The following article appeared in the Sept. 19, 2025, edition of The Charlotte Ledger, an e-newsletter with smart and original local news for Charlotte. We offer free and paid subscription plans. More info here.
Charity Spotlight: West Charlotte-based nonprofit works to improve community mental and physical health
The youth boxing program at Kika’s House seeks to instill in its participants the confidence, resilience and support they need for life. (Photo courtesy of Kika’s House)
by Clara Dunn
For Kika Jackson, one’s environment dictates one’s direction. Growing up in West Charlotte, Jackson saw that her family and community were disproportionately affected by medical disparities and gun violence. These experiences set the foundation for Kika’s House, a Charlotte-based nonprofit that works to empower West Charlotte community members to take control of their physical, mental and spiritual well-being.
Kika’s House began with Jackson giving out lunch to neighborhood children and financial advice to their parents. As more and more people came to her for help with insurance or internet services, she knew she had to expand. In February of 2021, Kika’s House became a nonprofit, and its services are now mostly funded through donations and sponsorships.
“My goal [is] to create a healing ecosystem that will provide resources to improve mentally, physically, financially and create a space where people [can] heal from traumas and create a generational legacy,” Jackson said.
Since it began, Kika’s House has expanded to include a number of programs, the most well-known being “Fight For Your Life,” a six-month program for women that includes weekly workouts, financial literacy workshops and nutritional workshops. This program takes place at Werk Fitness and requires participants to purchase a gym membership, but Kika’s House will work with those who can’t afford it to come up with another plan.
Other programs—like Fathers Feeding Families, led by Rufus Lockhart from the Fatherhood Empowerment Network; adult and youth (7+) boxing classes led by Jackson and Quinton Rankin; and the Community Wellness Marketplace and Garden, located in the Enderly Park neighborhood off of Freedom Drive—are specifically focused on improving participants’ physical and nutritional health.
“We do have a few grocery stores, but the quality of food is trash,” Jackson said. Her goal is to provide her clients with access to healthy and quality food while also teaching them to prevent disease with physical activity.
Kika’s House also runs a variety of financial education programs. Money Moves is focused on teaching participants to build generational wealth through investment and budgeting. The Economic Freedom Lab takes participants who already have a small business or side hustle and works with them to turn it into a sustainable business.
“Too many of our families are faced with a lot of health barriers, wealth barriers and opportunities just not being existent. Kika’s House exists to break those cycles,” Jackson said.
Starting in January 2026, the organization will launch its Kids Healing Cohort, a wellness program that encourages mindfulness and creativity in children through meditation, the arts and movement.
Those looking to support Kika’s House can donate on its website or apply to be a volunteer for one of its many programs. Jackson is also looking for volunteers with experience in boxing, gardening, financial literacy or similar skills.
Clara Dunn is an intern for The Charlotte Ledger. She is a sophomore at Boston University and attended high school at Northwest School of the Arts in Charlotte.
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