Our Community

Celebrated for its legacy, personality, and potential, the Historic West End is an 8.8 mile historic African American corridor. A gem on the edge of Uptown Charlotte, it is home to some of the city's longest standing black-owned businesses and communities. Committed to the continued progress of the corridor and its residents, Historic West End Partners leads the effort for the commercial district's advancement.

Our Mission

Historic West End Partners fuels positive change in Charlotte's Historic West End by building a community-owned, community-governed foundation for lasting economic mobility. HWEP develops the physical and social infrastructure (food access, housing stability, employment opportunity, and small business growth) that enables families and individuals to build wealth and remain rooted in the neighborhood they call home.

Please consider making a donation to support our vision of a vibrant West End.

Donate Here

Our Advisors

Charles Thomas

Knight Foundation
David Howard

DL Howard Consulting
Dionne Nelson

Laurel Street President and CEO
Fred Morganthall

Retired, Harris Teeter President/Kroger Senior Vice President
Hugh McColl

Founder, Chairman, CEO Bank of America (retired)
Jermaine Blackmon

Small Business Owner, Original Chicken n Ribs
Kathryn Firmin-Sellers

United Way of Greater Charlotte President & CEO
Kurt Graves

Vistage Chair Executive Coach
Laura Yates Clark

Foundation For The Carolinas President
Ralphine Caldwell

LISC Charlotte
Terry Shook

Shook Kelley, FAIA Founding Partner & Principal
Valerie Kinloch

Johnson C. Smith University, President

Our Board of Directors

The Historic West End Partners is advised by an active and experienced team of community stakeholders and partners. Collectively, they influence intentional development in the Historic West End and implement innovative solutions to the corridor's challenges. We are grateful for the guidance and contribution of our board of directors and staff shown below.

Gene Flavors

President
Shannon Hughes

VP | Treasurer
Erika Troutman

Secretary
Coretta Livingston

Director
Eric Orozco

Director
Henry Stepp

Director
Bernetta Powell

Director

Our Team

We are a small but dedicated team passionate about making a difference in the West End. We believe that everyone deserves a chance to succeed, and we are committed to helping our West End community reach its full potential.