Boston-Thurmond Innovation Network

4 grant(s) for varying purposes

THIS PROJECT UNDERSCORES THE IMPORTANCE AND RICHNESS OF THE BOSTON-THURMOND COMMUNITY FOR RESIDENTS, SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES AND INSTITUTIONS, AND THE GREATER TRIAD OF NORTH CAROLINA. IN THE EARLY 1900S, BOSTON-THURMOND WAS A THRIVING, SELF-SUFFICIENT COMMUNITY BUT LIKE MANY OTHER HISTORICALLY BLACK NEIGHBORHOODS, IT WAS DISRUPTED BY NUMEROUS "PUBLIC IMPROVEMENTS". WE BELIEVE THE THEMES OF INEQUALITY, SYSTEMIC RACISM, COMMUNITY ACTIVISM, CIVIC NEGLECT, AND URBAN DESIGN WILL CONNECT TO LARGER NARRATIVES UNDER DISCUSSION IN AND AROUND THE STATE AND AMERICAN SOUTH. RESIDENT EFFORTS TO UNDERSTAND THEIR HISTORY FOUND CRITICAL GAPS IN COLLECTIVE KNOWLEDGE AND EXISTING PUBLIC RESOURCES/ARCHIVES, ESPECIALLY IN COMPARISON TO OTHER NEIGHBORHOODS. THEY ALSO RAISED THE URGENT NEED TO CAPTURE VOICES OF OLDER RESIDENTS, WITH UNANSWERED QUESTIONS LIKE "WHERE DID THE NAME BOSTON-THURMOND COME FROM". THIS PROPOSED WORK LEVERAGES OUR STRONG TEAM AND BUILDS UPON OUR PRIOR WORK TO UNCOVER STORIES THAT HUM

Emergency Support