Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department

The Problem

During the pandemic, police brutality was also on the rise. Seemed like every side was talking at versus to each other and we wanted to change that. We sent emails out to public officials and CMPD asking the best diversion program so Charlotte wouldn’t have our own Breonna Taylor incident and they all referred us to Lt. LeBraun Evans, Community Engagement division, the non-patrol group of six officers whose job it is to create programs for kids in the hood that keeps them out of trouble.

After a 30-minute phone call, Revamp was invited to not only come shadow but chaperone and get involved with their Reach summer program and others to which we did. What started to see how police interacted with youth turned into so much more

  • Including historical events, COVID restrictions created a lot of unemployment and there’re agitated people with free time, enough free time to protest and feel enraged by fellow injustices

  • One complain from officers of the youth programs was that it’d help to hear it coming from someone closer to the kids’ age so we helped chaperone and recruit other volunteers, staff closer in age

  • Though CMPD had several programs unlike other cities that promoted Juvenille and adult diversion, no one really knew about them due to tight social media restrictions

  • Creating ways to engage deeper with the community outside of enforcement interactions

Our Solution

Revamp agreed to clean Tent City with stipulations due to nearby businesses and residents complaints and unwillingness to engage with the encampment. But instead of only cleaning, we wanted to help mobilize people out of their situations and see what they needed one-by-one.

An hour on Saturdays we’d not only organize volunteers and cleaners, but bring donated items collected throughout the week. Morningstar Stoage would give us a free rental space as a thank you for seeing the area clean which allowed for seamless donation distribution.

  • Facilitating events, sit downs and dialogue between CMPD and residents of the community to remove any stigmas from any side, in hopes the next traffic stop goes smoother

  • Stepping in as official CMPD volunteers to assist teens during summer and school year like Reach, See Program & Turning Point Youth

  • Assisting the department in reaching the broader community and potential staff, volunteer pipeline through social media and in-person outreach