Joi Mayo

The Election Hub Questionnaire

Please provide demographic information about yourself to help voters (age, education, current occupation, where you live).

I am Joi Mayo, 39, a former Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools math and social studies teacher and now the community engagement manager for an environmental nonprofit advancing environmental justice across Charlotte. I hold a bachelor’s degree from Elon University and a master’s degree in History with a concentration in African American Studies from the College of Charleston. I live in Southwest Charlotte’s Nations Ford Corridor.

Why are you running for this role and why should voters pick you? Please share any experience in an elected role that would be relevant to voters.

I’m running for Charlotte City Council District 3 because I’ve seen firsthand how disinvestment harms our neighborhoods, and I know we can do better. I bring more than a decade of community leadership, from serving as HOA president to leading coalitions that have secured investment in safety improvements, protected my neighborhood from corporate landlords, and maintained a pathway to affordable homeownership. My track record shows I can turn ideas into action, and I will fight for infrastructure, housing, and economic opportunity in every corner of District 3.

While I have not held elected office before, I have served as HOA president in my community for nine years, as president of the Southwest Area Neighborhood Coalition, and as the founder and board chair of Transforming Nations Ford, a community development organization bringing opportunity, investment, and safety to the Nations Ford Corridor. I served over four years on CharMeck’s Community Relations Committee, including two years as chair of its Public Relations Committee.

What is one thing you would like to accomplish in the first six months if elected?

Within the first six months, I will work to establish a District 3 Community Council, a structured, resident-led advisory group that meets regularly to identify priorities, track progress, and hold the city accountable for delivering results. This will ensure that smaller neighborhoods and regions receive the necessary investment and attention, while enabling the larger District 3 community to collaborate on Community Benefits Agreements that benefit all residents.

What is your position on the proposed transit tax and why? Will you vote in favor of it or against it in November?

I am neutral on the proposed transit tax and believe residents should review the full plan before voting. Charlotte needs better transit options and investment in multi-modal transit, light rail, buses, bike lanes, greenways, and safe sidewalks. My concern is that transit expansion can lead to the displacement of long-term residents. Any plan must include protections like land banking, affordable housing investments, and community benefits agreements to ensure growth benefits current communities.

What endorsements from any notable NC organizations or individuals have you received?

I have received an Excellent rating from the LGBTQ+ Meck Dems and endorsements from the Black Political Caucus of Charlotte-Mecklenburg, former Charlotte City Councilmembers Ron Leeper and Justin Harlow, and other notable community leaders.

Tell us something unexpected about you that voters may be interested to know.

I am a history lover who once considered becoming a museum curator. My passion for storytelling helps me connect past struggles to today’s challenges and solutions. I hope to one day write historical fiction to share the experiences of the African American community.