Photo Credit: Central Piedmont Community College

Rep. Mel Watt begins his 11th annual "Trading Places" work period today. Every year, the Charlotte Democrat joins in the work of a range of 12th District residents. His three-day event begins today cashing checks and processing deposits at a Charlotte credit union, meeting with homeless people at a shelter, helping with resumes and job searches at a Goodwill career center in Salisbury, and assisting nurses at a blood donation center in Kannapolis.

On Tuesday, he heads to a vineyard in Lexington to pack and serve wine, to a construction site in High Point to work with convicted felons hoping to re-enter society, and to a bus plant also in High Point, to work on the line.

Watt wraps up the events Wednesday learning to operate machinery at a Greensboro training center and answering nonemergency calls at a 911 center in Greensboro. He'll then participate in a class that cooks meals for soup kitchens and play with children at a community child care center, both in Winston-Salem.

"Working alongside my constituents and discussing their concerns provides an excellent firsthand opportunity for me to understand their needs and how I can serve them best in Washington," Rep. Watt said.