From the desk of Harvest President Kate Keller
We hosted the Level Up MHC community summit on Oct. 20 to celebrate Martinsville-Henry County and to explore potential solutions for challenges to growing MHC. I’d like to thank each and every community member who attended the summit, and those who helped plan and shape the activities of the day. I’d also like to thank our speakers and panelists who graciously gave of their time, talent, and expertise to make our summit an amazing experience for all.
We’ve faced a lot over the years and survived, but now it’s time for us to thrive.
Level Up MHC gave us a safe place to think about our challenges as we move forward. We heard from Dwayne Yancey from Cardinal News who provided us with a real look at our population changes and how regional perspectives could improve our outlook. Telly Tucker, president of the Institute for Advanced Learning and Research, led us through the beginnings of Danville’s River District and shared that persistence and partnership must underscore a solid plan of community revitalization.
Dr. Danny Avula, commissioner of the Virginia Department of Social Services, spoke about connected communities and how inclusivity makes communities stronger and more capable of advancement. Our local panelists gave us insights into the work already taking place and made us realize how far we’ve already come.
The work is far from over, but Level Up MHC inspired us to keep moving forward because there’s always work to be done. It’s time for our community to take the lessons from our neighbors and come together to develop a long-term vision for MHC. Our community deserves the best and we will never stop pushing to become a place where all are proud to call home.
