Shape Your World - Blog

Creating Creative Corridors: A Coalition Story

Mon, 26 Mar 2012 00:00:00 +0000

In 2005, NC DOT announced that that 11 bridges on a one-mile stretch of Business 40 in downtown Winston-Salem would be replaced or removed, A community engagement program determined the wishes of Winston-Salem residents, businesses, elected officials, and civic and political leaders who seized upon it as an opportunity to positively transform the most visible portion of the Winston-Salem landscape.

The Road to a Healthier North Carolina is Actually a Path

Thu, 15 Mar 2012 00:00:00 +0000

Urbanized: Go See This Film!

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 00:00:00 +0000

Documentaries like Urbanized help to fuel action and response by the community. The film is an in-depth educational look at the design of a city and how the planning and development of the infrastructure affects the community and shapes its world.

Pitt County Approves New Comprehensive Land Use Plan Update

Tue, 13 Dec 2011 00:00:00 +0000

The Pitt County Board of Commissioners approved the Comprehensive Land Use Plan, due in part to the efforts of the Pitt County Communities Putting Prevention to Work (CPPW) project. The plan was passed on December 5, 2011 and will affect the 168,000 citizens of the county. Pitt County Planning added a section to their plan that lays the framework for a healthier community. This section addresses issues associated with urban sprawl, the health benefits of mixed-use and multi-modal (complete streets) transportation, support for farmland protection, and collaboration in providing passive and active recreational opportunities.

Student Signatures Secure Safety

Thu, 29 Sep 2011 00:00:00 +0000

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Blog submitted by West McDowell Jr. High teachers Tracy Childers and Melanie Shaver and their students.

Through the efforts of the dedicated people of McDowell County and the McDowell Trails Association, the first phrase of The McDowell Greenway was completed last year

Habitat Resident Cultivates Community Garden

Wed, 21 Sep 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Subscribers of Habitat for Humanity's Orange County newsletter received something special this summer. Newsletter author and Habitat for Humanity volunteer Elizabeth Swaringen dedicated the front page of the issue to celebrating Joy Williams—a young woman who, powered by her passion and a deep connection to nature, managed to establish a thriving community garden in her neighborhood.

Joy, a dance instructor and student of public health, has lived most of her life in Chestnut Oaks, a neighborhood outside of Durham and the first Habitat for Humanity community ever established in North Carolina's Orange County. She identified that her neighbors were already in need of healthier, more cost-effective food, and that there was a shared enthusiasm for preserving the beauty of their community landscape. By working with the Chestnut Oaks Homeowner's Association, Joy was able to gauge public interest in establishing and maintaining a garden that would provide food, beauty and an activity around which neighbors could connect. Very quickly, individuals from the neighborhood began taking the initiative to plan, build and nurture the garden. By the time Habitat's summer newsletter published, several varieties of tomatoes, peppers, herbs and kale were thriving at the homes of Joy and other families, with many more additions in the works.

Needless to say, it's stories like these that fuel Shape Your World. The motivation shared by Joy and others around NC are what keep us going, so please continue to send your personal stories to us. If you'd like to support Joy and the Chestnut Oaks community garden, you may contact her via joytwilliams@gmail.com or at 919-883-1269.

Joint Use of Facilities

Mon, 22 Aug 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Providing quality activity spaces is a challenge for many communities especially in a large rural county. With the development of the Community Schools Program over thirty years ago, Pitt County initiated a movement that would significantly enhance the physical activity environment throughout the county. All schools were designated as "community schools" thereby making them available for use by the community in accordance with the Community Schools and Recreation Policy on Use of Facilities.

Carrboro Likes Bikes

Wed, 27 Jul 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Carrboro is located in the Piedmont region of North Carolina, minutes from the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, and has a young, active community. Sixty-three percent of its 19,582 residents are between the ages of 20 and 54 (U.S. Census, 2010). Carrboro has a vibrant bicycling culture, a well-used park system, a network of walking trails, and is home to numerous bicycle shops and sports stores. Since 2001, the Town has consistently been ranked by the League of American Cyclists as a Bicycle Friendly Community.

NC Land Trusts Build Ties With Nature for Children and Parents

Thu, 23 Jun 2011 00:00:00 +0000

At North Carolina's land trusts, spending time outdoors is part of our daily life. It's how we find and assess farmland, wild spaces, streams and lakes, urban oases, and other places that we want to help protect. And it's how we spend our free time – camping, fishing, swimming or just enjoying a peaceful stroll among the trees.

The Charlotte Conundrum

Thu, 09 Jun 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Charlotte was recently recognized for being dangerous for pedestrians (http://t4america.org/blog/2011/05/24/new-report-and-map-chronicles-the-visceral-reality-of-47000-preventable-pedestrian-deaths/). But where actual walkability is concerned, that’s another story.

Bike to Work Week 2011

Fri, 20 May 2011 00:00:00 +0000

I’m not one of the spandex set by any stretch of the imagination. In fact, I haven’t ridden my bike to work since coming to the Division of Public Health (DPH) in 2008. I was a regular bike to worker before that—but my trip between home and the office was only about two blocks.

To Pump or Pedal? North Carolinians Stop Pumping Gas and Start Pedaling

Mon, 16 May 2011 00:00:00 +0000

As gas prices soar, the timing for National Bike Month this May couldn't be more ideal. Citizens across the state and country are riding their bikes more and making a special effort on Bike to Work Day, coming up on Friday, May 20. And there are many opportunities for everyday citizens — like you — to get involved in biking events taking place across North Carolina.

“Conventional Wisdom” and the Built Environment

Mon, 09 May 2011 00:00:00 +0000

If you ask people to describe the ideal neighborhood, most of them would talk about tree-lined streets, a pleasant walking environment, and fun destinations within walking or bicycling distance. Not many of them would talk about driving multiple miles to work and activities. So why do we settle for a built environment that is designed for automobiles instead of humans?

How Does It Work? The Science Behind Traffic Light Timing

Tue, 26 Apr 2011 00:00:00 +0000

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Volunteers Open Streets in Durham

Mon, 11 Apr 2011 00:00:00 +0000

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What A Kid Wants: Connectivity and Safety

Thu, 07 Apr 2011 00:00:00 +0000

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Young Filmmakers Shine in Ahoskie

Tue, 05 Apr 2011 00:00:00 +0000

More than 300 students from six counties rolled their cameras to tell their stories. Now community leaders are gathering for video premiere events to hear their message and join in the dialogue.

The kids cameras may have stopped rolling but the action is just beginning.

Welcome to the Shape Your World Blog

Tue, 29 Mar 2011 00:00:00 +0000