director, Melissa Hovey. Both leaders discussed the importance of strengthening community-based solutions at a SHARE-a-latte event hosted at their shared space located at 5535 Albemarle Road in Charlotte. SHARE Charlotte connects and supports more than 600 local nonprofits with engagement opportunities, one of whom is The Advocacy Center which pursues justice for those in need. Learn more at charlottelegaladvocacy.org and sharecharlotte.org.
Sharing space in The Advocacy Center’s new east Charlotte location will increase SHARE Charlotte’s visibility in a diverse and growing part of Charlotte that is highly accessible. Likewise The Advocacy Center will benefit from increased awareness among SHARE Charlotte’s vast network of nonprofit partners which have the potential to create partnerships and synergy for the benefit of The Advocacy Center’s client base. Both organizations are committed to fostering a
spirit of networking and relationship building with the Charlotte community in mind.
“The vision of Charlotte Center for Legal Advocacy is to build a just community where all people are treated fairly and have access to legal representation to meet their basic human needs. We
cannot achieve that vision alone,” said Romain. “SHARE supports like minded nonprofit organizations in Charlotte and beyond with opportunities to connect, grow and thrive.” “The need in our community is so great. In order to empower Charlotte neighbors to achieve safety, security and stability, it takes every agency and organization working closely together,” said Hovey. “We are excited about the natural intersections that will occur from sharing space.”
Volunteers are cornerstone for both The Advocacy Center and SHARE Charlotte, which thrive due to the involvement of the Charlotte public, once ranked eleventh in the nation for volunteerism. In 2022, The Advocacy Center coordinated over 6,000 pro bono hours from attorneys and law firms to help clients with issues ranging from asylum and immigration support, to criminal record expunction and estate planning. That same year, SHARE coordinated 4,200 volunteer opportunities for nonprofit organizations like Classroom Central and Roof Above.
SHARE Charlotte started as a single platform built for Charlotteans to find and connect with local nonprofits who need support and volunteers. In December 2012, that platform went live with 87 nonprofit partners. In ten years, the platform has grown to 624 nonprofit partners, representing approximately 85% of all active 501c3 organizations in Mecklenburg County. SHARE’s community-wide giving campaigns and events have influenced $42M in financial support to local nonprofits and 22,000 volunteer opportunities.
Since 1967, The Advocacy Center’s staff and pro bono attorneys have provided comprehensive civil legal services for the region’s low-income residents. In 2022 alone, the organization served
5,300 clients, more than 900 of whom were non-English speakers. (This number includes legal assistance provided to 170 veterans, 513 seniors and 196 unaccompanied migrant children.) The organization obtained $11.6M in financial benefits for clients, supporting their health and economic security.
About Charlotte Center for Legal Advocacy
Charlotte Center for Legal Advocacy provides those in need with information, advice and advocacy in consumer protection, home preservation, health care access and public benefits, immigration, tax assistance and more. Our mission is to pursue justice for those in need. Our vision is to build a just community, where all people are treated fairly and have access to legal representation to meet their basic human needs of safety, economic security, and stability. Learn more: charlottelegaladvocacy.org
About SHARE Charlotte
SHARE Charlotte is Powering Social Good in Charlotte by offering simple ways for neighbors, nonprofits and businesses to come together through good to support our local community. We do this by providing a one-stop shop to engage with more than 600+ Mecklenburg County nonprofits at sharecharlotte.org, and by connecting our nonprofit partners to valuable local resources and opportunities. We envision a Charlotte united through GOOD! Learn more on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.