Retired Brigadier General Twanda “Tia” Young and American Legion Vice Commander Darrell Bonapart offered raw reflections on war, leadership, PTSD, and the lifelong realities veterans carry home during the Sarah Stevenson Tuesday Forum honoring National Military Appreciation Month. From surviving combat trauma to confronting racism after service, the conversation revealed the unseen emotional weight behind military sacrifice — and the urgent need for deeper advocacy, mental h

The future of fashion came to Charlotte as the inaugural Textiles Recycling Expo USA brought together brands like Nike , Target , and Ralph Lauren to discuss sustainability, textile recycling, and circular fashion. With 1,858 attendees and 95 exhibitors, the event positioned Charlotte as a growing hub for innovation, manufacturing, and the future of sustainable fashion.

This isn’t just dinner—it’s an experience. Plated Possibilities is bringing immersive, multi-course dining to Charlotte, where Black women chefs take center stage. Rooted in culture, sustainability, and storytelling, each event transforms a meal into a moment—one that feeds community, creativity, and connection.

Civic Men—featuring voices from Sean Eldridge, Patrick Ward, and Khary Early—examines why men are absent from civic life. Through themes of burnout, fear, and division, the film calls for unity, intergenerational dialogue, and a renewed commitment to showing up where it matters most.

At the Sarah Stevenson Tuesday Forum, Lorenzo McNulty of New York Life Insurance Company and Daks McClettie Sr. of State Farm broke down why protecting wealth is bigger than just making money. From funeral costs to life insurance and legacy planning, they challenged Black families to stop romanticizing wealth and start putting numbers on protection. Because income means little if your family is left unprepared.

At the Worth Wealth Conference hosted by Valerie Mosley and BrightUp, one thing was clear: wealth is more than money—it’s ownership, access, discipline, and legacy. From Phyllis Newhouse on leveraging your uniqueness to Bernard Harris on the future of AI and space, the message was simple: build wealth on purpose.

Discover the Queen City’s best-kept secrets with the April 25 – May 2 edition of the SISTAH Scene. From the exclusive launch of our printed 'Motherland' issue and intimate wellness workshops to secret speakeasies and Afro-house day parties, this curated guide connects you to the soulful experiences Charlotte natives are talking about. Reclaim your rest, grow your network, and step into the soft life.

At the Sarah Stevenson Tuesday Forum, panelists Charles Thomas, Angelique Gaines, Trilby Meeks, and Asha Ellison explored how Charlotte’s Historic West End gets its news. The study found that 81% of residents trust family, friends, and neighbors most for local information—proving proximity builds trust. From churches to community leaders, the conversation asked a bigger question: who gets to tell the story of a community?

Charlotte is blooming with experiences this week — from wellness resets to vibrant social gatherings and family-friendly fun. Whether you’re stepping out solo, with your girls, or with the whole family, there’s something here waiting to pour back into you.

At a Charlotte forum, Bobby Drakeford, Todd Collins, and Shawn Kennedy broke down the real path to wealth: ownership. From $13K homes to 700+ affordable units, they showed how land and policy shape who benefits from growth. But one truth stood out—real estate remains white male-dominated, with few Black women at the table.

At a time when Charlotte is rapidly evolving, a panel of local creatives gathered to confront a critical question: who gets to tell the city’s story? At the Sarah Stevenson Tuesday Forum, publicists, photographers, and filmmakers explored how storytelling shapes identity, preserves community, and determines whose voices are seen—and whose are left behind.

Discover the best things to do in Charlotte from April 4–11, 2026! Explore wellness experiences, networking events, cultural festivals, family-friendly activities, creative workshops, and vibrant social gatherings across Charlotte and surrounding areas. Plan your week with curated SISTAH Picks designed to help you connect, recharge, and enjoy the city.

Black communities are facing a silent but deadly disparity—multiple myeloma, a blood cancer twice as likely to impact them. Through powerful testimony and urgent calls for self-advocacy, survivors and leaders reveal how overlooked symptoms, medical bias, and delayed diagnoses are costing lives—and why knowing your body could save it.

Discover the best things to do in Charlotte from March 28–April 4, 2026! Explore wellness experiences, women-led events, networking mixers, family-friendly activities, and fun things to do across Charlotte and surrounding areas. Plan ahead and secure your spot.

Dr. Blanche Penn turns life into literature—transforming advocacy, grief, and community into powerful, personal stories. From fighting for underserved youth to documenting love after loss, her work reflects decades of leadership and truth-telling. With every book, Penn reminds us: own your voice, document your journey, and never let your story go untold.

More gems just dropped in the Sistah Scene! We discovered a few more beautiful events happening around Charlotte this week and couldn’t let you miss them. #SistahScene #ThingsToDoCLT #CharlotteEvents

Hi Sis! Welcome to the Sistah Scene! Whether you’re a native of the Queen City or a newcomer, there’s so much to explore in our beautiful city.

Charlotte is preparing to host one of gospel music’s biggest nights. The 41st Stellar Gospel Music Awards—often called the “Grammys of Gospel”—will take over the Queen City August 12–15, 2026, bringing top artists, live performances, and thousands of visitors to the city. The nationally televised ceremony at Spectrum Center will spotlight Charlotte on the national stage of gospel music and culture.

At the Sarah Stevenson Tuesday Forum, Congresswoman Alma Adams and maternal health advocate Danette McLaurin Glass call for urgent reforms to address one of America’s most preventable public health crises.

At a Charlotte Post Women’s History Month event at West Boulevard Library, Charlotte Ballet Academy Director Ayisha Cravotta reflected on a career shaped by discipline, representation, and global training. From becoming Charlotte’s first Black Clara in The Nutcracker to mentoring the next generation of dancers, Cravotta shared how the power of seeing oneself reflected in the arts can shape an entire life — and why creating those mirrors for young dancers today remains essenti

At Cedar Grove Cemetery, history rests in unmarked ground and government-issued headstones. During the Charlotte Museum of History’s “Marching Home” panel, veterans and community leaders confronted the paradox of Black military service: defending a nation abroad while still fighting for dignity at home. Their stories demand more than applause—they demand remembrance.

This Black History Month, the Sarah Stevenson Tuesday Forum wasn’t interested in polished tributes. It offered something rarer: candor. From the dismantling of Black educational institutions after integration to Soul City’s bold economic vision and Charlotte’s fragmented music scene, elders and professionals confronted what was built, what was lost, and what must be rebuilt. If you want to understand Black Charlotte beyond celebration, start here.

At a Black History Month panel, former students and teachers of West Charlotte High reflected on a time when the school symbolized Black academic excellence and community pride. Their stories revealed both the power of segregated Black educational spaces and the cultural cost of desegregation — raising a pressing question: how do we restore the rigor, presentation, and excellence that once defined West Charlotte?

Charlotte is entering a historic era led by a powerful trinity of Black women—Mayor Vi Lyles, Superintendent Dr. Crystal Hill, and Police Chief Estella Patterson. Together, they are shaping the Queen City’s future through equity, education, and public safety. Their leadership marks a new chapter where Black women aren’t just influencing Charlotte—they’re defining it.

The first-ever Charlotte Black Women’s Business Directory is dropping this January—bringing 500+ Black women-owned brands into 100+ hotspot locations across the city. In a year where Black women faced record unemployment, this print edition is more than visibility—it’s a lifeline.