March 5, 2010

To Whom It May Concern: I am writing in support of the goals of the Charlotte Empowerment Zone to turn fragile communities in Charlotte into communities of hope and opportunity where every child receives the support they need to succeed academically and in life. Specifically at Pressley Ridge Apartments and Sugar Creek Charter School, they are establishing a saturation mentoring and tutoring program to help 1000 children from low-wealth families achieve educational success through:

- Mobilizing/training the “Charlotte Tutoring Corps” of 360 tutors (300 volunteer and 60 paid college education major interns) to bring 1000 students to grade level by saturation mentoring/tutoring.

- Equipping 600 parents in successful parenting through the nationally acclaimed “The Incredible Years” program to move 1000 children onto a conveyor belt towards college graduation.

- Launching “Exploring Your World”, a program to empower 1000 Charlotte children with afterschool tutoring, weekend field trips, summer enrichment camps, entrepreneurial clubs, and year round sports leagues – raising vision, increasing learning capacity and creating personal success.

The Charlotte Empowerment Zone is providing the citizens of Charlotte with the opportunity to collaborate to move over 1000 children from hopelessness to assured successful futures. With the support of all of us, it will create a model that will change many lives and can be replicated throughout Charlotte and beyond.

Sincerely,

Anthony R. Foxx Mayor

Office of the Mayor 600 East Fourth Street Charlotte, NC 28202-2853 704/336-2241