Holding on To Home:
I ❤️ Enderly Park
Photographs capturing the Enderly Park neighborhood and history
in West Charlotte, North Carolina.
SCOPE
This project will create original portraits paired with written stories and community-created art, culminating in a free neighborhood celebration and exhibition at The Bette Rae Thomas Recreation Center in August 2026.
Inspired by the late Bette Rae Thomas, a retired nurse and community leader who in the 1970s and 1980s rallied entire church congregations to demand change from city leaders, the project continues her legacy of empowering residents to shape their neighborhood. Living in her 100-year-old home, just down the street from the center that bears her name, I feel a responsibility to advance her vision through the Greater Enderly Park Neighborhood Association (GEPNA), which she founded.
Today, many legacy residents face displacement due to rising property taxes and home repair costs, creating an urgent need to honor and preserve their stories before they are lost. This project will eliminate financial and technical barriers to arts participation by offering free photography and writing workshops, hosted during existing monthly neighborhood meetings, which will give residents access to tools and support. By providing disposable cameras and guided writing prompts, neighbors can share their own perspectives without needing prior training or costly equipment. The art created through these workshops will be included in the final exhibition, ensuring their voices remain central to the project.
Meet the Team
Shamaiye and K have collaborated for over five years as leaders, artists, and community advocates in Enderly Park. Bunny, a renowned artist in the city and Enderly Park resident, joined Shamaiye and K in bringing the exhibit to life. Together, they are committed to preserving the history, challenges, and pride of their West Charlotte neighborhood through the project Holding on to Home: I ❤️ Enderly Park.
Shamaiye Haynes
@Shamaiye
Writer
K Quispe
Photographer
Bunny Gregory
@bunnygregory_art
Installation Artist and Collaborator
Meet the Neighbors
All neighbors, new and legacy, had a chance to participate in this project through the Greater Enderly Park Neighborhood Association to highlight the diversity and rich history we share in Enderly Park.
Holding on to Home: I Love Enderly Park
The Writer’s Perspective
 
By: Shamaiye Haynes