What to Know About Our MHC
- What: Our MHC is a community visioning process for Martinsville-Henry County (MHC).
- Who: The Harvest Foundation is leading the process with support from Community Liaisons, local partners, and residents across MHC.
- Why: The goal is to hear from residents and develop a shared vision for the next 25 years.
- How to participate: Residents can join the conversation and share what they love about MHC, what they’d like to see change, and their hopes for the future.
A vision for Martinsville-Henry County’s (MHC) future starts with the people who call it home.
That’s why Our MHC Community Liaisons Kim Mason Reynolds and Kenlee Hylton have spent months going where people already gather — from festivals and cookouts to libraries, local businesses, churches, and other events. They’re there to connect with residents, hear about their experiences and learn what matters to them as part of the Our MHC community visioning process.
So far, Our MHC has heard from more than 1,000 people across the community. They’re sharing what they love about MHC, what they’d like to see change, and what they hope the future will look like.
Below, Kim and Kenlee share in their own words what they’ve learned along the way.
What Listening Has Taught Me About Our Community
Pan-Hellenic council members share their perspectives at the cookout.
Serving as a Community Liaison for Martinsville-Henry County has given me the opportunity to truly understand the strengths, weaknesses, challenges, and opportunities of the place I call home. This role has allowed me to build stronger relationships with the people in my community.
The greatest resource in our community is its people.
Through this work, I have gained a deeper appreciation for the unique needs of our area — from transportation, housing, and food security to healthcare access, economic development, affordable childcare, and healthy aging. Every conversation has reinforced the importance of listening first, discussing possibilities, and working together toward meaningful solutions.
Being a liaison has strengthened my belief that lasting change begins with relationships. It has been both a professional privilege and a personal journey, expanding my understanding of Martinsville and Henry County while inspiring me to continue serving our community with compassion, curiosity, and a commitment to improving quality of life for all residents.
What I’m Hearing From Our Community
By Kenlee Hylton
Kenlee and Christopher connect with Lego Club attendees at Bassett Branch Library.
Since April, I have had the privilege of serving as a Community Liaison for The Harvest Foundation’s Our MHC 25-year Community Visioning Process, facilitated by Horizon 54. I stepped into this role because I know how powerful community can be. I have been on the other side, needing support, direction, and connection, and it was the strength of this community that helped me find my way through a difficult season. Being part of a process that invites residents to imagine our shared future feels meaningful and full circle.
These first months have reminded me that when we listen to one another with intention, we begin to see our home, and each other, in a new light.
These months have been filled with conversations in community rooms, local event spaces, and gatherings where people already come together. Whether facilitating workshops or joining in on events that were already happening, I have had the chance to listen to residents in settings that feel familiar to them. I have met people who showed up eager to share and others who were quieter at first but opened up as the conversation unfolded. Each interaction has reminded me how much people care about Martinsville–Henry County and how willing they are to share when they feel their voice is valued.
Residents share input at Factory Roast.
As a local, I have felt a sense of trust in these conversations. People speak openly when they know you understand the place they are talking about, and I have been grateful for the honesty they have shared. Many residents talk about the slower pace of life, the beauty of our surroundings, and the comfort of living in a tight-knit community. Others speak with pride about our local businesses and the familiarity that comes from knowing the people who serve you, support you, and show up for you. These reflections have reminded me that the things we sometimes overlook are often the things people cherish most.
I have also learned how deeply our history shapes the way many residents think about the future. For some, memories of the factory days still hold a sense of stability and identity. Their stories reflect pride and a longing for the security those jobs once provided. Hearing these perspectives has helped me understand why the past feels so important to many people, even as we talk about new possibilities ahead. Their memories are not just nostalgia — they are reminders of a time when families felt secure and connected through shared work and shared purpose.
Local teens share their perspectives at the Smith River Sports Complex.
Some of the most meaningful conversations I have had have been with young people. Their honesty has stayed with me because they speak from the reality they are living right now. While many adults focus on the beauty of our area or the memories of what Martinsville-Henry County used to be, the youth often share a different view. Several mentioned concerns about safety and a desire for more diversity and inclusion. Their words were courageous and came from a place of wanting to feel safe, welcomed, and connected in the community they call home. These conversations reminded me that the future we are planning will belong to them, and their experiences deserve to be part of the vision we create.
Not every conversation has been hopeful. Some residents have shared that they do not believe their input will make a difference, and a few have expressed doubts about whether this process will lead to real change. Hearing these feelings has reminded me why listening matters. When people feel unheard for a long time, it becomes hard to trust that their voice still carries weight. These moments have taught me that community engagement is not only about gathering positive ideas. It is also about creating space for frustration, disappointment, and skepticism. Every perspective — even the hard ones — helps us understand what people are carrying and what they need in order to feel hopeful again.
As I look ahead, I feel grateful for every perspective that has been shared. My commitment is to keep showing up with sincerity, to keep listening with an open heart, and to help lift the voices of those who trust me with their stories. I believe that when we honor the full range of what people feel, we create a future that reflects all of us.
Kenlee connects with residents at the Hispanic Heritage Festival.
Join the Conversation
Kim and Kenlee have found that people care deeply about MHC and have ideas about how to make it even better. Residents value the relationships and sense of connection that make this place special, but they also point to challenges around housing, transportation, childcare, health, and economic opportunity.
And not every conversation is easy. Concerns about safety, inclusion, opportunity, and whether change will really happen are just as important to hear. Those honest perspectives can help us better understand what our community needs so that even more people can feel hopeful about the future.
Have you joined one of our engagement events? Did you think it was awesome? Was something missing?
We’d love to hear from you.