RFP Staff
♦ The Chamber: Kenny Hardin, Pastor Anthony Smith, and Chris Sifford joined with the West End Community and West End Pride Organizations to organize a Community Town Hall Meeting held Wednesday, July 23rd at the Miller Recreation Center in the West End. Leaders and hosts included Dee Dee Wright of the West End Community Organization, and Shirley McLaughlin of the West End Pride Organization. Clee Atkinson, Jr., Master Trooper, NC State Highway Patrol and Gang/Terrorism Liaison with NC State Bureau of Investigation gave a riveting gang awareness presentation. Alex Clark shared the personal story of his 18 year Federal Prison incarceration for selling and distributing drugs. He also shared his education-based turnaround story. After the presentations, citizens of the united neighborhoods voiced their thoughts and concerns. These videos mark the start of a very important series to search out solutions and bring about community involvement.
The organizations will meet with City Leaders, Police Chief Collins, and Sheriff Auten to share the areas that citizens feel need to be addressed. Each Church, Greek Organization, Neighborhood Group, and others will take these priority areas back to their respective organizations and implement interventions and solutions as they see fit.
