We believe every young person in Charlotte deserves a hobby that sparks joy, and we’re using community-led science and microgrants to make our city the national blueprint for youth purpose.
City of Hobbies
About City of Hobbies
We are building a movement so that everyone in Charlotte, especially children and teens, can find a hobby that brings them joy and purpose.
We combine research and action. During the year-long program, we ask thousands of children and teens about what hobbies they would want to do and engage high school students as youth fellows to deepen our understanding of hobby interests and needs. We will then use microgrants to find and highlight local talents and enable them to share their passions, test new events and programs and transform physical spaces into fantastic hobby sites for all ages.
After all of this, we will have built the evidence and confidence needed to make Charlotte the best city for hobbies in the United States. All our lessons from this work will be public.
What is a hobby?
A hobby is something you choose to do regularly—alone or with others—for enjoyment, relaxation, and pleasure.
Whether your hobby is an online game, collecting fountain pens, soccer, cheerleading, reading or woodwork, there is one thing in common: your eyes light up when you talk about your hobby.
Hobbies give you purpose. They encourage you to go deeper. They build communities. They make you feel seen. A sign of a true hobby is that you could talk about it for hours.
Photo by Terence Kennedy
Why Hobbies Matter?
Research shows that hobbies enrich our idea of who we truly are as people. Whether your passion is pickleball, skateboarding or needlepoint stitching, hobbies let us experience joy, relieve stress from school or work, and provide moments of wonder. Having at least one hobby is shown to be associated with fewer depressive symptoms and higher reported health. Hobbies allow us to develop character. They bring new people into our lives.
While we all need hobbies, they are particularly important for children. They help young people build and hold onto an identity, develop and sustain supportive relationships, and bring more trusted adults into their lives. Having a weekly hobby correlates with children feeling less lonely, experiencing less stress, being less bullied, feeling better, and sleeping more. Hobbies also enhance the joy of learning, boost persistence, and teach self-regulation, all of which benefit academic performance.
Photo by Terence Kennedy
Project Partners
We are a team of nonprofit, public and private partners working together to help all
Charlotteans find a hobby that brings them joy and purpose.
The City of Hobbies Initiative is funded by The Gambrell Foundation.
Learn more about The Gambrell Foundation at gambrellfoundation.org.
Let’s Build Together
Ready to spark joy and purpose in Charlotte? Whether you're a local talent with a passion to share, a student eager to lead, or a partner ready to transform our spaces, we want to hear from you.
Fill out the form below to join the movement. Let's make Charlotte the hobby capital of the U.S.!