When the residents of Charlotte’s “Tent City” were given 72 hours to evacuate their current outdoor location last month, Ohavia Phillips was among the team that acted without hesitation to help.
“We saw the need, and we filled the need—period,” Phillips told The Block.
Now, organizers are uniting Sunday, March 7 for a benefit concert at Camp North End to provide further assistance. The For the People Party Benefest, which will feature live music from popular local artists, is the result of collaborative minds coming together to begin the ground shaking for their neighbors without shelter.
All monetary donations from the event will go directly to housing families. Anyone looking to support can also drop off donations, including household items and other necessities.
>> See how you can support the inaugural For the People Party Benefest.
Raising Awareness—and a Few Eyebrows
Rather than getting caught up in political red tape, Phillips used her social media platform to create a call to action for the community. While larger organizations waited for more people and more approvals, she and others in the effort now known as the For the People Party knew all they needed was to create a space for people to get involved and do so quickly.
“Who cares about a seat at the table or the politics. These are people; we help people,” she explained.
Sunday’s benefit pull up is what happens when we come together to activate. One call to action spread across major platforms lead to filling more than 500 care packages, raising tens of thousands of dollars and housing many in Charlotte who would have otherwise been left in the rain.
As efforts continue to raise awareness, it’s also important the community grow in their knowledge, learning about upward mobility and the Charlotte living crisis. Then, we can begin to ask better questions and expect to receive better answers.
Additionally, with new inquisition comes accountability. Holding policymakers and council members accountable for their promises to the community is necessary.
The Work Doesn’t Stop
Expect to be surrounded by good music, positive vibes and one heartbeat at the March 7 For the People Party Benefest. Community members from all four corners of the city will come together to show support.
As Phillips notes, one good thing about serving is, “You don’t need credentials to serve.”
“Showing up—that’s your service, and the community thanks you!”
The Benefest is just one creative way to get the community’s attention, and the work does not stop here. This is only the prologue to the rest of the story.
“We’re here to get equality for all people,” Phillips added. “When our neighbors can’t help themselves [and] we have the resources and ability to help them, we must do so.”
Stay connected with efforts to bring awareness to and assistance for displaced neighbors in Charlotte. Follow @forthepplparty on Instagram or visit here for more info.
