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vibRAnT nEighboRhoods in ThE hisToRiC WEsT End CULTURAL MARKET CEnter CiTy vision President’s Letter C o m m u n i t y E n g a g E m E n t Second edition contentS B u l l E t i n A Johnson c. Smith University Magazine FALL 2010 jcsu.edu PRES i DE n t 18 Greetings: Ronald L. carter, Ph.d ED i t o R i a l t E a m 34 Editors: Community engagement is one of my life’s La Vondra Farquharson, MA passions. Last year, i thought it would be apropos Sherrill Hampton, Jd Benny L. Smith, APR, MMc to share with the greater charlotte area all the various civic outreach projects of which the JcSU Writers: Family was proud to be a part, as well as how much J’tanya Adams of a positive impact we are making in the lives Kristian coley of others. As a result, we created the inaugural Malcolm Graham issue of the Community Engagement magazine. our Sherrill Hampton, Jd Craig Lovallen 20 student athletes graced the cover as they worked Aaron McKeithan, Jr. at a Habitat for Humanity site. Service learning Benny L. Smith, APR, MMc is paramount in the education of our students. Marguerite Williams Most recently, the corporation for national and 22 community Service honored Johnson c. Smith PH o t o g R a PH y University with a place on the President’s Higher Calvin Ferguson education community Service Honor Roll for exemplary service efforts and service to America’s DES i g n communities. this is the fourth time JcSU Set?communicate! www.setedu.com has been recognized. As you can see, we are no strangers to community service. For this second issue we wanted to take a different approach and focus on the 12 historic Cover story 4 Legacy of civic engagement Johnson c. Smith University is committed to servant leadership neighborhoods surrounding the University. We would like to extend a sincere thank you to the Beatties Ford Road and civic engagement task Force and to Sherrill Hampton, director, center for Applied Leadership and community development, for being such vital catalysts in the process. our writers interviewed association leaders, lifetime residents, and even some Features 6 2020 Vision Plan + Beatties Ford Road of the newest members of the communities. interview w/ Harvey Gantt, Former Mayor and 2020 Vision Plan Steering committee co-chair our hope is that the magazine will be used as a resource for city planners, visitors, and even those among us who ride along the Beatties Ford Road corridor without realizing the rich history we pass daily. Regardless if you live in Published by the Office of President, Office of Public Relations, and the Center for Applied 8 JcSU Makes no Small Plans a thriving metropolitan area or in a quaint little town, it is the purposeful act of getting to know your neighbors that Leadership and Community Development for the An overview of the Beatties Ford Road corridor Revitalization gives you that wonderful sense of community. Or, as Shakespeare wrote, “What is the city but the people?” community and friends of JCSU. initiative Sincerely, Unless noted, all materials contained herein 10 Historic West end cultural Market ©2010 Johnson C. Smith University. All rights reserved. A Resident-driven initiative to Promote economic Revitalization through Arts and culture dr. Ronald L. carter, President Johnson c. Smith University 12 the neighborhoods of West end Profiles of 12 of the 27 neighborhoods along the Beatties Ford Road corridor o n t he C o v er the neighborhoods along the Beatties Ford Road corridor and JcSU’s closest neighbors Charlotte’s Premier indePendent Urban University comprise charlotte’s Historic West end. Community engagement 8 agazine verview 8 Proud to continue our M O Legacy of civic engagement ohnson c. Smith are being created as new developments are built University is (see Neighborhood Listing on page 9). the uniqueness committed to servant of each neighborhood in the Historic West end leadership and civic contributes to the collective spirit that permeates engagement. it is a throughout charlotte’s historical and cultural fabric. learning community in addition, the newly created neighborhoods link J that is passionate about the past and present with the future. its responsibility to serve. to that end, the center A place is nothing without the people who live for Applied there. the heart and soul of the Beatties Ford Road Leadership and corridor are its residents. they are community the warmest, most generous, and development determined i have encountered was launched in any community in which i in April 2009. have lived and/or traveled. they the center are proud of their community serves as a and heritage, and rightly so. community- the Historic West end Market based educational is but one example of resident- highway led initiatives that speak to the connecting love that the residents have charlotte’s for their history, culture, and historic neighborhoods. neighborhoods, i could continue to expound on the greater the people and neighborhoods. Mecklenburg region, the instead, i invite you to read the nonprofit sector, local each UniqUe various articles about the current government, faith-based historic West end revitalization initiative and the institutions, and the business neighborhood 2020 planning efforts, as well as community with the faculty contribUtes to the to review the overall listing of the and student body of the collective spirit neighborhoods and feature stories University. the past year of charlotte’s on JcSU’s closest neighbors. There are TwenTy-seven has been most rewarding. historical and the University’s gates are open! neighborhoods along i deeply appreciate the warm cUltUral fabric. Smith is proud to continue beatties Ford road and generous welcome the its legacy of civic engagement and more are‘‘ he heart and soul of the greater charlotte community has and work with its neighbors to being creaTed as T extended to me, especially the Beatties Ford enhance community vitality and expand economic new developmenTs Beatties Ford Road Corridor Road corridor residents. are builT. opportunity along the Beatties Ford Road corridor. through my work with the neighborhoods along are its residents. They are the Beatties Ford Road, i witnessed first-hand the character, charm, and resiliency of the people and warmest, most generous and place. For that reason, i am extremely pleased to Peace and Blessings, present this special edition of the BULLETIN, determined I have encountered in which showcases the great neighborhoods along the Beatties Ford Road corridor. Whether one fondly remembers the area as the Historic West end, calls any community in which I have it the northwest corridor or simply Beatties Ford Sherrill Hampton Road, the area is still a great place to live and is just Special Assistant to the President & Director of the lived and/or traveled.” a few minutes from uptown charlotte. there are 27 Center for Applied Leadership and Community neighborhoods along Beatties Ford Road and more Development 4 communitY engageMent 2010 JoHnSON c. SMITH UNIVeRSITY 5 Community engagement defining then ext charlotte decade 8 2020 ision lan 8 An interview with Harvey Gantt, Architect and Former charlotte Mayor V P By Marguerite Williams ith an october 2009 community Workshop, and Gateway Village and Uptown. We want to make improvements charlotte began a project of critical importance in facilities, streetscapes, and transportation options that eliminate to the future of the city: the center city 2020 Vision the expressway as a barrier to growth and development,” Gnatt Plan, which is a collaborative process among charlotte commented. “We’ve made these kinds of improvements in the center city Partners, the city of charlotte, and connections with South end, and Westside residents will see changes Mecklenburg county. Steering that allow them to move freely and safely between their committee co-chairs Ann caulkins neighborhoods and Uptown.” W and Harvey Gantt have years of Some seeds already have been planted with grants being experience in community leadership and sought for public art and lighting improvements that will are determined to involve citizens in every help make the walk under the i-77 overpass into a pleasant phase of the plan. and neighborly experience. Said Gantt “Under President Gantt, Mayor of charlotte from 1983 Ron carter’s leadership, Johnson c. Smith University is until 1987, is optimistic about what this stretching beyond its traditional walls to reach out to the kind of planning can mean to the city and surrounding community. of course, he is developing the to the region. “this is a framework plan, inner campus, but sees the University’s role as a prime as opposed to a master plan. this is our mover in the West end corridor, as well, with the building chance to determine how we want our city of the new fine arts facility and more off-campus housing to grow. charlotte has been involved in for non-traditional students who live in the area.” framework planning since the ‘60s, and With the Steering committee’s commitment to citizen we know that the results can be impressive engagement, the planning process has been divided into if we have enough citizen input and the five working groups, each comprised of 15 members of right project team.” an inTerview wiTh the community. each one is being asked to contribute MiG, inc., a multidisciplinary urban harvey gantt ideas and concepts to the project team in one of five planning and community design firm based areas: economic vitality; urban living; transportation in california, is guiding the project team. and mobility; arts, culture and entertainment; and parks, Local firms have joined them:c oleJenest recreation, and the environment.