Charlotte, N.C. – Amplify Consulting, a local consulting firm that specializes in community outreach planning and community engagement initiatives, was recently awarded the sought-after Equity Capacity Building Grant From The National Resources Defense Council and American Cities Climate Challenge; they received the full award amount of $25,000. The Climate Challenge Equity Capacity Building Fund aims to help city staff (or community groups) meaningfully and intentionally advance equitable initiatives. Amplify Consulting is working with the Charlotte Department of Transportation through August 2021 to advance the city’s transportation and mobility planning through an equitable and unbiased lens. This project is a Bloomberg Philanthropies funded project.
“Supporting equity requires focusing limited resources on mobility needs identified by vulnerable communities to ensure that people of all ages, abilities, and backgrounds have access to high-quality, affordable transportation choices and equitable access to opportunity,” as stated in Charlotte’s recent State of Mobility Report. Amplify Consulting will address the interests and needs of frontline community members who rely on equitable access to transportation by hosting focus groups throughout the summer. The information gathered will provide feedback for the Charlotte Strategic Mobility Plan, bringing those often underrepresented voices into the forefront of the conversation.
“Leveraging private dollars from the Equity Capacity Building Fund allows us to compensate focus group participants and let them know that their time is valuable,” explains Christine Edwards, Founder and Principal Consultant at Amplify Consulting. “Implementing a survey is just one tactic to gather feedback about a project, but being able to hear people’s lived experiences and hear it in their own words makes a difference. It also sets a precedent for equitable engagement in the future. I am excited to bring these ideas to Charlotte.”
This is one of 11 projects the Fund has convened across the United States; other cities include Seattle, San Antonio, and Cincinnati. For media inquiries and interview requests with Christine Edwards, contact Jameka Whitten at jameka@jswmediagroup.com or 704.965.3297. To learn more about the Equity Capacity Building Fund, visit www.kapwaconsulting.com/equityfund.
About Amplify Consulting
Established in 2018, Amplify Consulting is a minority-owned consulting firm located in Charlotte, NC. The firm consists of professionals experienced in multiple disciplines, including community outreach planning, community development, communication, and local government policy. They work with governments and nonprofits to enhance their community engagement capacity and increase awareness of special projects by hosting public meetings and workshops, specifically for capital projects and community developments. www.AmplifyCharlotte.com
