The Piedmont Renewal Network
BlogA Realtor’s View: The Dash Divided
I have to start by confessing my own ignorance. For someone who considers herself an ally to people of color and a cheerleader for their prosperity and success, I’ve willfully been blind to this topic of segregation in our city. Maybe not in a general sense – It isn’t...
How You Can Create Opportunity
Students in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, average 1,215 hours¹ of schooling each year (or 6.75 hours per school day). During this time, many of them are immersed in curriculum designed by our district while battling the effects of under-funded schools, poverty within...
Welcome Jay Fordham!
The Piedmont Renewal Network is excited to announce the arrival of our new Director of Operations, Jay Fordham! Two weeks into his time with our team, Jay has demonstrated himself to be both a tremendous asset and a pleasure to work with. Moving forward, he will be...
The Effects of Poverty Pt. 1, Life Expectancy
If you have read any of our posts thus far, you are aware that Winston-Salem, North Carolina, is the hardest city in which to escape child poverty in the United States, with the exception of just a few Indian Reservations.¹ In addition, Winston-Salem has...
How Did We Get Here? Part 2
How did Winston-Salem become the hardest city in which to escape child poverty in the United States? A month ago, in our blog post “How Did We Get Here? Pt. 1,” we explained the Harvard study that places Winston-Salem at the bottom of the charts for economic mobility....
Education – The New Segregation
On May 14th, 1954, the Supreme Court of the United States ruled the segregation of public schools unconstitutional. On July 2nd, 1964, President Lyndon Johnson signed the Civil Rights Act. Centuries of institutional marginalization and legalized discrimination against African Americans was finally coming to an end. Hundreds of years of injustice had eviscerated the black…
Joining Forces with Forsyth Tech
At 11:00 AM on Saturday, February 16th, Forsyth Technical Community College signed an official partnership agreement with the Piedmont Renewal Network. Here’s what that deal means for the Piedmont Renewal Network, for Forsyth Tech, and most importantly, for our students. Full Tuition Scholarships for our Students — perhaps the most exciting aspect of this agreement…
Dr. Willette Nash – Team Member Highlight
The Piedmont Renewal Network (PRN) is made possible by a dynamic and rapidly growing group of talented individuals. Between teachers and tutors, staff and administrators, boards and councils, the PRN is currently composed of several dozen team members, all working to create a new reality for Winston-Salem. Few have been so instrumental in the continued…
How Did We Get Here?
Winston-Salem is the hardest city in the United States in which to escape child poverty, with the exception of a few Indian Reservations. Nearly everyone is shocked when they first learn this startling fact, and some don’t believe it. “What about Chicago, or the Bronx, or Appalachia?” they ask. “Winston-Salem cannot possibly be a more…
Our Plan
Last week we discussed the Piedmont Renewal Network’s (PRN) educational model, largely based off off the University of Southern California’s Neighborhood Academic Initiative (NAI) program. This week, we want to provide context by situating that model within the larger plan of action…