Thank You!!!
Breaking the Stigma Gala 2024 Raises over $50,000
We’re thrilled to share that our 2024 Charlotte Clubhouse Gala raised more than $50,000 in support of our programs and mission!
Thanks to the generosity of our sponsors, donors, and community partners, these funds will help us continue providing adults living with mental illness a supportive space to build skills, connect with others, and find purpose through meaningful work and community.
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We are deeply grateful to everyone who attended, donated, volunteered, or helped spread the word. Your support makes a lasting impact on mental health recovery in our community.
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💙 Thank you for believing in the power of connection, purpose, and hope.
Charlotte Clubhouse's Inaugural Gala
Breaking the Stigma
Keynote Speaker
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Jennifer Watson Roberts
Charlotte, North Carolina
Jennifer Watson Roberts served as a four-term Mecklenburg County Commissioner, was next elected as the 58th Mayor of Charlotte, and then ran the Communities Program on climate solutions for a national environmental non-profit, ecoAmerica. She has long been a champion of issues related to education, equality, inclusion and environmental protection. She is the only person to be elected to serve as both Chairman of the Mecklenburg County Commission and later as Mayor of Charlotte.
Since the summer of 2021, Roberts has been the North Carolina co-lead for the Carter Center’s Strengthening Democracy Project, along with former NC Supreme Court Justice Bob Orr. By working with a number of coalition partners, this initiative seeks to restore faith in established democratic norms and pave the way for fair, safe and secure elections in the coming years.
As Mayor, Roberts was recognized for her work on sustainability and equality. She introduced a 100% Clean Energy Resolution for the City of Charlotte and led the passage of a non-discrimination ordinance for the LGBTQ community. She is currently on the Steering Committee of the Charlotte Mecklenburg Climate Leaders, NC Climate Ambassadors, ecoAmerica Path to Positive Communities, and the Smart Surfaces Coalition. She serves on the Creation Care committee at two churches, St. Peter’s Episcopal and Caldwell Presbyterian. She is a lifetime member of the Sierra Club and the NAACP.
Before entering elected office, Roberts worked as a high school math teacher, a diplomat with the U.S. State Department, an international banker, and an adjunct professor at UNC-Charlotte. She currently serves on numerous community boards and commissions, including serving as chair of Meck Ed and treasurer of MeckMIN (Mecklenburg Metropolitan Interfaith Network). In addition to her work with the Carter Center, she is the honorary chair of the Re-imagining America Project, a speaker and author, and a consultant on issues ranging from climate change to democratic engagement and leadership.
Roberts is a proud recipient of the Maya Angelou Women Who Lead award, the National Association of Women Business Owners’ Public Policy Leader of the Year award, and Equality North Carolina’s Ally of the Year award, along with dozens of other awards and recognitions. She received her B.A. with highest honors in English from UNC-Chapel Hill, a Masters in European History from the University of Toronto, and a Masters in International Affairs from the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies in Washington, DC. She and her husband Manley live in Charlotte, but can usually be found on the weekends hiking the NC mountains. They have two adult children.