KINSTON, NC — Kinston Teens, a leading community organization dedicated to youth empowerment and community development, is pleased to announce its upcoming East Kinston Community Meeting taking place tonight. The meeting will provide an update on the Community Visioning Project and plans to build a new and larger Neighborhood Hub.

Date: Monday, December 11, 2023
Time: 5:30 PM
Location: Holloway Community Center, 101 North Myrtle Avenue, Kinston, NC 28501

The East Kinston Community Meeting aims to address essential questions, such as:

• What is the Neighborhood Hub, and how can individuals get involved?

• What insights were gained from the East Kinston Community Survey?

• What strategies are other communities employing to enhance neighborhoods like ours?

• What exciting offerings will the new and larger Neighborhood Hub bring to East Kinston?

Kinston Teens currently operates the Neighborhood Hub, a vital community resource that offers a community pantry, meeting space, free technology access, and monthly gatherings with food, health resources, and social opportunities for neighborhood residents. However, recognizing the growing needs of the community and the organization, Kinston Teens is actively working to create a site and facility framework plan for a larger and more versatile Neighborhood Hub.

The vision for this expanded space is multi-functional, designed to meet the diverse needs of both Kinston Teens and the community at large. The proposed facility will have the capacity to host large meetings and gatherings, serve as a staging area for emergency relief and response efforts, incorporate renewable and sustainable features, and include a solar microgrid to collect and store energy. This forward-thinking approach will ensure that the facility remains operational, supporting critical programs even during disasters or power outages.

The meeting is open to the public and invites participation from a diverse range of stakeholders, including:

• East Kinston residents, both current and former

• Young individuals seeking a space for socializing, skill development, and community impact

• Kinston and Lenoir County residents, business owners, and supporters who are passionate about the city's growth

• Government officials responsible for decisions affecting streets, schools, safety, services, and economic development

• Anyone with an interest in the East Kinston community

This meeting will serve as a platform to build upon and highlight the valuable feedback and input gathered from neighborhood residents and community stakeholders. These insights have been collected through initiatives like the East Kinston Community Survey, the Block Party event held in October, and various focus groups the organization has convened covering topics such as housing, economic development, facility design, and food insecurity.

In 2024, Kinston Teens intends to continue hosting similar meetings regularly. These gatherings aim to bring together East Kinston residents and stakeholders, providing ongoing opportunities for engagement in the planning project.

Kinston Teens is grateful for the capacity-building grant received from the Design Workshop Foundation, enabling the launch of the East Kinston Development Plan. The organization has partnered with Design Workshop's Raleigh studio and Durham-based Notch Design to complete the site and facility framework plan for the Neighborhood Hub. Technical assistance and advisory support are provided by the Just Communities Lab at NC State University. This project's success is also attributed to the funding generosity and partnership of the North Carolina Climate Justice Collective.

For more information about Kinston Teens' community development initiatives or to RSVP for the East Kinston Community Meeting, please visit www.EastKinston.org.

###

About Kinston Teens:

Kinston Teens is a youth-led, community-based nonprofit organization in Kinston, North Carolina. Founded in 2014 by Chris Suggs, Kinston Teens focuses on youth empowerment, community development, and civic engagement. The organization provides a platform for young people to create positive change through various initiatives, including education, civic participation, leadership development, and addressing community needs.