" I n 2006-2010, 143,445 North Carolinians who were poor lived in concentrated poverty, and the state’s concentrated poverty rate stood at 10.2 percent.
The concentrated poverty rate in North Carolina more than doubled from 2000 to 2006-2010. During this time, the number of concentrated-poverty neighborhoods in the state nearly tripled, and the number of people living in these neighborhoods who were poor more than tripled.
African Americans and Latinos living in North Carolina who were poor were more likely to live in concentrated poverty in 2006-2010, compared to their white counterparts. Children who were poor were more likely to live in concentrated poverty than the average North Carolinian who was poor.
Research shows that place and well-being are deeply connected. Living in areas of concentrated disadvantage while being poor can undermine one’s economic and health opportunities."
So I decided to write to Tazra Mitchell and the NC Justice Center to ask the following:
"Based on the fact that North Carolina cities tend to invest more taxpayer dollars in downtowns and well-to-do neighborhoods, do you and the NC Justice Network believe that placing local infrastructure projects such as the proposed $72 Million Dollar Greensboro Performing Arts Center in poor neighborhoods rather than downtown and other well-off neighborhoods would be a sound move in the direction of leveling the economic playing field for minorities and others who are trapped in poor economic circumstance?"
I have posted this letter online and look forward to posting your response or you may respond in the comments section of the East Greensboro Performing Arts Center Blog.
Thanks -Billy Jones
Continue to article #72. Helping The Arts Become An Asset for Northeast Greensboro.
