Thriving

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Respondents are clear in their expression of the thriving community they want:

My vision sees Greensboro as an environmentally sustainable, socially just, and spiritually fulfilling place to live one's life.

For it to be more of a fun place

To be a hub of entrepreneurship, opportunity, and justice in our region -

A thriving area that supports local artisans and business owners through regularly organized community events

An inclusive and vibrant community that allows all people the opportunity to reach their full potential.

Funky, vibrant, multicultural, inclusive, just and prosperous,but not too big, city with a clear sense of its identity. Something like Asheville but more just and inclusive.

First and foremost, I want our community to be truly inclusive and loving toward POC. I want to move past the "polite society" bit that Greensboro possesses and be more authentic. On a lighter note, I want more nightlife and late night restaurant options.

I want Greensboro to be place people within (and outside of) our community appreciate. This appreciation will come from acceptance, quality of life, parks/greenways, economic development, supporting small businesses, and more.

Respondents are often detailed in tracing the contours of what enables thriving: 

"The future I desire for Greensboro is full of compassion, understanding, peace, love, and acceptance. I want our community to work together to help those who need it the most. I want our community to be a safe, fun, and diverse place to live and visit. l want more of Greensboro's residents to take ownership of the community and be proud to call Greensboro home. I want Greensboro to thrive. I want Greensboro to become a positive role model for other cities. I want Greensboro to invest in education for all walks of life. I want Greensboro to show the world that community efforts can have a bigger impact with better results than anyone could have imagined. I want Greensboro to be known as a community of people who care, and even causing a ripple effect across the world, sharing the ways in which we rose to the occasion, the ways in which we failed, and the ways in which we succeeded. I want our community to be honest, and show humility when necessary. I want our community to be humble and welcoming. I want our community to come together and overcome the challenges that we face. 

I'd love to see people's lives being made better, and for all creatures of all walks of life being welcomed and for us all to be transformed together by the caring and creative community we are. I want a thriving local economy of sustainable and ethical independent businesses, and jobs that people have the skills for and that pay living wages. I want neighbors who have a support network and a sense of belonging, even of stewardship. I want everyone to have access to quality education and enriching experiences. I want families and schools that are supported from every angle by the surrounding community. I want Greensboro's churches even more engaged in the work of healing and serving the community, in ways by which all parties can gain better understanding and appreciation for one another. I'd love for adoptive families to start having to adopt and foster kids from other counties because all the children from Guilford County already have a safe place to call home. I want a healthy and beautiful landscape, with trails that connect to the amazing regional network of trails that have been in the works for years. I want Greensboro to be a community where respect is the culture, and where many people work actively to make it entirely possible to rise up from any situation. I want Greensboro to earn a widespread reputation as a great place to find new beginnings, to put down roots and call home, a quirky, colorful place where the young and old, the misfits and the high-class achievers can sit together and share some laughs. I want Beef Burger to get a deep cleaning and still be standing in the same spot 100 years from now.

To grow with opportunities for all, provide more connected trails for those who enjoy being outside. More community events to bring all together. More night life, social fun, food and dancing. More leadership from successful blacks in low performing neighborhoods and all neighborhoods to uplift communities, give the black community better guidance and non-biased support. Get beggars of the street corners, looks 3rd world and should not be supported, help those on the street with night housing and help them find work or the help they need to get off the street. Study the Texas model that has brought many businesses and jobs to North Texas (Plano) and find a way to bring more good jobs to the Greensboro area. Look at intersections and provide right turn lanes to help keep traffic moving not to be backed up in a single lane, less pollution. Manage traffic lights with smart technology so sensors work better to keep traffic going. Hate sitting at a light when there is no traffic around, more pollution. For safety, I would like to see lit street signs at intersections that would hang with the street lights. To many times the street names are not visible (day or night) and can cause confusion with drivers.

Places or events where all community members can gather and be with one another, appreciate beauty and be proud of their city. Restaurants that are clean and open for food past 10 p.m. lively, active, and above all aesthetically pleasing -- tired of a mediocre-bare bones decorated establishment. Places where young adults can gather and enjoy, not just for the high society. Green spaces that are clean and kept (thank you for the work done on Country Park -- a great start!). Interesting lit areas - of art installations, unique buildings, etc (note how special the balls are during Christmas season) - would help with night life being more alive. Nobody goes out past 10 p.m. here! PLEASE please consider a common, central source, where all people can obtain information on events taking place in our city, photos of past occurrences, agenda/activities planned, cost, etc. A type of 'event' can be as simple as a new business opening -- so we can support it and alleviates the starting business having to 'buy' an ad! Give back to your community this way. It is tough for a family to plan to attend something that is communicated only one week prior and if one is new to town --- to know what an event was like in the past (photos help). Also, with so many avenues to obtain information on events (more subscribed unfortunately....) there isn't an overall view into ALL events, or new services/businesses to consider --- hopefully placed on an annual calendar so travel and planning can happen in advance. Hopefully someone can be hired to direct the effort -- and care to maintain it. We have the City of GSO site, GSO chamber site, Action GSO site, GSO Conv & Vis. Bureau site ----- (and other initiatives being funded) all serve their purpose....just exhausting the need to explore all to find the information you need. You could spend forever exploring websites and social media. Save us time, effort and energy please.

Respondents expressed that this effort is for all of us and takes all of us:

No one can transform a community alone. It takes a village. We need more people to get involved in our community. After a decade of constant traveling, I've realized that it's not about the place in which you live, it's about the people who live in that place. If we live in the same place, it only makes sense to come together, and learn to love the people you live with more than just caring about where you happen to live. 

Healthy, happy, and caring people building and maintaining a culture of care that doesn't look away from difficult truths but faces them with vision and justice. Healthy food available & green, vibrant neighborhoods in every part of town. Thriving arts. Thriving cultural organizations and groups. Thriving people who trust the city and each other to meet all of our basic needs. Schools that are fully resourced, equitable, and full of diverse, creative, empowered students and staff.

Respect the dignity of ALL persons. Work together, with compassion, that all may thrive.

Peaceful, prosperous, destination city with an open and inclusive community of smart, creative and happy residents

I wish for Greensboro to feel truly inclusive when it comes to diversity. This means allowing black owned businesses downtown and in the main parts of downtown, not on the outskirts. This means hosting community events that encourage neighbors from all backgrounds to come out and get to know one another.

Respondents believe in the potential of Greensboro to transcend its challenges:

Greensboro is a great place. I would love for us to continue loving each other and seeking ways we are the same and can be united, rather than on how we are different. I would love for us to be kind, supportive, energetic, and focused on the future.

Greensboro has an important history of revolution on many fronts. The Greensboro of today and tomorrow needs to continue this revolution in order to reimagine a healthier, more productive society that is better informed such that more meaningful and full participation in design and implementation of policies can be achieved.

We can do this! We need action oriented leadership and a commitment to see it through.

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