Appendix E: Forum Report

We are writing to thank you for your interest and participation in your community forum on February 28, 2000. we felt the evening was a big success and hope you feel the same. The following is a copy of the forum report, which you requested. you will find a brief outline of the evenings events as well as a summary of each small group discussion. As we've said before we encourage you all to continue with any area of interest or concerns you have for your community. an important conclusion from this project is that the community, as a whole has a strong sense of pride and many of the same concerns. One way to be sure your community will grow and strengthen is to take a personal interest and get involved. A copy of the completed Community Diagnosis will be available at the library and the town hall April 30th. For more information please get in touch with Mayor Brown. Thank you again for your participation.

The UNC Chapel Hill girls

Forum Report

The Northern Moore Community Forum was held Monday, February 29, 2000 at the Robbins Elementary School Gymatorium in Robbins, NC from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.

Three weeks prior to the forum, a planning committee was formed to address logistical concerns such as date, time, location, activities and the actual title of the forum (whether using the town of Robbins in the title would exclude people in the surrounding areas although they identify with the community). Committee members included UNC School of Public Health students as well as community members and service providers: Police Chief Danny Brown; Mayor Mickey Brown; Pastor Ferrell, Michael Shamberger, Rebecca Ballard, Monica Adamian, Robin Argue, Laurie Schowalter, and Erica Taylor.

Two weeks prior to the forum, Northern Moore Community members were notified of the meeting through an announcement in The Pilot, The Northern Moore Family Resource Center newsletter, and flyers posted at local businesses. In addition, all individuals interviewed were called and personally invited to attend the meeting. Flyers were distributed to 50 churches throughout the area and ministers were asked to announce the event or include it in their bulletin.

Refreshments were available when people entered the gymatorium, all attendants were asked to fill out a name tag and the sign in sheet. Posters were hung throughout the room with selected quotes from interviews that exemplified common themes of community strengths or concerns. The forum began by thanking everyone present and the school principal for allowing use of the facility. next, the purpose of the project was explained with a brief description of how the information was collected. Then, there was a brief exercise to get the group interacting. The students presented overhead slides and major themes found during the project. some common themes mentioned were: Community Pride, Health Care Issues, Latino Growth and Cultural Diversity, Industry, Recreation and Services, Schools, County divisions and Transportation.

The community members were randomly divided into discussion groups based on the color of a dot on their name tags. Each group was given 20 minutes to discuss a hypothetical situation that had to do with one of the 5 main themes (Health Care, Industry, Recreation and Services, Cultural Diversity and Language Barriers) with additional questions to help initiate further discussion on the broader topics.

At the end of the discussions the 5 groups came together and a member from each group presented what they discussed in the small groups (see notes below): other citizens raised comments and questions. The community members were encouraged to continue these discussions, understanding that this forum was a starting point for further community improvement efforts. Sign up sheets were posted and names were collected so people interested could continue to work on the issues they were most concerned about after the forum.

To conclude everyone was thanked for his or her participation and help throughout the Community Diagnosis process.

Discussion Groups

Recreation and Services

"I think we have a need for more places to eat"

"You just have to get used to traveling when you live here, to do anything"

Scenario: You and your family would like to go out Friday night. What types of things can you do that everyone will enjoy?

1. Where are some places that you would like to go and how would you get there?
2. What additional concerns for recreation and services does this discussion bring up?
3. How would you like to see these concerns addressed in Robbins?
4. Are there aspects of the current availability of recreation/services that you would like to see changed in Robbins?
5. What steps would you take to initiate more discussion regarding changes in Robbins?
6. Is there interest in the group to have further discussion concerning the availability of recreation and services in Robbins? Who should organize it?

• Most go out of town to Asheboro
• We have WestMoore Family Restaurant and Midway but its not open all of the time
• For the kids we go to get pizza in Carthage
• Would like a nearer shopping center
• If you don't have a car, you need some good friends
• With teens you have to go further away
• Most of the property in town is owned by two people
• To bring recreation and services here we need to update the buildings (maybe a strip mall downtown)
• Get golf courses
• Robbins could entice tourists through potters and golf courses
• Potters could use show rooms downtown
• The whole town needs a face lift
• Owners need to put something back into the community
• We have a beautiful bank, but on the other side of town you see old buildings
• Need to integrate the new cultures with the Robbins community

Cultural Diversity

"People of all races and cultures need to feel that they are a part of each other"

Scenario: Your child comes home from school and tells you there are several new students that don't understand English. How do you discuss this?

1. How would you address this scenario?
2. What additional concerns for cultural diversity does this discussion bring up?
3. How would you like to see these concerns addressed in Robbins?
4. Are there aspects of cultural diversity that you don't feel are being addressed in Robbins?
5. What steps would you take to initiate more discussion regarding cultural diversity in Robbins?
6. Is there interest in the group to have further discussion concerning cultural diversity after today? Who should organize it?

• We agree that we should learn some Spanish
• We need to communicate more with different cultures
• Attempt to meet with different cultures to decrease community challenges
• Seek out key persons in Latino community to assist with community issues
• Learn more about Latino celebrations
• Town government should take a positive role in reaching out to Latinos to learn more about their needs

Industry

"We've had some industries close, that was bad for a lot of people-people were working there for a lot of years, ready to retire, and then they lost their jobs."

Scenario: You've raised your family in Robbins and your children are now grown and deciding on a job; they've informed you that although they would like to live in Robbins there are no job opportunities.

1. How would you address this scenario?
2. What additional concerns for industries in Robbins does this discussion bring up?
3. How would you like to see these concerns addressed in Robbins?
4. Are there aspects of the industry situation in Robbins that you don't feel are being addressed?
5. What steps would you take to initiate more discussion regarding industries in Robbins?
6. Is there interest in the group to have further discussion concerning industries growth in Robbins? Who should organize it?

• Most people have to drive to their worksite
• Not enough jobs in Robbins to fit specialty jobs
• There are a variety of jobs in driving distance
• The trend in textiles has become a norm in small communities
• Need to attract skilled jobs
• Textile is a dying industry
• Past efforts have used a Partners with Chamber of Commerce (if this doesn't turn up anything then we need to do something on our own)
• Past efforts have been very disappointing
• Dr. Hicks helped us get some industry like the hosiery plant
• We have to industry that is raising not falling
• Not having a county-wide water and sewage system hurts us
• The tourist industry has hurt other industries in the county. That industry is not friendly for other industry
• Bringing potter into Robbins might help
• Schools are starting tech prep
• We should identify growing industry and bring it into the schools (offer training) and community college
• Industry looks at water, sewage and people before they decide to locate
• Small towns can offer incentives
• If you have industry its good to have an airport nearby
• Good road transportation get 24/27 to the point where it connects with 73/74
• Public transportation is very limited throughout the county
• Local committee is always a good thing
• Find someone who has the initiative to possibly start a committee
• Re-organizing and re-management of county wide sewer system
• Local committee should be coordinated through the town council, but it should include people from outside of the council
• If we could attract transportation, industry would be ideal for the progress of the community
• We should try to attract industries that feed and support bigger industry

Latino Growth

"You will find there is a division, I think geographically, races are located in different areas, I don't know if that's by choice or if it just worked out that way"

Scenario: You're a Latino family and there's a house for sale in a predominantly white neighborhood. How do you feel about moving there?

1. What additional concerns for cultural diversity and growth in the Robbins area does this discussion bring up?
2. How would you like to see these concerns addressed in Robbins?
3. Are there aspects of the current growth that you don't feel are being addressed in Robbins?
4. What steps would you take to initiate more discussion regarding the growth of Robbins?
5. Is there interest in the group to have further discussion concerning the Latino population growth in Robbins? Who should organize it?

• Cultural differences bring about concerns from both the Latino and local community
• Extreme overcrowding and minimum housing code
• Culture and language barrier
• Make low rent housing available
• Companies should help aide in furnishing housing
• We need to learn their language
• Teach Latinos English to communicate with fellow citizens
• Try to get churches involved in intercultural relations

Health Care

"In this area, [people] go where they want to go [for health care]...to Pinehurst, Asheboro, or where ever, that was their choice"

Scenario: There's a flu outbreak and your child is sick; you need immediate assistance. Where do you go? How do you get there?

1. How would you address this scenario?
2. What additional concerns for health care services does this discussion bring up?
3. How would you like to see these concerns addressed in Robbins?
4. Are there aspects of the current health care services that you would like to see changed in Robbins?
5. What steps would you take to initiate more discussion regarding changes in Robbins?
6. Is there interest in the group to have further discussion concerning health care services in Robbins? Who should organize it?

• If your child has the flu: it depends on the time if it is late at night go to Pinehurst, call 911, or drive yourself...if during the day then go to the doctor
• It is frustrating getting appointments in town. Dr. Bell is very busy - it's a matter of convenience
• The loss of the doctor and drugstore has put a burden on the community
• We need an adequate nursing home. The closest is 1/2 hour away
• Need a new pharmacy because sometimes have to wait four days for medication
• Have to wait at the doctor's office
• We need a sewer system, but its very expensive
• Landlords need to be held accountable, there are some homes that are overcrowded, low standard of living
• Town council needs to meet with other city councils to find solutions
• We need a committee to discuss these issues
• Need incentive to get a new doctor - need a facility
• Need younger folks to help create change
• Need a change in the attitude of the big landowners around Robbins
• Its all connected to attract industry, you need enough doctors, good schools and need to make the area attractive

Appendix C: Fact Sheet and List of Interview Participants

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