SchoolfieldAlex Berryman

Roanoke College & Virginia Tech

Schoolfield:Past & Present

Schoolfield TodayACS 2014 5 Year Estimates*

Population 4,000 individuals18% children16% seniors

Race 66% white 29% African-American5% multi-racial

Median Income $25-$30k

Housing 58% owned / 41% rentalRent & Utilities: $650Mortgage & Utilities: $825

Education 70% at least HSD/GED

Poverty 24% individuals30% SNAP

Crime 37 to date72 in 2015

Digging Deeper

What I Found🔸Assets-Community Strengths🔸People!- Lifelong & more recent 🔸Associations-Neighborhood, congregations, reunion 🔸Institutions-Museum, school, business🔸Built environment- Parks & walkability

What I Also Found

🔸Limited neighbor connections🔸Vacant/absent properties🔸Uncertainty of mill properties

Best Practice: The Soul of the Community

▷ Passion/loyalty-Correlates to GDP growth

▷ Space to substantiate research▷ Heart & Soul- Orton Foundation▷ Issue- Branded process

7(Knight, 2010 p. 28; Orton, 2015 p. 10)

Plotting Attitudes against Attachment

8

(Knight, 2010 p. 14)

Opportunities Moving Forward🔸National Night Out- continue🔸Expand membership- Serve children🔸Beautify!, Build features for all- Trail🔸Ongoing- Network within community🔸Be the Architect for a brighter future!

Project: Schoolfield Kickstart Event

🔸 Success!🔸 Diverse attendance🔸 Gathered Info from resident🔸 National Night Out- recruitment

CommentsWhat do you like?

🔸Peace and quiet*🔸Lifelong residence🔸Helpful neighbors🔸“Good place”🔸“Low-key”🔸Parks

What change would you like? 🔸Youth activities*🔸Crime🔸Speeding traffic🔸Cost of living🔸“Opportunities”

What can you do about it?

🔸Neighborhood Watch

🔸Community Yard Sale

🔸Call on neighbors🔸Visit & introduce

self🔸Community clean

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