Some families move to a neighborhood and then get to know it. Michele and Matt Mannering did it the other way around.
When Michele and Matt Mannering decided to move to Dilworth in 2024, it was not only the historic homes or the tree-lined streets that drew them. They had already become part of the community.
"We realized we were spending all of our time here once our kids started school," Michele says. "Dilworth has historic charm as well as a strong sense of community."
From Boston College to Charlotte
The couple's story began at Boston College, where they met as students. Their paths split after graduation, Matt to California for law school and Michele to New York City for her Ph.D., before they found their way back to one another. They relocated to Charlotte in 2011 and lived in Myers Park before making the move to Dilworth.
Michele has operated a private pediatric psychology practice since 2013, conducting evaluations to diagnose conditions such as ADHD, learning disabilities and anxiety. Matt practices law in corporate finance.
Three kids, a lot of sidelines
Their three children keep the family on the go. The twins started sixth grade at Sedgefield Middle School this fall, and their younger sister is a fourth grader at Dilworth Elementary. Between them the kids play soccer, field hockey, baseball, flag football and lacrosse, and all three play tennis, which makes weekends a whirlwind of games, practices and cheering from the sidelines.
Much of the family's free time revolves around Dilworth Little League, where their son plays baseball. "The Dilworth Little League community is amazing," Michele says. "We feel super lucky to be part of it." Whether the family is at Freedom Park or Whittington Field, they have found that youth sports are about more than competition. They are a way to connect with neighbors and build lasting friendships.
Giving back matters to the Mannerings, too. They support organizations including Refugee Support Services, the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society and the Live Like Bryant Foundation.
Alaska, London and the Jersey Shore
Travel is a shared passion. The family's trips have taken them to Alaska, London, Costa Rica and Puerto Rico, and they look forward to annual summer trips to New England, along with visits to family in Long Beach Island, New Jersey. Reunion weekends with close friends from their Boston College days have continued through the years as those families have grown.
Still, the Mannerings say they are happiest at home. "It feels like a tiny neighborhood but there is so much to do within walking distance," Michele says. "Our kids love being able to walk or ride their bikes everywhere they need to go."
She also treasures the neighborhood's welcoming spirit. "It's a community where you typically run into someone you know everywhere you go," she says. "We're lucky to live in a place where kids still ring neighbors' doorbells to ask if they can come out and play."
When they are not traveling or cheering from the sidelines, the Mannerings like exploring Charlotte's growing restaurant scene and catching sporting events, especially when Boston teams come to town. They have embraced Charlotte as home, but they keep a soft spot for the city where their own story began.
This story appears in the September 2026 issue of Stroll Dilworth.