Resilient, that’s what you will find as you drive through communities throughout the Triad, people of strength and adaptability. Older communities have endured economic hardships over generations while continuing to overcome barriers of racial and environmental injustices to maintain their thriving communities.
While a great deal of work has been done, we still have room to grow. Our communities continue to face outrageous utility bills each month. Too many of our neighborhoods have homes that are drafty, leaking energy, with older homes harboring health hazard materials. These homes are becoming less affordable-especially for our elderly residents who live on inadequate and/or limited fixed incomes.
We are partnering with groups like S.G. Atkins CDC to put power back into the hands of residents to create safer housing, lower energy costs and good-paying jobs.
We are working with communities that have the desire to see change by joining PowerUp, participating in events, listening to and sharing their concerns and taking on leadership.
Our office is located in a community center that has a large organic garden where PowerUp has four beds of vegetables and greens to build community interest, participation, promote healthy eating and lower their cost at the grocer. Family members of all ages are encouraged to participate.
We continue our weatherization work. Public investment in weatherizing homes and training weatherization technicians can provide good-paying jobs with low barriers to entry and reduce electricity bills for cash-strapped homeowners. The issue also helps to create a clear connection between environmental protection, democracy and people’s everyday lives.
A growing number of people from various neighborhoods have signed pledge cards to commit to become engaged in our work. Join us and get involved in turning this vision into a reality in Winston-Salem. Meet homeowners who know first-hand how important investing in energy-efficiency is for our wallets and our health. Join our Winston-Salem PowerUp team that is helping people get resources, skills, and training they need to be successful in weatherization and clean energy careers; to promote healthy eating; and receive the resources needed to thrive.