Economic Mobility
Economic mobility is the ability of a person to climb the income ladder and thrive over time, regardless of the social and economic conditions into which they were born.
What would you like to learn?
Special thanks to Leading on Opportunity for providing guidance on core content as Lead Agency for this folio.
What is Economic Mobility?
Economic mobility is the ability of a person to climb the income ladder and thrive over time, regardless of the social and economic conditions into which they were born.
The key factors that determine economic mobility, such as early care and education, college and career readiness, child and family stability, social capital, and the impact of segregation, are important to every household.
Working to ensure our children have adequate shelter, food, and financial support is the start.
An economic climb for our children is a decadeslong journey that has to begin with stability at home and the elimination of barriers that limit opportunities.
It also requires access:
To support systems when, for instance, our home life becomes unstable
To the training and skills we need to enter the workforce
To networks and relationships that lead us to job opportunities
The advantages of improved economic mobility benefit our entire community.
Key Facts
Scroll down for key facts on economic mobility
50th
out of 50 cities in economic mobility, the lowest ranking in a 2014 Harvard study
200K
North Carolina parents cite a lack of child care as primary barrier to employment
37%
of 3rd through 8th graders in Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools projected to reach “College and Career Ready” status in 2026
$1 billion
of investment and philanthropic support to economic mobility efforts in Charlotte-Mecklenburg
$66M
historic commitment from Mecklenburg County to Universal Pre-K (all 4-year-olds)
21
strategies to improve upward mobility outlined in Charlotte’s Opportunity Task Force Report
What is happening now?
In 2014, Charlotte-Mecklenburg was ranked last in upward mobility among the 50 largest U.S. communities.
In 2015, the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Opportunity Task Force issued recommendations to improve our mobility. Efforts to improve mobility have included:
• United Way of Greater Charlotte’s United Neighborhoods, which works to provide funding to nonprofits whose services address needs identified by our neighbors in more than 50 neighborhoods in and around Charlotte’s “Corridors of Opportunity”.
• The Charlotte Executive Leadership Council’s (CELC) efforts to provide resources and business expertise in support of our public school system, providing corporate sector solutions that improve economic opportunity throughout the city.
• MECK Pre-K, a county initiative boosted by private funding aimed at improving early education. It offers free, full-day, and full-year classes for our 4-year-olds in 105 classrooms across 47 child care centers.
• The emergence of Local Initiatives Support Communities (LISC), which coordinates efforts to expand affordable housing, strengthen small business, and bolster community supports.
• The Crescent Coalition, launched to convene a group of organizations committed to improving outcomes for our under-resourced students as they navigate middle school, high school, and college or other career options — and ultimately enter the job market.
To track our progress, Leading on Opportunity created the Opportunity Compass, a tool that helps to gauge the impacts of our efforts and investments in economic mobility.
Donate or volunteer now
To explore additional nonprofits working in Economic Mobility, visit SHARE Charlotte’s directory for Employment, Workforce Development, Financial Literacy, Poverty, Entrepreneurship, and Professional Development.
Take Action
Choose a card below to learn more.
Learn Who is Leading
Give Back Financially
Volunteer
Follow, Support, or Contribute to Community-Level Advocacy
Support Workforce Development and Employment Pipelines
Align Priorities
Starting points
These six organizations are good starting points for someone new to this topic to learn more.
Charlotte is home to a growing network of people and organizations who believe in building a stronger, more connected community for all.
Explore more resources below.
Explore More
A coalition of CEOs committed to positioning Charlotte as a national leader in economic vitality, equitable opportunity and better quality of life for all.
As the workforce development board serving Mecklenburg County, connects job seekers and employers, providing skills training and work opportunities for youth and adults.
Office of Youth Opportunities connects Charlotte’s young people with paid jobs, mentorship, leadership experiences, and safe spaces to learn and grow.
Connects community-based organizations serving under-resourced students along their journey from middle school through college graduation and successful careers.
Committed to breaking the cycle of intergenerational poverty that makes upward mobility too difficult.
Works one-on-one with families in the Freedom-Wilkinson corridor to dent generational poverty, while simultaneously investing in infrastructure like affordable housing and early education.
A trusted partner that drives impact by growing philanthropy, catalyzing unique civic and social change, fostering sustainability, and leading the region’s philanthropic sector.
Transforms the community’s generous donations into opportunities for people to learn new skills, find employment, build careers, and provide for themselves and their families.
Works in and with the community to advance systems-level change through data, policy and strategy, while holding the community accountable with common metrics.
MECK Pre-K program aims to offer universal pre-kindergarten to all of Mecklenburg County’s 4-year-old children.
Works with neighborhoods and grassroots nonprofits to break down barriers to create impactful programs that help lift people out of poverty.
A multi-service, non-profit agency with a mission to empower the community to reach financial stability and social justice.
Tools and Resources
Everything you need in one place. Browse articles, reports, and tools that support your journey.
Lingo to Know
Every topic has its own vocabulary. Learn a few key words here so you can explore with confidence.
Civic engagement
Actions we take to improve our community and quality of life.
Corporate sector
The part of a region’s economy made up of privately-owned, for-profit corporations and businesses.
Initiative
An organized effort to help solve a community problem, challenge, or opportunity.
Marginalized Populations
Groups and communities that experience societal discrimination and exclusion.
Social capital
Relationships and connections that help us support each other and reach our goals.
Workforce
People in a community who are working or are available to work.
Download the Economic Mobility folio
Special thanks to cover artists, Tracy Russ & Marcus Kiser!
Connecting the Dots
View related folios
Builder Button → Share Your Feedback With Us
Let's Build Something Awesome Together
We didn’t build this alone – and we’re not done yet. This site grows with input from real people across Charlotte. Got feedback? A topic we missed? A story to share? Click the Builder Button below.
Builder Button → Share Your Feedback With Us
Let's Build Something Awesome Together
We didn’t build this alone – and we’re not done yet. This site grows with input from real people across Charlotte. Got feedback? A topic we missed? A story to share? Click the Builder Button below.
