There are moments during interviews when you can feel the work being done is bigger than titles, bigger than programs, and bigger than checklists. My conversation with Tamara Satterfield, Graduation Specialist and Advisor of the Student-Athlete Advisory Council (SAAC) for Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools was one of those moments.

At the heart of everything Tam shared was one powerful theme: the Student-Athlete Advisory Council gives our youth a voice and that voice has led to real, measurable change across CMS athletics.

The Student-Athlete Advisory Council was created to ensure student-athletes across the district aren’t just participants in sports, but partners in the process. Through the council, students from different schools, sports, and backgrounds come together to share feedback, raise concerns, and offer solutions rooted in their lived experiences. And according to Tam, those conversations aren’t just happening, they’re being heard.

Student-athlete input has helped shape decisions, improve communication, and strengthen the overall athletic experience throughout CMS. From addressing day-to-day challenges to helping administrators better understand what’s happening on the ground, SAAC has become a vital bridge between students and leadership. It’s proof that when young people are trusted with responsibility, they rise to the occasion.

This conversation was a powerful reminder of why community-centered dialogue matters. When we intentionally uplift student voices, we don’t just improve athletics; we strengthen our schools and, ultimately, our communities.

You can listen to the full interview with Tamara Satterfield, where she dives deeper into the impact of SAAC and explains why empowering student-athletes is truly a game-changer for Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools.

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We are taking a closer look at what’s happening in York County, South Carolina — the progress being made, the challenges ahead, and the traditions that continue to bring the community together, including the longest-running Martin Luther King Jr. Parade in the area.

Joining us are two respected community leaders: Steve Love, founder of Folkways CDC, Regional Director for the South Carolina State Conference of the NAACP, and former president of the Western York County NAACP; and Holly Starnes, a corporate trainer, community advocate, and trusted voice on the pulse and progress of York County.

Together, they’ll share insight on where York County stands today and where it’s headed next."

Guests

STEVE LOVE

Founder of a non-profit organization, Folkways CDC ( Community Development Corporation), and Regional Director for the SC State Conference NAACP.

HOLLY STARNES

Holly Starnes, a graduate of Winthrop University and a Corporate Trainer and a lifelong advocate for community empowerment,

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In the early morning hours of January 22, 2026, volunteers will fan out across Charlotte-Mecklenburg with one shared purpose: to make sure everybody counts. Preparations are now underway for the 2026 Point-in-Time Count, a community-wide effort to identify people living without stable housing and to better understand the reality of homelessness in our region.

The Point-in-Time Count isn’t just about collecting numbers. It’s an effort coordinated nationally by the Department of Housing and Urban Development, which helps us understand who is experiencing homelessness, where people are staying, and so much more. That is our topic today: Homelessness By The Numbers – Why Counting Matters.

Guests -

• Karen Pelletier, Division Director, Housing Innovation and Stabilization Services
• Mary Ann Priester, Senior management analyst, leading the Point in Time Count
• Branden Lewis, Management analyst, co-leading the Point in Time Count
• Jessica Lefkowitz, Founder and Executive Director, Hearts for the Invisible

Information -

To volunteer, visit Mecklenburg Housing Data

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