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Perspective | First in Future: Mayor of Charlotte Vi Lyles

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It’s Charlotte week! In honor of the Institute for Emerging Issues’ October 15 ReCONNECT to Economic Opportunity Forum in Charlotte, the First in Future podcast takes a week-long sit-down with some of the Queen City’s thought leaders. Listen in every day this week for a thought-provoking conversation on the future of economic opportunity in North Carolina.

A 2015 report on economic mobility in the U.S. caught Charlotte’s attention. The report looked at the likelihood that someone whose parents’ income ranked in the bottom 20% would grow up to make enough money to be in the top 20% of earners. In Charlotte, there was a 4.8% chance of moving into the top 20% if you were born into the bottom 20%. This made Charlotte 50th out of 50 cities in the report.

Today’s First in Future guest is Charlotte Mayor Vi Lyles. She talks about the report, how the city responded to it, and how other places in the state might approach similar issues. We also hear about millennials, potholes, and how Charlotte is dealing with being the fastest-growing city in the country.