WS Chronicle

Winston-Salem leaders are set to take a deeper dive into one of the city’s most pressing challenges—how to create housing that is both affordable and equitable—as a new community conversation moves from defining the problem to identifying real solutions.

Leadership Winston-Salem will host its next “Leaders & Lunch” virtual forum on Wednesday, March 18, bringing together housing experts, policymakers and nonprofit leaders to explore “Housing Frameworks & Solutions for the Future.” The one-hour Zoom event, scheduled from noon to 1 p.m., will include a panel discussion and audience Q&A.

The conversation builds on a January forum titled “Housing: What ‘Affordable’ Really Means,” where residents and leaders examined the growing gap between wages and housing costs. This next session, organizers say, is designed to move beyond definitions and toward strategies that can be implemented locally.

“This discussion is about action,” organizers said in a statement. “We’re looking at what it will take—across sectors—to create housing systems that work for everyone.”

The panel will be moderated by Denise “D.D.” Adams, who has long advocated for equitable development and investment in historically underserved communities, including East Winston.

Panelists include:

• Laurie Ingram, executive director of ANCHOR, a nonprofit focused on expanding equitable housing opportunities
• Sarah Odio, associate director with the UNC School of Government’s Development Finance Initiative
• Stephen J. Sills, a housing consultant whose research examines community resilience and structural housing barriers

Together, the panelists will address several persistent challenges shaping housing access in Winston-Salem and across North Carolina. Those include zoning restrictions that limit where and how housing can be built, community resistance to new development, and barriers that make it harder for low-income residents, seniors and people with disabilities to secure stable housing.

Organizers say the discussion will also focus on how collaboration—between local government, nonprofits, developers and residents—can lead to more balanced growth that supports both economic development and neighborhood stability.

For Winston-Salem residents, the stakes are high. Rising home prices and rents, coupled with stagnant wages for many workers, have made it increasingly difficult for families to remain in the communities they have long called home. Housing access also intersects with broader issues, including education, transportation and public health.

The Leaders & Lunch series, hosted by Leadership Winston-Salem, aims to create space for those conversations while connecting civic leaders and community members around shared challenges. The program regularly draws alumni of the leadership program alongside residents, advocates and policymakers.

The March 18 event will be held virtually via Zoom, and registration is required to receive the access link. Organizers encourage residents, community stakeholders and local officials to attend and participate in the discussion.

Why this matters:

As Winston-Salem continues to grow, decisions made now about land use, development and housing investment will shape who can afford to live in the city—and where—for decades to come. Conversations like this one help surface both the barriers and the potential pathways forward.

What’s next:

The virtual forum will take place Wednesday, March 18, from noon to 1 p.m. Residents can register in advance at http://bit.ly/3PvbPR6. Organizers say additional community conversations are expected later this year as the city continues to grapple with housing affordability and access.