Business students explore Charlotte’s economic history

Kevin Trapani P’07, P’23, P’24, executive in residence at the Martha and Spencer Love School of Business, hosted students, faculty, and staff for an afternoon on September 20, 2024, exploring Charlotte’s diverse neighborhoods and delving into the city’s economic history.

Through his network, Trapani introduced the group to local leaders, offering perspectives on the past, present, and future of the Queen City.

Historian Tom Hanchett, shared the story of Charlotte’s development from 1875 to today, explaining how segregation, redlining, and urban renewal shaped the city’s neighborhoods.

“Charlotte’s history illustrates how policy has been used to create inequality,” Hanchett said. “But it also shows that change happens when people come together.”

The group then toured the neighborhoods Hanchett described, seeing firsthand how past policies have left a lasting impact.

“Seeing the evidence of redlining and segregation made the city’s history feel real,” said Cece Guyader ’25, an international business major in the 3+1 Program. “It made me realize that the policies we talked about didn’t just impact Charlotte, but cities across the country.”

After the tour, the group returned to Elon’s Charlotte National Campus to hear from community leaders about Charlotte’s future.

Fred Dodson, chief operating officer and executive vice president of real estate at DreamKey Partners, and the Rev. John Cleghorn of Caldwell Presbyterian Church shared their insights.

• “Hearing Fred Dodson talk about how DreamKey Partners builds mixed-income housing made me realize that creating equitable communities isn’t just about having money,” said Liz Sulley ’25, a finance major in the 3+1 Program. “It’s about having a clear vision and the drive to make it happen.”
• “Rev. Cleghorn’s story about turning an empty church building into affordable housing for those who need it most really stuck with me,” said MJ Lazo-Murphy ’25, an entrepreneurship major. “It made me think about how you can use what you already have to help the community in a bigger way than I’d ever imagined.”
• “The speakers highlighted how providing housing can be more cost-effective than relying on emergency services and helps people secure jobs faster,” said Takoda Moore ’27, a fintech major in the 3+1 program. “Their approach to creating sustainable, mixed-income communities really shows how thoughtful planning can promote equity and long-term stability.”

“Before this, I didn’t see Charlotte as a place to start my career,” Guyader said. “Now, I can really see it as somewhere I could build a future.”

Elon’s National Campuses provide hands-on learning opportunities through internships, community engagement and Study USA programs. Each campus serves as a hub for students to connect with local professionals, expand their networks and explore new career paths.

Applications for the Spring semester Study USA programs opened on October 1st and run through November 15th. Interested students can learn more about the program through the Study USA website.