Early Days & Education
Malcolm Graham grew up in Charleston, South Carolina, then won a tennis scholarship to Johnson C. Smith University in 1981 and graduated in 1985. His West End ties began there, long before campaign signs sprouted on Beatties Ford Road.
Business & Civic Resume
A decade with the Carolinas Minority Supplier Development Council morphed into corporate stints at Bank of America and Time Warner Cable. Those boardrooms inspired him to found the Center for Supplier Diversity, helping small businesses crack big-company supply chains City Bio.
State Senate Tenure (2004-2014)
Representing Mecklenburg’s District 40, Graham sponsored bills for light-rail expansion and anti-gang initiatives—practical stuff that still echoes in today’s transit debates City Bio.
Personal Tragedy, Public Mission
After white supremacist violence claimed his sister Cynthia Graham Hurd in 2015, Graham became a national speaker on hate’s aftermath and co-founded the Cynthia Graham Hurd Center—the same grief that fuels his 2025 book, The Way Forward Book Site.
Return to City Council & Committee Clout
Back on council since 2019, he chairs Jobs & Economic Development and sits on Transportation, Planning & Development. He’s the face of Charlotte’s Corridors of Opportunity program, steering $210 million into historically overlooked business strips.
No “Plan B” for Transit
Graham warns there’s no backup if Raleigh torpedoes Charlotte’s one-cent transit sales-tax referendum—“all our eggs are in one basket” he told reporters WCNC Interview.
Beds for Kids & West End Revival
Since 2020 he’s executive director of Beds for Kids, delivering mattresses and furniture to families transitioning out of homelessness. He also quarterbacked Historic West End’s first facelift in 40 years.
2025 & Beyond—Poll Dance Time
With Charlotte’s growth pains and “Poll Dance 2025” swirling, Graham’s ballot stance matters. Watch our special election hub—Join the Dance—for each step, misstep and spin.
Where to Dive Deeper
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About the Author
Jack Beckett writes before sunrise with a French press the size of a fire hydrant. When the caffeine finally kicks in, he files for The Charlotte Mercury, nitpicks transit budgets, and tips generously at diner counters. Catch more mischief on CLT Mercury—from corridor deep-dives to “Poll Dance 2025.” Please message us on Twix at x.com/queencityexp.
☕ If this story kept you awake, blame the beans.
Creative Commons License
© 2025 Strolling Ballantyne / The Charlotte Mercury
This article, “Who Is Malcolm Graham? Charlotte’s District 2 Council Veteran Driving Corridors of Opportunity,” by Jack Beckett is licensed under CC BY-ND 4.0.
“Who Is Malcolm Graham? Charlotte’s District 2 Council Veteran Driving Corridors of Opportunity”
by Jack Beckett, The Charlotte Mercury (CC BY-ND 4.0)