ECO-RENAISSANCE: WEST END RISING
Help us build a healthier, cleaner West End — one business, one block, one breath at a time.
Imagine walking down Beatties Ford Road and seeing cleaner sidewalks, breathing fresher air, and feeling neighborhood pride again. Right now, the air can feel heavy — heat, traffic, and trash left too long in the sun. That’s the vision behind EcoRenaissance: West End Rising — restoring environmental dignity, health, and sustainability to Charlotte’s Historic West End.
Data from SolNation’s Historic West End Waste Study and Mecklenburg County’s 2024 State of the Community Health Report show a clear pattern: foam and plastic containers dominate litter across the corridor — and the pollution they create directly affects the air and water quality residents depend on.
According to Mecklenburg County’s 2024 Health Report:
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West End residents face higher rates of asthma, heart disease, and hypertension.
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Black residents are 2.5x more likely to live near major roadways and pollution sources.
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Exposure to chemicals from foam containers can worsen respiratory and cardiovascular conditions.
Sources: SolNation Historic West End Waste Study (2025); Mecklenburg County State of the Community Health Report (2024).
“When you own, you drive the narrative. When you don’t own, you live in someone else’s narrative. It’s time for us to be the ones shaping the future of our communities.”
— Christopher Dennis (Owner of E-Fix Solutions)
Chris Dennis is part of a growing movement of Black developers choosing the West End — not for what it is, but for what the community deserves it to become. Cleaner streets, healthier air, sustainable businesses — it all ties back to ownership and investment. His message: “When you own, you drive the narrative.” This is what it looks like when the community shapes its own future — not waits for outsiders to decide it for them.
YOUR DONATION POWERS CHANGE!
As a part of the Eco-Renaissance Campaign, SolNation is launching The Green Fund — starting with a goal to raise at least $1,000 to help one to two Black-owned West End businesses switch to eco-friendly to-go containers and utensils.
When businesses go green — even in small ways — it has a ripple effect: cleaner streets, healthier families, and safer communities.
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$25 = replaces 200 foam boxes with compostable containers (average $0.12 per container)
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$50 = helps a small restaurant pilot a week of eco-friendly utensils and cups
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$100 = supports a full menu category switch (plates, bowls, or cups)
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$250–$1,000 = funds a complete transition for one business, covering packaging, utensils, and training on sustainable disposal
Impact estimates are based on current bulk prices from compostable packaging suppliers; SolNation will purchase in bulk to stretch every dollar. Environmental justice isn’t just about saving the planet — it’s about saving ourselves.