Charlotte musician Jeff Lucky has won a $500 grant from Crossroads Charlotte to share his personal tale of pain and triumph.

Born Jeff Moonie Jr., Lucky is the brother of 1999 murder victim Cherica Adams.

Adams was eight months pregnant with the child of former Carolina Panthers player Ray Carruth when she was shot four times in a drive-by shooting in south Charlotte. Her baby, Chancellor, survived but suffered brain damage.

Carruth was sentenced to at least 18 years and 11 months in prison for arranging the killing.

At the time of her death, Adams was managing her brother’s budding music career. In an interview earlier this year with Qcitymetro.com, Lucky said her slaying caused him to sink into deep despair. He is now back in the studio and recently produced his first full-length solo album – Soul Motivation.

Lucky will use the Crossroads grant to produce a public event – also called Soul Motivation -- in which he and others will share their stories of tragedy to triumph.

The grant is part of Crossroads Charlotte’s A.C.T. (Achieving Community Today) Project, which funds small initiatives that connect people across lines of difference.

Grant applicants submit ideas, and the public votes on Facebook. Lucky was one of three winners in the third round of grants announced last week.

Other third-round recipients are:

Jabari Adams
The Enderly Park community recently established a neighborhood association, but no youth are involved. Adams envisions a more diverse organization. He is working to implement a plan where young Enderly Park residents would pick up litter and help revitalize their community while adults supervise and provide some of their best recipes to nourish and engage everyone.

Martina Jones
The Mentoring Youth Leadership Committee (M.Y.L.C.) has been working to make the Farm Pond community a safe, beautiful and self-sufficient. Over the spring break weekend, volunteers, local business, churches, and police and fire departments will work in the community picking up liter and doing other beautification projects.

For more information about A.C.T. Projects, visit http://www.crossroadscharlotte.org/signature_event/9/ACT-Achieving-Community-Today-Grants.

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