Kinston Teens founder and CEO Chris Suggs will lead a presentation at the Kinston City Council meeting on Monday, February 20 at 7:00PM to update the Council and general public on the organization’s Adopt-A-Vacant Lot Program. The Adopt-A-Vacant Lot program will allow churches, families, businesses, organizations, and others to “adopt” city-owned vacant lots and transform them into community amenities. These underutilized spaces present tremendous potential for neighborhood improvement.

The U.S. Conference of Mayors and Wells Fargo recognized Mayor BJ Murphy and Kinston Teens for the Kinston Teens Adopt-A-Vacant Lot Program with its Small City Outstanding Achievement Award in June 2016. The award included a $50,000 grant awarded to Kinston Teens to develop the program.

Currently, the City of Kinston owns over 1,000 vacant lots—many which are in residential areas. These lots are a strain on City resources, and contribute to neighborhood blight and disinvestment.

“Kinston Teens is extremely proud to partner with Mayor Murphy and the City of Kinston for this great initiative for our community!” said Chris Suggs, founder & CEO of Kinston Teens. “Our organization prides itself in our efforts to form and build relationships with our local government, as well as our efforts to improve and beautify our city. Through the Adopt-A-Vacant Lot program, we look forward to doing both!”

The public is invited and encouraged to attend Monday night’s city council meeting to learn more about the program. Following the presentation, information and applications for the program will be made available at www.kinstonteens.org/avl. Additionally, the Kinston Teens organization will accept invitations to give presentations to churches, businesses and other organizations regarding the Adopt-a-Vacant Lot program.