Vi Lyles has long been active in the Charlotte community. She is a former Charlotte Assistant City Manager, and former Director for the Charlotte Mecklenburg Coalition for Housing. Vi serves on many community boards and was named Charlotte Woman of the Year in 2003.
- Leadership Charlotte Class 3
- Director of Community Relations, 2012 Democratic National Convention Host Committee
- Hometown: Columbia, SC
- Education: Queens University, BA Political Science, UNC Masters Public Administration
- Favorite Leader: Nelson Mandela, who said “It always seems impossible until it’s done.
- Person you would most like to meet: I imagine a conversation with President Obama.
- Favorite Book: Prince of Tides by Pat Conroy, I am a southerner at heart!
- Favorite Place to Volunteer: Any place developing women and their children.
- Personal leadership goal: To leave this place – my family, my community – a better place than when I found it.
- Hottest news topic that fires you up: The lack of compromise and respect in national politics.
- “Theme song” or words you live by: Leadership requires courage to step up and to sometimes step aside.
- Favorite Summer or Fall Activity: Being at the lake (summer and fall)!
- Favorite LC Program Day or Favorite LC Memory: The Observer column the Class wrote endorsing district elections for the City.
- Hot leadership idea for Charlotte: Real government consolidation – the 7 cities and towns and County consolidated and an appointed School Board.