Greater Steps Scholars

What's Next for this one-of-a-kind Charlotte scholarship?


John Crawford and Christopher Davis meet in west Charlotte. Christopher lived in multiple public housing developments and became one of 1,000 students Crawford helped over the past 40 years.

Charlotte, NC (May 2024 - by Lisa Vernon Sparks) — Sometime in the early 1970s, John Crawford received an offer he couldn't refuse.

The Charlotte Housing Authority approached him about a job working with families and children who lived in its dozens of complexes. Crawford, then a school teacher and coach, loved working with children. It was a natural fit and he accepted the offer.

But early in the gig, Crawford saw things he found troubling - prostitution, drug dealing and teens overdosing at some of the properties, making it an unsafe environment, he said.

"I wanted to change that," he said.

At the February meeting of the Board of County Commissioners, Dr. Crawford was presented with the Order of the Hornet in recognition of his outstanding achievements with the Greater Steps Scholars program.

Charlotte, NC (February 2024) — The Greater Steps Scholars program has provided post-secondary scholarships to 1,000 youth in Mecklenburg County. Additionally, Governor Roy Cooper's office will award him with the Order of the Long Leaf Pine in recognition of his more than 40 years of dedicated service to Mecklenburg County's youth.

Graduation time is here! Greater Steps Scholars is excited to celebrate 26 graduates this year!

As we send off our 2021 graduates to their new lives, we are equally as excited to celebrate our 63 renewal scholars heading back to college this Fall and our 30 new Scholars heading to school for the first time.

Even though it’s a few months away, we’re already gearing up for our 38th Annual Awards Ceremony, which will take place on Sunday, August 1 at 4 pm. We’ll be virtual again this year, and, with our theme of “Focused Forward,” we’re set to celebrate 26 amazing graduates who have persevered through an uncharacteristic year.

40 organizations receive grants to reduce disparate outcomes, support training, policy and criminal justice reform

Charlotte, NC (November 2020) — Duke Energy today announced the recipients of $1 million in grants through the Duke Energy Foundation to nonprofit organizations committed to social justice and racial equity in North Carolina.

$25,000 grants will be distributed to 40 organizations across North Carolina.

“We all have a role and responsibility in advancing justice and equity,” said Stephen De May, Duke Energy’s North Carolina president. “Duke Energy is committed to creating equal opportunities for the communities we serve, and we’re proud to support organizations already leading this critical work across North Carolina.”