Shaping Charlotte

In this episode of 'Shaping Charlotte,' hosts Clayton Sealey and Tesho Akindele discuss Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) with Monica Carney Holmes, Interim Planning Director for the City of Charlotte, and Harrison Tucker, CEO of Space Craft. The conversation covers the integration of transit and development to create walkable communities, with insights into the public and private sector roles in...

After months of discussion, debate, and deep dives into Charlotte’s proposed one-cent transit referendum, we’re down to the wire. In this pivotal episode, released just one day before the vote, Clayton and Tesho sit down with David Howard, former Charlotte City Council member and former Chief Deputy Secretary of NCDOT, to talk about what’s really at stake for our city. A lifelong Charlottean with...

Buses may not grab the headlines, but they move Charlotte, literally. In this episode, Clayton and Tesho sit down with Jason Lawrence, Chief Transit Planning Officer at CATS, to talk about the Better Bus Plan and how the upcoming one-cent referendum could transform the way Charlotteans get around. They unpack how the city’s bus system evolved over the past two decades, who rides today, and what im...

Charlotte’s roads are the arteries that keep our city moving - all 5,000 miles of them. But with more than 150 new residents arriving in the region every day, those streets are getting busier, and the question of how we move becomes more urgent. In this episode, hosts Clayton Sealey and Tesho Akindele sit down with Ed McKinney, Special Assistant to the City Manager on Mobility, to discuss how the ...

Charlotte’s growth isn’t an accident, it’s the product of decades of vision, collaboration, and bold leadership. In this episode, we sit down with Tracy Dodson, COO and Head of Economic Development at the Charlotte Regional Business Alliance, to talk about what makes the Queen City special, and how we can keep that momentum going.

Charlotte Mayor Pro Tem Danté Anderson and Huntersville Mayor Christy Clark join Clayton and Tesho to talk transit, growth, and the future of our region. From the PAVE Act to housing and mobility, they dig into how Charlotte and its neighbors can grow together — and what it takes to lead in two very different communities.

In this special episode of Shaping Charlotte, Clayton Sealey and Tesho Akindele take a step back to reflect on what they’ve learned so far from conversations about Charlotte’s future. From the opportunities of the PAVE Act to the balance of roads, buses, and rail in the region’s $20B transit plan, they explore what it really means to build a safe, connected, and livable city. They also dive into l...

Charlotte is growing fast—but are we building the right kind of city for the future? In this episode of Shaping Charlotte, hosts Clayton Sealey and Tesho Akindele sit down with two leading voices who see the intersection of transit, design, and community from very different angles. Hayden Clarkin, better known as The Transit Guy, brings a national perspective on how cities move beyond car dependen...

In this episode of Shaping Charlotte, hosts Clayton Sealey and Tesho Akindele sit down with two leaders shaping the future of opportunity in our region: Tonya Jameson, Director of Civic Advancement at Leading on Opportunity, and Shannon Binns, Founder and Executive Director of Sustain Charlotte. Together, they explore how the P.A.V.E. Act could transform Charlotte’s transit and transportation syst...

In this episode of Shaping Charlotte, Tesho Akindele and Clayton Sealey host a spirited debate on one of the city’s biggest ballot issues this November: the transit referendum. Former City Council Member and Mayor Pro Tem Braxton Winston shares why he believes the current plan misses the mark, while attorney Larry Shaheen, who helped shape the legislation, makes the case for why it’s the right mov...

Charlotte is at a crossroads. The proposed 1-cent transit sales tax referendum could shape how our city grows, how we move, and what kind of future we build together. But what’s really in the plan — and what happens if we do nothing? In this episode of Shaping Charlotte, Clayton Sealey and Tesho Akindele sit down with two leaders who know the answers: Brent Cagle, interim CEO of CATS, and Ned Curr...

Welcome to the first episode of Shaping Charlotte! Co-hosts Clayton Sealey and Tesho Akindele kick things off by sharing why they’re passionate about Charlotte’s future — and why they believe conversations about transit, housing, and culture matter to everyone who calls this city home. From personal stories to big-picture hopes for where the Queen City is headed, this episode sets the stage for th...