The Partnership for Prosperity grew out of a group convened by Mayor Allen Joines, the Winston-Salem Poverty Thought Force. In February 2017, the thought force issued a report that included 56 recommendations to alleviate poverty. Among those recommendations was one that led to the partnership as an entity that will coordinate the poverty fight, raise public awareness of it, and advocate for policy changes on a local and state level. Regarding public awareness, we will work to ensure that people living in low-resource neighborhoods know the ways in which many local organizations can help them break down barriers and access resources. We will also raise public awareness about challenges people in low-resource neighborhoods.
The thought force narrowed down to the governing board to which the partnership answers. The partnership includes the executive director and the community engagement associate and includes those living in low-resource neighborhoods as well as partner organizations.
Our work is supported by grants from United Way of Forsyth County, BB&T, the city of Winston-Salem, the Kate B. Reynolds Charitable Trust, the Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation, Wake Forest University and Goodwill Industries of Northwest North Carolina.
