Schoolfield Alex Berryman Roanoke College & Virginia Tech
SchoolfieldAlex Berryman
Roanoke College & Virginia Tech
Schoolfield:Past & Present
Schoolfield TodayACS 2014 5 Year Estimates*
Population 4,000 individuals18% children16% seniors
Race 66% white 29% African-American5% multi-racial
Median Income $25-$30k
Housing 58% owned / 41% rentalRent & Utilities: $650Mortgage & Utilities: $825
Education 70% at least HSD/GED
Poverty 24% individuals30% SNAP
Crime 37 to date72 in 2015
Digging Deeper
What I Found🔸Assets-Community Strengths🔸People!- Lifelong & more recent 🔸Associations-Neighborhood, congregations, reunion 🔸Institutions-Museum, school, business🔸Built environment- Parks & walkability
What I Also Found
🔸Limited neighbor connections🔸Vacant/absent properties🔸Uncertainty of mill properties
Best Practice: The Soul of the Community
▷ Passion/loyalty-Correlates to GDP growth
▷ Space to substantiate research▷ Heart & Soul- Orton Foundation▷ Issue- Branded process
7(Knight, 2010 p. 28; Orton, 2015 p. 10)
Plotting Attitudes against Attachment
8
(Knight, 2010 p. 14)
Opportunities Moving Forward🔸National Night Out- continue🔸Expand membership- Serve children🔸Beautify!, Build features for all- Trail🔸Ongoing- Network within community🔸Be the Architect for a brighter future!
Project: Schoolfield Kickstart Event
🔸 Success!🔸 Diverse attendance🔸 Gathered Info from resident🔸 National Night Out- recruitment
CommentsWhat do you like?
🔸Peace and quiet*🔸Lifelong residence🔸Helpful neighbors🔸“Good place”🔸“Low-key”🔸Parks
What change would you like? 🔸Youth activities*🔸Crime🔸Speeding traffic🔸Cost of living🔸“Opportunities”
What can you do about it?
🔸Neighborhood Watch
🔸Community Yard Sale
🔸Call on neighbors🔸Visit & introduce
self🔸Community clean
up