A Christian social club rises in South End
Plus: State ABC shuts down east Charlotte bar; Local nonprofit offers programming for those with Down syndrome; Victims of deadly I-485 crash revealed; CMS to receive $12.5M in federal funding
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As young adults move away from religion, two Charlotte newcomers start a growing network linking Christians outside of church; pickleball, movie nights, run club
Kingdom Kickbacks, a new Christian social group that appeals to people in their 20s, held a Halloween costume party at Monday Night Brewing in South End last October. (Photo courtesy of Kingdom Kickbacks)
by Maggie Fipps
It all started at Sycamore Brewing.
A little over a year ago, Kelsey Worthington and Nick Kalenichenko were playing cards at the brewery’s picnic tables in South End. Both were new to Charlotte, and finding community was like throwing spaghetti at the wall: They were trying anything to see what stuck.
They tried finding friends at work, in their apartment buildings and anywhere else to have people to hang out with on a weeknight.
Another wrinkle: Kalenichenko and Worthington are strong Christians, and they valued the relationships they found at church. But often, the ministries they were a part of were small and had few social events, and they found themselves wanting more.
They wanted somewhere to specifically spend time with other believers around fun activities.
That night at Sycamore, they started spitballing ideas. And from there, Kingdom Kickbacks was born.
Kingdom Kickbacks is a social club and nonprofit that brings together young Christians from around Charlotte to meet new friends, have fun and give back to the community. Without the banner of a church or a denomination affiliation, it is an open space for anyone to feel welcome. “Kingdom” is a play off Charlotte’s Queen City nickname and the kingdom of God, and “Kickbacks” is a retro nod to kicking back with friends for good old-fashioned fun.
Each month, they hold three free events that anyone can join. July’s events were an outdoor movie night at Camp North End, a “Run With Christ Run Club Collab” featuring a DJ and cold plunges in Wesley Heights and an Optimist Hall dinner and social.
The group is booming at a critical time for young people in the Christian church. According to Pew Research, young people between 18 to 24 years old are far less likely than older people to identify as Christian, attend religious services once a month or pray daily. But in a time where it seems like young people are fleeing organized religion, many are hungry for community.
“From the beginning our first event had 50 people,” Kalenichenko said. “Every event we’ve had pushes that even further.”
At one event in June, more than 100 people in their early 20s stood shoulder to shoulder at The Rose Honky Tonk in South End. Facing their partners, they listened intently to the swing dancing instructions as they tried to spin and maneuver through the crowd. Regulars at The Rose stood on the edges of the dance floor and looked on, chuckling.
Participants wear nametags, and the group prays at the beginning of events.
What started as a group chat with Kalenichenko and Worthington’s friends began to blow up. Only a few months after their first event, they hosted a pickleball tournament with more than 100 sign-ups. Kalenichenko called his dad, excited to update him on the event, but he brought him down to earth.
“My dad said ‘No, you shouldn’t do this. You can’t do this,’” Kalenichenko said. “You either need to start an LLC to not be liable at events, or not do these events at all.’ I was like, ‘Wow, this is becoming more than what I thought it was.’”
The first engagement announcement from Kingdom Kickbacks went out a few weeks ago, and it probably won’t be the last. For young adults looking to ditch the dating apps, at least a few have found success.
But Kingdom Kickbacks is not just for people looking for friends or life partners. It also is a connection point between local non-profits and willing volunteers. They packed meals for Nicaraguans and built beds for Charlotteans. The hours of service benefit the organizations and the relationships between new friends.
Kalenichenko and Worthington, both age 24, say they’d like to expand the idea to other major U.S. cities to create a starting point for newcomers.
Above all, they say, Kingdom Kickbacks wants to spread a message of hope — one that resonates with young adults around Charlotte.
“There’s so much joy to be found in community,” Worthington said. “There's so much beauty and love that we found in just deep friendship and deep community. That is what we want for everybody in Charlotte.”
Maggie Fipps is a freelance writer who moved to Charlotte six weeks ago. Feel free to send your best Charlotte recommendations to mtfipps639@gmail.com
➡️ Find out more about Kingdom Kickbacks on its website or on Instagram.
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State ABC Commission shuts down east Charlotte bar after deadly shooting, illegal sales
The North Carolina ABC Commission dropped a rare hammer Friday on Mi Cabana, a private bar on Eastway Drive, suspending its alcohol permits after a deadly shooting and a long history of illegal after-hours booze sales — something the ABC Board doesn’t do lightly.
According to sworn reports from Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police and North Carolina Alcohol Law Enforcement, Mi Cabana has openly defied the city’s closing law for years, which says all alcohol sales must end at 2 a.m. and must be consumed by 2:30 a.m.
Bar manager Kim To admitted to selling alcohol after hours regularly because “she makes more money,” according to the order of summary suspension, even after a fatal shooting outside the bar in April 2025. Video surveillance showed alcohol being served well past legal hours shortly before a patron was shot and killed. According to the order, To “got everyone to leave the business, turned off the lights, and walked past the victim, who was laying on the ground by the entrance, gasping for breath. Mrs. To got into her vehicle, and left the scene, right as CMPD officers were arriving to the establishment.”
Since 2023, police have responded to at least 28 violent incidents at Mi Cabana — including assaults, robberies and one homicide — almost all occurring after legal hours. In sworn affidavits, CMPD officers say the types and amounts of calls from Mi Cabana “require a significant amount of man hours and resources” and now require backup for every call to the bar. Additionally, undercover operations have been halted due to safety risks.
During a July 19 inspection, officers found more than 20 vehicles parked outside Mi Cabana and patrons drinking illegally past 2:30 a.m., the order said.
The suspension is effective immediately, but Mi Cabana’s owner, which is listed as K Tran, LLC in the order, can request a hearing to contest the decision. —Lindsey Banks
Charity spotlight: GiGi’s Playhouse builds community through support and learning
Participants and officers gather for GiGi’s Playhouse Charlotte’s annual “Pizza with the Police” event, an opportunity to build trust and celebrate inclusion. (Photo courtesy of Megan Smith)
Last month, Christian could hardly wait for the annual “Pizza with the Police” event at GiGi’s Playhouse Charlotte. The moment he walked in, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police officers from the year before recognized him, and Christian, 21, remembered every one of them, too.
“These are people [Christian] used to be afraid of,” said Aysen Ulupinar, operations manager at GiGi’s Playhouse Charlotte. “Now he calls them his friends.”
Moments like this capture the mission of GiGi’s Playhouse: to change perceptions of Down syndrome and foster a culture of inclusion.
Located off I-485 and South Tryon Street, GiGi’s Playhouse Charlotte is a Down syndrome achievement center that offers free therapeutic, educational and career development programs for individuals of all ages. The 4,000-square-foot facility opened in April 2019 and is one of 62 locations nationwide.
It’s part of a growing national network with over 300,000 annual program participation hours across the country. Though its core focus is on individuals with Down syndrome, the Playhouse is intentionally inclusive.
“We don’t count chromosomes at the door,” said Megan Smith, Playhouse and development manager. “If someone can benefit from what we offer, they’re welcome.”
Programs range from one-on-one literacy and math tutoring to group classes like GiGiFIT, an exercise class, GiGi’s Kitchen, a cooking class, and Kids Club, a setting to develop social skills. The goal is to support development and growth at every stage, from early learners to adults preparing for the workforce. There are even prenatal and early childhood resources to guide families from the very beginning.
GiGi’s impact can be seen in participants like Melia Simon, a prom queen, singer and now a GiGi’s Ambassador. Simon, 23, joined the GiGi Prep program, a workforce readiness initiative, and later spoke to executives at Brighthouse Financial about the importance of including individuals with special needs in the workforce.
Beyond the walls of the Playhouse, the team also works to educate the broader community. Smith visits schools across Charlotte to promote inclusion and awareness, emphasizing that “we’re all more alike than we are different.” A more recent outreach initiative involves partnering with hospitals to deliver congratulatory bags to families of newborns with Down syndrome, a small gesture that signals hope and belonging from day one.
While all programs are free for families, running the Playhouse is not; rent, supplies and electricity depend on outside support. The nonprofit is entirely donor-funded and supported through grants, individual giving, and fundraising events.
Volunteers are the heart of GiGi’s Playhouse. From tutoring, leading a cooking class, planning events or creating flyers, there are opportunities for everyone to support the Playhouse. The Charlotte location is small but mighty: just two full-time and one part-time staff member run the center.
Thanks to the consistent support of volunteers, the Playhouse has become a community where confidence is built, friendships are formed and differences are celebrated, Smith said. For families navigating an uncertain world, it offers something simple but powerful: a place to belong. —Morgan Boonshaft
You might be interested in these Charlotte events
Events submitted by readers to The Ledger’s events board:
THURSDAY: “South Charlotte Partners Breakfast Club,” 8-9:30 a.m., at AC Hotel Charlotte Ballantyne, 14819 Ballantyne Village Way. July Breakfast Club will focus on the topic of “The State of Health Care in South Charlotte.” The conversation will bring together local health care leaders to explore how hospitals are evolving to meet the needs of a growing and diverse community. Registration required. $28.52.
AUGUST 2: “Color Riot Art Exhibition Opening,” 6-9 p.m., at ClearWater Arts Center, 223 Crowell Drive NW, Concord. Color Riot: Artists Exploring Boundaries is a bold and dynamic exhibition showcasing the work of contemporary artists of color who harness the expressive power of color to transcend limitations: cultural, social and formal. The opening reception will feature conversations with some of the participating artists. Free.
AUGUST 4: “Speak Easy with Brian Lafontaine,” 6-8 p.m., at VisArt Video, 3104 Eastway Drive. Join the Speak Easy Networking Group for its monthly event, where public speaking meets Prohibition-era vibes, minus the police raids. This theater-style venue feels more like a late-night comedy club than a corporate seminar. This is a place to practice out loud. To get brave. To say it before you feel ready. It’s not about being perfect—it’s about being real. Being heard. You may also join as a spectator if you have aspirations of taking the stage one day. Registration required. $35.
AUGUST 17: “Everything You Need to Know to Vote in 2025,” 3-4:30 p.m., at James B. Duke Memorial Library, 100 Beatties Ford Rd. Sisters of Sirius #008 and the James B. Duke Friends of the Library are excited to host a civic educational session. Hear from Sucharita Kodali, founder of the Ledger’s Election Hub, to learn how local government works, understand your voting power, and be prepared for upcoming elections. Registration required. $15 donation.
➡️ List your event on the Ledger events board.
In brief:
6 killed, 1 injured in I-485 crash: Six people, including three young children and a 16-year-old driver, were killed Saturday when two vehicles collided and were crushed under a tractor-trailer on I-485 at Walkers Ferry Road in west Charlotte. A 16-year-old girl was the sole survivor. (WCNC)
CMS federal grant funding released: Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools will receive $12.5M in federal grant funding after the U.S. Department of Education approved the release of nearly $8B nationwide, according to a statement from CMS. “We are cautiously optimistic that these grant funds will continue to fund public education in the future,” the statement said.
UNC applicants to be notified before Christmas: UNC Chapel Hill will notify North Carolina residents who apply by the Oct. 15 early action deadline by Dec. 20 — more than a month earlier than in previous years, according to an announcement from the university last week. Nonresident early action applicants will receive decisions by Feb. 10, 2026, and regular decision timelines remain unchanged, with notifications by March 31.
Uptick in illegal food vendors: Mecklenburg County Public Health has received 184 complaints since last year about unlicensed food vendors selling in uptown and South End late at night. Officials are urging vendors to comply voluntarily, but say repeat offenders could face citations or law enforcement action. (WFAE)
In memoriam: Vicki Foster, the highest-ranking woman officer in Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department history, died Friday. Police Chief Johnny Jennings shared on X that “Retired Assistant Chief Vicki Foster was a dear friend and it was an honor for me to know her for the past 30 years.” (Observer)
Raising Cane’s headed to Rock Hill: Louisiana-based chicken chain Raising Cane’s will open its first Charlotte-area location in Rock Hill this December. The exact site and date are unknown. (WBTV)
Charlotte FC victory: Charlotte FC capped off a dominant July with a 2-0 home win over Toronto on Saturday, securing its longest-ever four-game win streak and climbing to eighth in the Eastern Conference standings. (Observer)
New Panthers documentary: The Charlotte Observer’s new hour-long documentary celebrating the Carolina Panthers’ 2015 season, called “SUPER MEN,” is now available to stream on YouTube. The film highlights behind-the-scenes stories, player reflections and the team’s lasting bond.
Mayor called ‘control freak’: In a thorough profile of Mayor Vi Lyles published on Sunday, City Council member and fellow Democrat Dimple Ajmera says the mayor is “a control freak,” adding, “Every single decision, she wants it this way because the staff wants it that way.” Ajmera, sometimes mentioned as a possible future mayoral candidate, also gives Lyles credit for moving the city forward on housing, transportation and jobs. (The Charlotte Optimist)
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