WS Chronicle

PART 1

JESS SCHNUR 

THE CHRONICLE 

Love for Thy Neighbor 

Since its establishment in 1990, Neighbors for Better Neighborhoods (NBN) has empowered residents of Winston-Salem to come together and strengthen their community through its 35-year legacy of service. Born from a partnership between the Winston-Salem Foundation and the local population, NBN has been committed to promoting Asset-Based Community Development (ABCD) to cultivate the skills, gifts and talents of Winston-Salem residents in giving back and building up the local community. 

Led by Executive Director Latoya Robinson, much of her work over the past six years has been largely inspired by her desire to build a safe and prosperous community for her children. 

“Especially because we’ve been around so long and everything that we do is community-led, it’s community-driven, I think we have a really wonderful mission here, and the impact that we’re making in the lives that we’re partnering with really inspires me to continue [working],” said Robinson in an interview with The Chronicle. 

NBN offers a variety of programs and initiatives for the local populace to participate in, many of which have helped to spark positive change across the county. 

Grassroots Grant 

NBN’s Grassroots Grant provides funding for resident-led projects, ranging from $500 to $5,000. Through support from organizations such as the Winston-Salem Foundation and the Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation, individuals can propose their own ideas or partner with local 501(c)(3) organizations to support communities across the county, including Place Matters Communities in partnership with United Way of Forsyth County. 

“[It’s] a really unique approach in the work and in making sure that it’s really driven and involved with the community’s voice at the table,” said Robinson. 

One example of how residents have used these funds is a neighborhood safety initiative for older adults. With help from the Grassroots Grant, members of the community purchased and installed Ring cameras on the homes of older residents who may have difficulty answering the door, helping to create a safer environment for local seniors. 

Community Leadership Initiative 

NBN also facilitates the Community Leadership Initiative, also known as the Resident Leadership Initiative, to empower individuals in becoming experts in their community. Participants work closely with neighbors to identify needs and amplify local voices, particularly in vulnerable areas. 

Resident Leaders receive 10 hours of paid work per week as independent contractors, in addition to their volunteer efforts, and receive a stipend to support their work across communities. 

The initiative also helps establish neighborhood associations to further amplify local voices, assisting in the creation of bylaws and helping residents shape their vision for their neighborhoods. Through partnerships with the City of Winston-Salem, Forsyth County and United Way, the initiative provides training and resources to association members. 

“We have one [Resident Leader], her name is Shanita Johnson, and she is really active in her neighborhood associations and the work that she’s doing,” said Robinson. “She really voices a lot of concerns, makes sure that everyone’s input is received, and they see a lot of traction in things that they’re doing for their particular community.” 

Health Connector Initiative and the Health Disparities Collective 

Established during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, the Health Disparities Collective is a resident-initiated platform designed to connect healthcare experts and officials with the communities they serve. Originally focused on communicating virus-related information and masking procedures, the collective has since evolved into a space for ongoing dialogue about public health. 

“One thing I’m really passionate about is insurance agencies and what they are doing for communities to make health care accessible to those who may not be able to afford the higher insurance premiums and different things like that,” Robinson told The Chronicle. “And so, we had conversations about the change in Medicaid and how that’s affecting residents and things that they should do – and just simple conversations of, ‘Well, who is my PHP with?’ or, ‘Who is my Medicaid with now or my MCO, and how do I get that information?’ and different things like that.” 

Inspired by the Health Disparities Collective, the Health Connector Initiative continues this work, allowing residents passionate about wellness to identify healthcare gaps in their communities, such as appointment breakdowns or other barriers. Through partnerships with local healthcare providers, organizations and hospitals such as Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist, Health Connectors engage directly with community members to address disparities. 

“We did a pilot many years ago [through our partnership with Atrium Wake]. It was a really small pilot project, about five thousand dollars, and that has grown over the years to where we can really expand that and get some of our resident health connectors trained as certified healthcare – community healthcare – workers,” said Robinson. “And so, it’s really grown. We’re really excited about that project, and it’s something that we’re probably going to continue to do.” 

Giving Back to the Community 

Many of NBN’s programs offer opportunities for volunteers and donations to support their cause. Opportunities can be found on the NBN website at www.NBNcommunity.org. 

Every second Tuesday of the month, NBN hosts an online circle where communities, organizations and institutions can engage in collective dialogue to share ongoing initiatives and their impacts. 

For the first time in six years, NBN will host its Community Action Breakfast Fundraiser on June 17 at the Delta Arts Center. From 8 to 9:30 a.m., the event, “Neighborhoods in Action – In a Time of Change,” will feature a keynote reflection from Rev. Kenneth A. Pettigrew, M.Div., executive director of the YMCA REACH Center at Winston Lake. The program will also include presentations from resident storytellers, interactive experiences that highlight often-overlooked community assets, and a collective call to action to invest in grassroots leadership and lasting change. Tickets are $35 and available at NBN’s GiveLively site. 

“At the heart of Neighbors for Better Neighborhoods, we put community first, and we think that’s really important in pushing the needle along to see true change take place – whether that’s systems change or just overall collective change as a community for the different initiatives and organizations we support,” said Robinson. “We ensure that their voices are not only being heard – they’re present and seated at the table, and they’re really helping to form the initiatives and contribute to the work overall.  

“So that’s our mission. We’re not changing that. That’s how it was formed. And that’s really important for our city and for the work that we’re doing.”