Feb. 4, 2025

Four African-Americans have or are now serving as Charlotte’s mayor. Their service spans more than 40 years, from 1983 to the present. During that time, the population has tripled, the city’s national standing has skyrocketed, its economic engines have radically changed – but the wealth gaps and disparities of economic opportunity have barely budged for many of the city’s residents,

That legacy hung in the air over the Belmont Center conference room as a respectful but highly engaged group of more than 100 people sat or stood along the walls. Another 300 people stood in hallways or listened online to a livestream of the event.

Harvey Gantt, Anthony Foxx, Patrick Cannon via Zoom and Vi Lyles reflected on their challenges meeting the city’s needs at the points during which they served. All of them, it seemed, hope for much more progress on the projects that they undertook, and the unmet needs that they identified while in office.

News coverage of the unusual event included stories or video in Business North Carolina, QCityMetro, the Charlotte Observer, WSOC-TV, WBTV and WFAE.

The Foundation for Black Philanthropy sponsored breakfast.