Crittenton Conversations Was Everything We Hoped It Would Be, And Then Some
Our inaugural event raised over $83,000 and sparked a conversation Charlotte won’t soon forget
We didn’t know exactly what to expect on the evening of September 29th. We knew we had an extraordinary lineup. We knew we had an important conversation to host. We knew we had people who cared enough to show up.
What we didn’t know was just how much the evening would move us.
Crittenton Conversations | Connection & Mental Wellness, our brand new fundraising event, came to life at The Ruth in Charlotte, and the result was something we will carry with us for a long time.
The Conversation
Moderated by the incomparable Jacinda Jacobs, our panel brought together three voices who collectively changed the way people in that room think about mental health, parenting, and connection.
Nedra Glover Tawwab, New York Times bestselling author and recently featured on The Oprah Podcast, spoke with her signature clarity about the power of boundaries in family relationships and what it truly means to show up for the people we love. Craig Young, therapist, author of Growing Up Young, and father of Carolina Panthers quarterback Bryce Young, gave the room something rare: a deeply personal account of what it actually looks like to raise a high-achieving young person while prioritizing mental and emotional health over performance. And Jada Charley, CEO of Crittenton, ensured that every word spoken on that stage was grounded in the real lives of the women and families Crittenton serves every day.
Guests left with practical tools, real perspective, and — by every account we’ve heard since — a lot to think about.
The Inaugural Conversation Changer Award
We were proud to present the very first Conversation Changer Award to Dr. Kandi Deitemeyer, President of Central Piedmont Community College. Dr. Deitemeyer shared a moving video message with guests, and Catherine Butler, VP of Communications at CPCC, accepted the award on her behalf with words about boldness, ripple effects, and the power of community. We could not have chosen a more fitting inaugural honoree.
The Numbers
$83,000+ raised for Crittenton’s programs. Nearly $5,000 of that came directly from guests in the room during the program. Proof that when you tell a real story to the right people, they respond.
Every single person in attendance left having heard something they needed to hear.
Thank You
To our Presenting Sponsors Wells Fargo and Atrium Health — thank you for making this possible. To Board Chair Danyall McDowell and Board Member Shawana Burnette — thank you for leading with such heart. To Dr. Deitemeyer, Catherine Butler, Jacinda, Nedra, Craig, and Jada — thank you for showing up for this community in the most generous way.
And to every person who bought a ticket, sponsored the event, donated during the program, or simply walked through those doors — thank you. You are why Crittenton Conversations exists.
Crittenton Conversations will return in 2027. Stay connected at crittentonofnc.org and follow us on social media for what’s coming next.