TURNING POINT SYMPOSIUM
The Turning Point Symposium promises to be a transformative gathering designed to spark dialogue, dismantle barriers, and ignite actionable change.​ This event reflects our commitment to fostering open, honest, and forward-thinking discussions that lead to real progress - especially in the realm of addressing homelessness and housing insecurity.
The event agenda is available here.
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KEY CONVERSATIONS: BARRIERS TO BREAKTHROUGHS
This discussion will feature service providers from Mecklenburg County, North Carolina, who will share insights into the barriers they have faced, the breakthroughs they have achieved, and the partnerships that have helped advance their mission to end homelessness. To learn more about the impactful work being done in Mecklenburg County, please visit their Continuum of Care (CoC) website or explore articles that highlight their efforts.
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Dr. KT Harcourt-Medina, Director of Impact and Development - Hearts for the Invisible Charlotte Coalition
KT Harcourt-Medina, PhD, is a mission-driven leader with over 15 years of experience advancing equity through research, evaluation, and strategic development. With deep expertise in housing and homelessness, criminal justice reform, and nonprofit leadership, KT currently serves as the Director of Impact and Development at Hearts for the Invisible Charlotte Coalition, where she leads strategic planning, grant development, and data-driven storytelling to expand the organization’s reach and sustainability. Previously, she served as Evaluation Manager for the United Way of Greater Charlotte, helping to drive measurable progress on the A Home For All strategy to end homelessness. KT is also a former Associate Professor at East Carolina University, where she taught and published extensively on relational health and reentry populations and led multiple community-engaged research initiatives. KT holds a PhD in Human Development and Family Studies from Auburn University, along with a Certificate in Nonprofit Management from Duke University. She is a skilled facilitator, public speaker, and collaborator, with a strong track record of securing funding and building impact evaluation systems that center racial equity. When she’s not working, KT enjoys spending time with her partner, their two sons, and their two dogs.
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Hearts for the Invisible Charlotte Coalition: www.heartsfortheinvisibleclt.org
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Dr. Kenny Robinson, Founder & President - Freedom Fighting Missionaries
Founded in 2020 by Kenny Robinson, a formerly incarcerated individual with a vision for change, Freedom Fighting Missionaries (FFM) is a dedicated 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization based in Charlotte, North Carolina. Utilizing his lived experience, Kenny established FFM to create pathways for those justice-involved, addressing the critical challenges faced during reentry into society. ​
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Freedom Fighting Missionaries: www.freedomfightingmissionaries.org
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Timica Melvin, Executive Director - Monroe Housing Authority
Timica Melvin is the Executive Director of Monroe Housing Authority. In her current role, Timica is responsible for overseeing the housing authority operations, including strategic leadership, financial management, program administration, and personnel management, while serving as the primary liaison to the Board of Commissioners and the public. Timica has over 18 years of experience in the housing industry ranging from Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) program administration, asset management, and program implementation and evaluation. She has obtained various professional designations such as Accredited Residential Manager (ARM), Spectrum Compliance C3P, multiple Housing Choice Voucher program certifications, and is a licensed Real Estate Broker. Timica holds a Master of Public Administration (MPA) degree from North Carolina Central University (NCCU), where she was a Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Fellow and graduated summa cum laude. She also holds a Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree in Political Science from the University of North Carolina (UNC) at Chapel Hill. Timica is a dedicated public servant that is passionate about improving housing environments so the families, regardless of income, have a safe and decent place to call home as well as pursuing policies that assist families in becoming self-sufficient in order to break generational poverty and achieve social and economic justice.
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Monroe Housing Authority: www.monroehousing-nc.com
Inlivian: www.inlivian.com
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Maurice Reid - Founder & Executive Director - Suited for Veterans, Mecklenburg County Continuum of Care
Maurice Reid is a U.S. Army Veteran who served in Iraq and Afghanistan. After experiencing homelessness due to a workman's compensation issue, he overcame significant health and financial challenges. That journey inspired him to make a personal vow: no Veteran should ever have to endure what he went through.
In November 2024, Maurice founded a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting U.S. Veterans in their transition back into civilian life—a process he understands is lifelong. His organization focuses on addressing the social, mental, and financial needs of Veterans, helping them access housing, benefits, and stability. Since its inception, the nonprofit has successfully assisted more than eight Veterans in securing housing and reclaiming their benefits.
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Suited for Veterans: www.suitedforveterans.org
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Katlyn Haney (Moderator), Community Engagement & Outreach Specialist - Partners Ending Homelessness
Katlyn Haney (she/her) is deeply committed to fostering connection, equity, and collaboration across Guilford County. With a passion for amplifying community voices, Katlyn works to bridge gaps between public health and housing through inclusive outreach and advocacy. Her approach centers on listening, learning, and building trust to support meaningful, lasting change.
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Partners Ending Homelessness - Community Programs: www.pehgc.org/community
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KEYNOTE ADDRESS: STRATEGIES & SOLUTIONS
Stephanie Watkins-Cruz, Director of Housing Policy - North Carolina Housing Coalition
Stephanie Watkins-Cruz is a housing policy leader, advocate, and believer in the power of community-driven change. As Director of Housing Policy for the North Carolina Housing Coalition, she works alongside partners across policy, advocacy, development finance, and community organizing to expand access to affordable, stable housing — something over a million North Carolinians urgently need. Her passion for this work is rooted in both professional experience and personal lived experience with housing instability. Stephanie knows that housing is more than shelter — it's the foundation for health, opportunity, and dignity. She is committed to advancing bold, practical solutions that center the voices of those most impacted and build lasting, affordable communities across North Carolina.
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North Carolina Housing Coalition: nchousing.org​​​​
KEY UPDATES: PROGRESS & POSSIBILITIES, AWARD PRESENTATIONS
Shereá D. Burnett, Executive Director - Partners Ending Homelessness
Shereá D. Burnett, J.D., VSP (she/her) is a dedicated advocate and leader committed to serving underrepresented communities. Shereá is a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and Elon University School of Law. As a citizen of the Occaneechi Band of the Saponi Nation, her Afro-Indigenous heritage profoundly shapes her work. Shereá's career is focused on creating equitable and accessible systems, shifting narratives about misunderstood and marginalized communities, and empowering them to drive meaningful change. Her impactful contributions span housing and homelessness, domestic violence advocacy, and child and family welfare. Since August 2023, Shereá has served as the Executive Director at Partners Ending Homelessness in Guilford County, North Carolina. Recognized for her dynamic approach to civic engagement and community-driven initiatives, she also serves as an Adjunct Professor and is a prominent voice in community-focused publications. A strategic problem solver, Shereá uses her platforms to raise awareness, strengthen communities, and foster purposeful dialogue on pressing social issues.
Read our 2025 Impact Report here.
Review recent Guilford County homelessness data here.
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KEY CONNECTIONS: ART EXHIBIT - TO SEE & BE SEEN, TO KNOW & BE KNOWN
Kelly Oakes, Artist
Kelly Oakes is a classically-trained portrait painter based in Hillsborough, North Carolina. She graduated from The Maryland Institute College of Art, attended The Parsons School of Design, and has recently studied at The Art Students league under Sharon Sprung. Kelly has been painting figures and portraits since 2010 and is driven to show each subject with profound respect and reverence of their place in this world, often through strength and resilience. Her work is incredibly sensitive, seeking to tell stories through her paintings and capture the soul of her subject. She works mostly in oil paints, striving to capture the realism and emotion of the moment. Her work is often done from life, in her studio, and she enjoys recruiting her friends as models for her paintings. She has a deep passion for capturing her subject’s most intimate moments and stories in her paintings, in a way she feels no other medium can. Kelly hopes that through her work, viewers can experience something new, see the world through a different lens, and come away with a better sense of empathy.
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Website: www.kellyoakesart.com
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Your partnership is key!
Multiple sponsorship opportunities exist for The Turning Point Symposium.
Learn more about our sponsorship tiers as outlined on our Key Partner Membership Program webpage.
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If you would like to discuss sponsorship, scholarship, or volunteer opportunities, please email: development@partnersendinghomelessness.org