Thinking Differently to Find Solutions
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A Guest Column from The Harvest Foundation Team
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By Sheryl Agee, Senior Operating Officer
What do you think is easier — Learning something new or taking time to rethink and unlearn a belief you have? Often, we favor opinions that make us feel good instead of ideas that make us think hard.
The Harvest Foundation staff’s latest book study, “Poverty, By America” by author Dr. Matthew Desmond, challenged us to think hard about poverty, the systems that we as a country have built that perpetuate the cycle, and how it persists in the richest nation on Earth because the rest of us benefit from it.
While the book forces you to think differently about a morally urgent problem, it also provides opportunities for the reader to imagine solutions. It challenges you to ask yourself, how uncomfortable am I willing to be if it will benefit someone else? And, how can we not ask that question when 1 in 5 people in our own community live in poverty?
As Harvest developed a new strategic plan in 2021, the decision was made to prioritize economic mobility to better understand the systems, causes, and culture of poverty. This further lifted up our DEI (diversity, equity, inclusion) work as research shows systems in our country have further exacerbated poverty, especially for people of color. This can be clearly seen across census tracts in our own community.
As we all work to unlearn beliefs we have about “WHY” poverty exists, we are committed to continued learning and being uncomfortable as we think differently and work to be part of the solution.
Unfortunately, there’s no quick solution — No silver bullets. No big ah-ha moment that will eradicate poverty. But while there are no quick fixes, "Poverty, By America" calls us to action. It challenges us to put our own beliefs and comforts aside and work together to find solutions.
Visit endpovertyusa.org to find out more about “Poverty, By America,” and to view tools and resources related to poverty throughout the country.
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Pictured is the former BB&T Bank Building. (Google Maps)
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City of Martinsville receives $2.8 Million for
One Ellsworth Project
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RICHMOND, VA – Governor Glenn Youngkin today announced over $10 million for seven Industrial Revitalization Fund (IRF) grants for the cities of Buena Vista, Martinsville and Petersburg, and the towns of Blackstone, Halifax, Lawrenceville and Wytheville. The seven awarded projects will create over 330 jobs and 87 new housing units, as well as leverage an additional $49 million in private investment.
“The transformation of unused, dilapidated or blighted structures into productive, vibrant sources of community pride is paramount to catalyzing economic growth and fostering strong local economies,” said Governor Glenn Youngkin. “Strategic and targeted investments like these are critical to ensuring that localities have the resources they need to complete projects that will directly benefit their communities and spur regional development efforts.”
IRF leverages local and private resources to achieve market-driven redevelopment of vacant and deteriorated industrial and commercial properties. The program is targeted toward vacant non-residential structures whose poor condition creates physical and economic blight to the surrounding area in which the structure is located.
Nineteen proposals were received this funding round and reviewed and evaluated competitively, with an emphasis on those with a high level of blight, identification of impediments to economic development efforts, alignment with regional or local strategies, availability of matching resources, the level of community distress where the property is located, and an identified and feasible end use.
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From the West Piedmont Planning District Commission (WPPDC)
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WPPDC releases comprehensive housing study to address housing challenges, develop sustainable solutions
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The West Piedmont Planning District Commission (WPPDC) is pleased to announce the release of a comprehensive housing study conducted in collaboration with the Virginia Center for Housing Research at Virginia Tech (VCHR) and HousingForward Virginia (HFV). This study aims to address housing challenges and develop sustainable housing solutions for the region.
“We are excited to present the findings of this comprehensive housing study, which will serve as a valuable resource for addressing the housing needs of the West Piedmont Planning District,” stated Sean Campbell, Housing Director for the WPPDC. “The collaborative efforts with the West Piedmont Planning District Commission, Virginia Tech, and HousingForward Virginia have allowed us to develop tailored strategies that will positively impact our region’s housing landscape.”
The study, which was initiated in response to concerns identified by member localities, focuses on several key goals:
The scope of work for the study included a comprehensive needs assessment, market analysis, and community outreach. This involved identifying specific issues affecting local communities such as workforce housing, housing equity, aging and substandard housing stock, and opportunities for rehabilitation, among others.
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Developing strategies to improve the current housing stock and create new housing opportunities.
- Providing information to assist economic developers, local governments, and housing developers in developing sustainable housing options to meet the needs of the growing region.
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Offering strategies to facilitate regional collaboration and coordination to effectively address housing challenges.
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Pictured is construction progress of the Jean S. Adams Education Pavilion at the Virginia Museum of Natural History in Martinsville. (Photo courtesy of the Virginia Museum of Natural History.)
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Martinsville Bulletin: New construction
underway at museum
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By Bill Wyatt
The Virginia Museum of Natural History will soon unveil its largest space addition since the facility opened on Starling Avenue in March 2007.
Construction of the Jean S. Adams Education Pavilion, a three-season open-air programming and visitor area, is currently underway, with completion anticipated this summer.
The new space has been on the table for almost eight years.
In August 2016, Museum Executive Director Joe Keiper unveiled a vision of developing a way to encourage visitors to learn more about the outdoors. After his presentation, the museum’s trustee board voted unanimously to have an architect create a rending for an education pavilion that would be developed on the museum’s back side near Oakdale Street.
Keiper’s initial plans were to create a pavilion that would have flexible uses and host an exhibit with “durable specimens” of natural history that weather would not harm, as well as a place where visitors could take a break from touring the museum, get some fresh air and think about what they have seen and learned during their tours.
The area would be adaptable to accommodate the serving of lunches to children’s groups, or alcoholic beverages to adult-oriented events.
“The pavilion, which will be located behind the museum overlooking neighboring J. Frank Wilson Park, will consist of an overhead canopy, as well as informative signage interpreting the flora and fauna of the park,” said Marketing and Public Relations Manager Zach Ryder. “The multi-use pavilion will enhance the general visitor experience, while providing much needed additional space for the museum’s wide variety of educational programming and events.”
Museum leaders secured support for the construction of the Jean S. Adams Education Pavilion, with funding provided by the late George Adams, who passed away in 2019, his family, the Tobacco Region Revitalization Commission, the Harvest Foundation, William Mayer, and many other supporters.
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We are gearing up for Project Hope 2024!
Are you a community member with lots of ideas for getting involved, but you don't know where to start?
Do you have a passion for volunteering? Or, are you just curious about Project Hope?
You are welcome! Please visit one of four upcoming community meetings throughout the month of June to workshop your ideas and learn more about how you can bring hope to your community — your way.
Visit our website, call (276) 632-3329 or email lhodges@theharvestfoundation.org to learn more.
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| Pass GO and get $5,000 paid toward your student loans!
If approved, you can get an annual payment of $5,000 as a principal payment on your student loans over 10 years — for a maximum of $50,000!
Visit our website to find out more and apply today!
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There's always something fun to do in
Martinsville-Henry County.
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Photo courtesy of VisitMartinsville/Martinsville-Henry County Economic Development Corp.
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Make an impact in your community. Share your HOPE.
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We welcome your voice and ideas at The Harvest Foundation.
Our general responsive grants cycle is open year-round with consideration from our Board of Directors once a quarter. Our PUP Small Grants Program is an open process with decisions made in less than six weeks. Project Hope grants support small, grassroots projects with immediate impact.
Give our office a call to schedule an appointment with a program officer.
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About The Harvest Foundation:
The Harvest Foundation is a nonprofit organization established in 2002 by the sale of Memorial Hospital. In partnership with the diverse people and organizations that call MHC home, we serve as a long-term catalyst, advocate, and investor to make our community a welcoming place where all can thrive. Our vision is a community where everyone shares in the promise of an MHC that is healthy, prosperous, and vibrant. To date, the foundation has invested more than $170 million in grant dollars back into the community and has an annual grants budget of roughly $10-12 million. To find out more about Harvest, visit www.theharvestfoundation.org.
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www.theharvestfoundation.org | (276) 632-3329
134 E. Church St. | P.O. Box 5183
Martinsville, VA 24115
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