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Prepared by Christine EdwardsFor Constructing Messages and Audiences Queens University of Charlotte Master of Communication

Grier Heights Neighborhood Communication Plan

+Where is Grier Heights?

+Who

Grier Height’s Community Center, opened in September of 2015 in the Grier Heights neighborhood, located in the Southeast corridor of Charlotte, North Carolina. According to local histories, the Grier Heights Neighborhood was formerly home to wealthy and progressive African Americans in Charlotte (G. Green, personal communication, February 17, 2016).

Vision: Our collective vision is that Grier Heights will be transformed residentially and economically, and the quality of life dramatically improved, with a constant focus on justice to its residents throughout the process. via Crossroads website

Mission: Grier Heights has had an active neighborhood association since the 1940s. Our Mission is to provide leadershipthat promotes the physical and social well-being of the neighborhood. We have a vision of becoming a proud historicallyprogressive neighborhood via Neighborhood Link

+ What

The purpose of this communication plan is to offer strategic

recommendations to better the state of the Grier Heights Community Center

and neighborhood as a whole. Recommendations are based on 1st person

accounts and researched communication theory.

+Why

The Grier Heights neighborhood has experienced a slow

decline. The current population of Grier Heights is

approximately 3,100.

Although Grier Heights enjoys a location in close proximity to

downtown Charlotte, unfortunately the advantages of its

location have not resulted in the same prosperity for its

residents.

+How

Theoretical Frameworks

1) Impression Management

The neighborhood suffers from a negative public image due to lack

of impression management

2) Social Capital

Bonding capital is already strong there but is not much cross-group

collaboration

+Impression ManagementErving Goffman

Face

Framing

Front Staging

Back Staging

+Social CapitalRobert Putnam

Establishing Reputation

Bonding Capital

Bridging Capital

Trust

Social Networks.

Proactive and Intentional

Identities are shared

+Now what? Internal Strategies

Recommendation Description Resources Metrics/Goal

Conduct consistent

neighborhood

meetings

Monthly neighborhood

meetings will consistent

face-to-face contact

between neighborhood

leaders and residents

Community Center

Meeting room,

website and

newsletter to get the

word out

1 meeting within the first 60

days of implementing plan

Create “welcome

basket”

The Welcome basket is a

physical toolkit for

newcomers to use to find

their way around the

neighborhood. Residents

will learn about trash

pickup, local safety

contact numbers,

community meeting

schedules and more.

Brochures, paper,

printing tools to

print off toolkit.

Other fundraising

can be done

Deliver new welcome basket

toolkit to at least the next

three neighbors/families who

move to Grier Heights

Create e-Newsletter Create an e-newsletter to

highlight important

community events,

people

Computer and

printing (optional)

tools, email list

Deliver a new newsletter

within 60 days of

implementing plan.

+Now what?External Strategies

Recommendation Description Resources Metrics/Goal

Apply for

Neighborhood

matching grants

Grants are made

available through the

City of Charlotte

neighborhood and

business services and

other grant making

foundations.

Neighborhood

liaison,

volunteers

Research neighborhood matching

grants

Manage Social Media

presence

Smartphone or

computer

Increased engagement on

Facebook and Twitter

Attend outside

community meetings

and events

Attend meetings for

adjacent

neighborhoods.

Volunteers Number of meetings attended each

month

Engage with non-

profit community

Invite non-profit

spokesperson to

every other

neighborhoods

meeting to teach

available resources;

invite neighbors to

volunteer at nonprofit

Volunteers Host at least one community

service project on an annual basis

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Connecting for Change: Grier Heights

Neighborhood Communication PlanPrepared by Christine Edwards

Mecklenburg County Community Relations Coordinator

Christine.edwards@mecklenburgcountync.gov