WS Chronicle

In photo above: Over 100 members of the community gather to talk about “Waughtown & MLK: Our Neighborhood Plan.” (Submitted photo)

Special to The Chronicle

“Waughtown & MLK: Our Neighborhood Plan,” is a 12-month community revitalization initiative funded by the city of Winston-Salem.
This strategic planning process is being facilitated by S.G. Atkins Community Development Corporation (Atkins CDC) in partnership with Winston-Salem State University (WSSU) and the Piedmont Triad Regional Council (PTRC).

This year-long effort is identifying community-supported, tangible actions to improve and revitalize the Waughtown community.
Recommendations may include a range of proposed projects, programs, policies and partnerships.

The group has met twice, with the second meeting on April 28.

Project partners held a kick-off community meeting at the Enterprise Center on March 3. Nearly 100 community members shared their ideas for making Waughtown an even better place to live, work and play.

Numerous follow-up meetings were then held at local schools and churches to gather additional ideas.

On April 28, a second community meeting was held to review and prioritize issues and ideas identified at the first community meeting and various follow-up meetings. Representatives from three WSSU classes provided presentations on their research for and about the community.

Urban geography students presented a range of “Green Neighborhood Techniques” to help residents make their community more sustainable by lowering energy consumption and costs and improving air and water quality.

Community psychology students presented a collage of 6 short video pieces highlighting “Waughtown’s Sense of Community: Past, Present and Future.”

WSSU graphic design students presented a variety of proposed logos, banners, way-finding signs and maps, and murals to help residents celebrate, build on and communicate Waughtown’s rich and authentic sense of place and unique identity.

Over 100 members of the community then used audience participation technology (clickers) to select the following three strategic topics they are most interested in addressing first: Community and Economic Development; Community Appearance; and Recreation and Youth Programs. Each participant then individually self-selected a work group and provided information to help organizers establish a convenient meeting schedule for each group.

Team members will work together over the coming months (May-August) to discuss key issues and opportunities, and to identify strategic actions to address these issues and help improve the vitality and quality of life. Recommendations from each work group will be combined into a draft “Neighborhood Plan” for community members to review and refine at a third community meeting this fall.

For more information about this project and how you or your community organization can participate, please contact Juan Aguilar at 336-734-6900.