Do Greater Charlotte’s Sparkhouse Opens New Doors for Youth, Creatives, Entrepreneurs and Lasting Community Impact

What began as an ambitious dream of visionary William McNeely, grown into a purposeful legacy of leadership, and opportunity for Charlotte. Do Greater Charlotte has long believed that young people, creatives, entrepreneurs, and emerging talent deserve more than access alone. They deserve spaces, programming, and leadership that help them recognize their capabilities, develop confidence, and turn hard work into possibility.

This summer’s ribbon-cutting celebration for Do Greater Charlotte’s Sparkhouse was more than an organizational milestone. It marked the evolution of a dream into a living, growing ecosystem where youth can explore entrepreneurship, creative industries, technology, design, and personal development through hands-on camps and year-round programming.

For an organization rooted in the belief that talent exists everywhere, Sparkhouse represents what becomes possible when vision is matched with intentional community investment. The facility expands Do Greater’s ability to build organizational capacity, deepen youth programming, and create new pathways for the next generation of creators, builders, and leaders.

The celebration carried even greater meaning with the presence of the honorable Harvey B. Gantt. As Charlotte’s first Black mayor, a pioneering architect, and a lifelong civic leader, Gantt’s connection to the building brought powerful historical context to the moment. The space was once home to his architecture firm’s office, making Sparkhouse not only a place for future-focused programming, but also a continuation of a broader legacy of barrier-breaking leadership, community-building, and possibility.

That legacy now continues through programs designed to help young people see themselves differently. Through camps, creative labs, entrepreneurship experiences, technology exposure, and hands-on learning opportunities, Do Greater Charlotte is helping youth discover their gifts, build creative confidence, and understand that their ideas can shape what comes next for the city.

DWA staff was grateful to celebrate a moment that reflects the impact of purposeful growth. Sparkhouse strengthens the infrastructure needed to support expanded youth programming, increased access for creatives and entrepreneurs, and deeper investment in economic mobility and innovation across Charlotte.

DWA is especially proud to stand alongside Do Greater Charlotte as our CEO, DeAlva Wilson Arnold, serves as board chair and helps advance a vision rooted in leadership, talent, hard work, and the belief that young people can do greater when the right people and resources come together.

“Do Greater Charlotte represents what happens when vision, leadership, and community investment align around young people. This milestone is a reminder that when we create the right spaces and opportunities, our youth can discover their gifts, build confidence, and shape what comes next for Charlotte.” — DeAlva Arnold, CEO of D. Wilson Agency and Board Chair of Do Greater Charlotte

From a bold dream to a lasting legacy, Do Greater Charlotte’s Sparkhouse is the kind of growth that moves Charlotte forward. It is a reminder that when people, purpose, and community investment align, opportunity becomes more than an idea. It becomes a place where the next generation can build, lead, and thrive.