Representatives of Community Matters member companies were among the more than 500 guests at the Community Matters Cafe opening ceremony on Sunday, April 7.

The ceremony included remarks to Tony Marciano, Charlotte Rescue Mission (CRM) President & CEO; Kristin Kelly Blinson, CRM Vice President & COO; Ed Price, CRM Life Skills Operations Director; Butch Robertson, Chair, CRM Social Enterprise Board; and District 2 City Council Representative Justin Harlow.

Community Matters Board Chair John Tighe (shown here with CRM Board Member Butch Robertson) spoke for our organization, tracing how our partnership with Charlotte Rescue Mission led us to pledge $1 million to the cafe.

Kent White, a member of the first student cohort working at the cafe, also described how the Mission had transformed his life. Kent is featured in the WCNC coverage below.

The ceremony kicked off with a rousing performance by the Men Standing for Christ Gospel Choir.

To check out some of the new coverage of the event, click below:

The cafe website is now up and running at http://communitymatterscafe.com. Check it out!