CHARLOTTE: FACING THE CHALLENGES OF ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY AND MOBILITY Owen Furuseth, PhD, Associate Provost, Metropolitan Studies and Extended Academic Programs, UNC Charlotte Presentation to Integrated Network for Social Sustainability 2016 Conference Center City Campus University of North Carolina at Charlotte June 9, 2016
Charlotte is a great place to live and work
With good quality of life
Population is growing and growth is expected to continue 1,492,015 1,112,382 1,301,067 1,065,432 1,215,458 919,628 917,615 695,454 731,424 Mecklenburg 404,270 315,474 511,433 395,934 540,828 Charlotte 1980 1990 2000 2010 2020 2030 2040 Sources: Charlotte-Mecklenburg Planning DepartmentCharlotte Regional Transportation Planning Organization; US Census
Source: 2014 American Community Survey 1-year estimates
Immigrant Overview for Mecklenburg County, 2012 (Foreign-Born equals Immigrant) Total Foreign-Born 13.6% (128,879) Region of Birth Latin America 51.5% Asia 27.3% Europe 10.9% Africa 8.4% North America (Canada) 1.4% Oceania 0.4% Entered U.S. Before 2000 50.7% 2000-2009 43.4% 2010 or later 5.9% Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey, 3-year estimates (2010-2012).
But ranked last in upward mobility
About the Chetty study What are the chances for a child succeeding, independently of family status and the environment where she grows up? (inter-generational mobility) Sample: children born 1980-1982 Child and parent pairs coded by 741 commuting zones Compared adult children s positions on the national income distribution with their parents
How do children from below median income families fare by adulthood? Salt Lake City Minneapolis Portland Kansas City Raleigh Atlanta Charlotte 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 Income percentile Data source: Equality of Opportunity Project, 2014
Upward mobility is especially low across the south and parts of the rust belt Average income percentile of children whose parents were in the 25 th percentile Data source: Equality of Opportunity Project, 2014
opportunitycharmeck.org
A Community Task Force
Partners the community +
5 Opportunity Indicators Charlotte-Mecklenburg is challenged in all of the five major indicators for economic mobility
We Are Segregated by race and ethnicity Our community is racially and ethnically segregated. High levels of segregation are connected to low levels of community economic mobility.
We Are Segregated by income There are concentrated areas of poverty and segregation by income level in Charlotte- Mecklenburg, which are both indicators of low community economic mobility. Data source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2013 American Community Survey
We Are Segregated by family structure Single-Parent Households 2014 0% - 19% 20% - 34% 35% - 59% 60% - 100% Even with hard work and the drive to succeed, single parent households face strong economic mobility challenges that can endure over generations. Data source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2013 American Community Survey
We Are Segregated by educational achievement Students who read on grade level by third grade are 96% more likely to graduate high school, a key economic mobility indicator. Currently, 38% of Mecklenburg s third graders are not reading on grade level. Data source: North Carolina Department of Instruction, 2012 13
We Are Segregated by levels of social capital Voter turnout is an indicator of community connectedness and social capital. Lower social capital is associated with lower economic mobility. Data source: North Carolina Board of Elections
Common Threads National and local experts, studies and data point to common areas for focus. This is a problem we can solve together.
Lessons Learned (so far) Commit to the long haul Think systems, not programs No magic solution Human, social, financial resources Neighborhoods Matter Support single parents Critical factors Early childhood development Quality childcare 3 rd grade reading Family stability Positive role models Strong social connections
Access to jobs is critically important Top Areas Where Low-Wage Workers Work Live Work Live Source: US Census Longitudinal Employer-Household Dynamics
System/structural/policy barriers (so far) SCHOOLS Inadequate funding for and access to quality preschool and lack of community will to elevate priority Re segregation of CMS schools and impact on student outcome Inequity of resources between low and high poverty schools Career counseling in high schools inadequate to prepare students for in demand careers and jobs Limited/unequal access to information about preparing for college College retention support for low income students COMMUNITY Low minimum wage that has not kept pace with inflation Hiring/employment practices, including employment for those with criminal record, irregular schedules, lack of benefits, etc. Limited affordable housing options and the zoning policies and lack of community will to change them Location of employment vs. public transportation access Concentrated poverty through segregated residential patterns Financial literacy education limited for adults and youth Limited work based learning opportunities in the business community for students Bias, racism and classism
Timeline 2015 2016 2017 May Jun July Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun July Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Discovery Phase Strategy Phase Discovery Report July 2016 & Dashboard Final Report & January 2017 Recommendations Milestone #1 Discovery Report What we have learned Milestone #2 Opportunity Dashboard What we want to change and measure Milestone #3 Final Report Actionable recommendations released to public Community Input opportunitycharmeck.org
HARD QUESTIONS How do we address the history of racism that has limited opportunity for generations? What does it mean to acknowledge the reality of privilege honestly and then talk about the difficult concept of sacrifice? Are we truly a community that values shared progress for all?
Questions/Comments? Presentation is available at: http://mseap.uncc.edu/presentations 26