Washington Street Unity Festival

Scotty and Hannah talk to the Washington Street Community Association

Episode Transcript

(00:00):
Welcome to Carolina Cares at Scottie Blaisdellalong with Hannah Tyler, and once again
we shine the spotlight on folks inour community doing good works. And today
we're happy to welcome with us tofolks from the Washington Street Community Association.
The president is Jackie Davis and RashondaMoses who is the treasurer. So that

(00:20):
means you're very trustworthy. I hopewelcome. And this is all about a
big event that's coming up. It'sthe Unity Festival. How many years have
you been doing this? This isactually the thirteenth annual Washington Street Unity Festival,
and we are so excited. We'reexcited for a lot of reasons.

(00:41):
We're excited because we're partnering for theUnity Festival to do a local food fare
as well. We partner with anorganization growing high Point and so they will
be bringing a local food fare toeducate people about growing their own vegetables and
eating healthy. And then because itis September and because we are looking at

(01:06):
the changing face of our community,not just on Washington Street but throughout High
Point, we are also going tocelebrate Hispanic Heritage Month. Okay, so
we're going to do a lot ofgood stuff out there. Let's talk about
the association itself. Jackie, you'rethe president. I don't know if we're
supposed to play special music for youwhen you step up, But what is

(01:30):
the Washington Street Community Association? Howdid it become a thing? So I
tell you we actually this year wedecided to combine the business Association and the
neighborhood Association because we have many peoplewho's passionate about both and we've seen that
we work together well in order forthe street to thrive. And we've been

(01:51):
doing revialization for about a decade now, so we're very unique in where we
are that we have those residential areasand we have the businesses. So it's
just a great thing to see everybodycome together, work together to make sure
that that's a place where people wantto live, they want to work,
and just enjoy the community. Andwhat I'm on your guys is Facebook right

(02:13):
now, and you really have yourhand in a little bit of everything that's
going on in the community of HighPoint as well as specifically to Washington Street.
I know I've seen you talking aboutthe night out and food drives.
So where did the sayda come fromto like, let's just bring everything together
into one place. So we decidedto bring it together this year. But
we've worked separately for a number ofyears. I am the co founder and

(02:37):
executive director of d UP that's oneof the businesses on the street, and
so we've been on the street sincetwenty and eleven and we've seen both business
and the neighborhood, you know,work separately to do what's best for the
community, of course, with theirinterests. But we thought we can make
this really stronger if we all cometogether, because you know, we all

(02:58):
every event that we have where they'recelebrating each other, helping each other great
partnership and collaboration, so we thoughtwe would really become like that great force
by combining. Well, we definitelywant to get into some of the details
of the event itself, so let'smention right up front here and we'll do
it again later on. When isit and where is it? Okay,

(03:20):
So it's September the twenty third.The time is eleven o'clock to four o'clock,
and we're holding it this year atthe Washington Terrace Park and that's at
one oh one Gordon Street and youenter the park and you will sits out
there everywhere, every inch of thepark. We'll make sure that we're there
with you know, different festivities andwhat kind of activities are going on.

(03:40):
I know, I know you mentionedsome good food. Yes, good food,
and the entertainment is going to begreat. We'll have events for the
youth. We'll have some basketball goingon. Beyond sports, one of the
organization youth organizations in the Triad willbe there with us holding a different sports

(04:00):
throughout the day for the kids.And then we have a lot of nonprofit
organizations who's really excited about coming outwith us, but also they're able to
share the different things that's going onthe community that could help community members.
So why Washington Street and what isyour connection with Washington Street? Wow,

(04:21):
Washington Street is There's so much wecan say about it. First, let
me let me talk about why thestreet is important. Washington Street was the
area during segregation where African American businessescould thrive. You know, we've heard
the term many times, it washigh Points, black Wall Street. But

(04:43):
what makes it significant today is thatthe buildings and the architecture there are intact
and we are the only place inthe state that still has those original buildings
and architecture intact. So Washington Streetis significant historically and culturally, but also

(05:04):
architecturally, and so we are inthe process of pursuing historic designation local historic
designation for Washington Street. It's alreadyon the National Registered Historic Places and has
been since the early two thousands,So we are pursuing that from a local

(05:29):
perspective, just so people recognize,hey, we have a gem here in
High Point our connections. As Jackiesaid, she and her husband brought their
amazing organization to Washington Street in twentyand eleven, and their organization really represents
the catalyst for revitalization. Today.They have they are going to be building

(05:51):
new buildings there, which is veryneeded on Washington Street. But more importantly,
they're investing in the children and thefamilies in our community and we are
seeing that vibrancy come back. Igrew up around the Washington Street area.
My great grandfather had a funeral homein that area. He was one of

(06:12):
those historic businesses that was there,and then my great aunt took over after
him. My grandmother uh founded abusiness which my family and I run now.
Since she has passed on Jackie's place. So I'm I represent the fourth
generation of business owners in the area. I used to go to the y

(06:33):
around the corner from where we arenow. I used to run back and
forth to my great grandfather's funeral home. So I I remember when it was
full of life and full of childrenand safe for children. And then you
know, the drug epidemic happened andpoverty and blight set in, and so
we are excited to be part ofthe revitalization of Washington Street. So that's

(06:58):
what Unity Festival thirteen years ago wasdeveloped to really celebrate the businesses there and
bring attention to the businesses there becausethe area wasn't a popular area to come
because of what it looked like.But we wanted to say, hey,
they're great things happening here. Andit is even more true today. By
the way, the voices you're hearing, that's Jackie Davis, the president,

(07:21):
and Rashaanda Moses, the treasurer fromthe Washington Street Community Association, and we're
talking about the thirteenth annual Unity Festwhich is coming up in September. Now,
we just heard a great story fromRashawanda as to what Washington Street means
to you. But Jackie, youchose to open your business there. What
does Washington Street mean to you?Yeah? So I must say that we

(07:43):
were a for profit. We startedin two thousand and seven and then in
two thousand and ten we became anon profit and it was important for us
to go to a community that wouldembrace us and what we're doing, and
we found our home on Washington Street. For us, it doesn't matter about
the suso economic of any family atall. All that we know is that
they want the best for their children, and we work from a spirit of

(08:07):
excellence and that's what we decided todo to make it home. And I
tell you, they have really embracedus with everything that we're doing. The
services. We started with basketball asour platform, but being in the community,
we saw that there were so manyother needs, so with education and
with health, and so we've teamedup, we have great partners. It's

(08:28):
really the whole city embraced us,and so that's the only way we could
do what we do. I feellike as I talked to more and more
people from High Point specifically, they'reall angels over there. Just they really
are. There. Really is thisvibrancy, this desire to turn things around.
There was a point where I rememberthere was a study done and it

(08:50):
was one of the most challenging placesbecause of it being a food desert.
It seems like it's really shifting.What do you think the vibe is right
now? Are we headed the rightdirection and high Point? It's sure seems
that way. Yeah, we definitelyare, And I tell you, I
think it has to do with alot of hope and for partnership and collaboration.

(09:11):
The organization that you're talking about,the high Point Food Alliance, they're
the ones that really stepped out andwas very brave and had courage to address
the food insecurity in the neighborhood.I've been on that board I think for
five years. I was the pastchair. Rashanda is now on that board
and she is the current vice chair. So we see that, you know,

(09:33):
the whole city, everybody needs totake a holistic approach to the city
thriving, and so we tried toconnect ourselves with those organizations that will be
able to do that and make surethat our community throb. Now can we
go back to this unity fest becauseI saw on your flyer and you briefly
mentioned it in the beginning that we'recelebrating cultures. We're celebrating African American as

(09:58):
well as Hispanic heritage, and I'mso excited you guys are embracing that.
What can someone expect and even getto learn more about a culture they're not
really all that familiar with. We'rejust becoming one big, happy family,
honestly. So what we will bedoing on that day is celebrating is having
music that represents a variety of culture, a diversity of cultures. I would

(10:20):
love to be able to give namesat this moment, but we are still
finalizing contracts, but I can't saythat. We will definitely have an artist
there who performs bachata and made andgame music, and we will also have
We're thrilled, just tinkling. Wewill have a very well known name in

(10:43):
R and B music performing as ourheadliner. We will have a diversity of
food and just everybody coming out tocelebrate each other together. We recognize that
we may come from different backgrounds,but we are all forming the new high
point. Now. I love thatyou guys are giving people this opportunity because

(11:03):
I think we live in a crazyworld, and I think it's crazy because
I don't know about you and youdon't know about me, and this gives
people a chance to really open uptheir eyes to what your culture has versus
what mine has. And that's fantastic. We need more of that, your
visionaries. It just seems that wayas I've had this conversation, As you
look into the future of Washington Street, what do you want it to be

(11:26):
like for people growing up there?I know you mentioned the children earlier.
What do you want life to belike on Washington Street? I'm gonna start,
and I'm definitely gonna let Jackie.I'm jumping, but I see a
Washington Street that is economically thriving,with businesses coming back there the way businesses

(11:46):
have been there. And if Icould just for a moment shout out one
business that is very well known inhigh Point that has stayed on Washington Street,
through thick and through thin for fiftyyears. This year, Becky's and
Mary's Restaurant will be celebrating fifty consistentyears in business, So I just had
to shout them out. But seeingnew business businesses come to that area,

(12:07):
and I want to make it clearwe want a diverse group of businesses coming
there. Uh, and I seechildren again growing up there coming to Washington
Street, having their best memories onWashington Street, like I have lasting good
memories on Washington Street. We havepen Griffin School of the Arts up the

(12:28):
street, so also want to seeit be a very fruitful place for arts
and culture. John Coltrane grew upwalking distance to where we are, so
we already have those seeds. Wehave those fertile seeds of history, and
we want to see that continue toproduce fruit on Washington Street. Well,

(12:50):
I don't know if I can addto that, but Reshonda is right.
And when we talk about the youth, and I think I had mentioned earlier
about hope, and that's what wewant to see, is that we have
hope. We take it in ourselves, but we're able to give to others.
I want to see people serving givingback. I want to see that

(13:11):
when you drive Washington Street the road, you're not just driving to get to
the other side of town, butyou're stopping and you're visiting the businesses,
you're visiting the organizations, and you'repatronizing. And a day where I can
bring my family, we come attwelve o'clock or you know what we might
leave at nine o'clock at night becausethere's so much to do on the street.

(13:35):
And I mean, that's my vision. The only word that I can
say is hope, because I don'tthink that my husband, Corvin and I
would have stayed there if we didn'thave the hope and the belief in the
street, you know. So Iwant to see that everybody in the community
can kind of embrace that same hopeand belief, and I must. I

(13:58):
want to mention that Haydn Harmon Foundation, which has been a foundation that's been
there as long as we have.Their building is kind of in the middle
of the street and it's called theHub. And I remember speaking with the
executive director, Patrick Harmon, andI said, you should give it a
name for where we're going. Andmany people may not know, but we

(14:20):
do have it, you know.On the sign is that it is a
place to hope, a place tounite, and a place to believe.
And I think that, you know, essentially wraps up who we are,
what we are, and where we'regoing. Well, let's take a step
toward that with this Unity Festival andremind everybody this is Washington Street Community Association.

(14:41):
The thirteenth annual Unity Festival. It'shappening where and when again, and
it is happening September the twenty third, from eleven o'clock until four o'clock and
it's at one oh one Gordon Streetat Washington Terrace Park. There you go,
thanks so much for coming again.That is Jackie Davis and Rashonda Moses

(15:01):
there with the Washington Street Community Association. Unity Fest twenty twenty three