Page 43 - Greensboro, NC-GSO 2040 Comprehensive Plan

CHAPTER 8: BIG IDEA - BUILDING COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS

ISSUES AND OPPORTUNITIES ADDRESSED
The goals and strategies in the Building Community Connections Big Idea address
the following issues discussed in public meetings or observed when collecting
data about the City. More details are available in the Data Book, the Conditions
and Trends Report, and in the public comment summary.

Diversity of Population
Greensboro has a diverse population. Over the past decade, the city has evolved
into a majority non-white city with the highest percentage of non-white
population compared to other large cities in the state. Greensboro is a
resettlement community; almost 34,000 residents of Greensboro were born
outside of the U.S. City of Greensboro customer service provided assistance to
non-English speakers more than 2000 times between July 2018 and June 2019, in
languages such as Spanish, Swahili, Vietnamese, Arabic, Nepali, French, Mandarin,
and Kinyarwanda.

Changing Age Demographics
The median age in Greensboro in 2018 was 34.3 years; this is younger than Embracing Our Universities
the median age for both North Carolina and the U.S., but is older than most of Greensboro is home to seven institutions of higher education with a combined
the other major cities in the state. Greensboro is home to several colleges and student population of approximately 60,000. These institutions play a vital role in
universities, which likely contributes to its lower median age. However, we are the civic, cultural, and economic life of Greensboro and leverage quality
losing younger people as a share of our overall population; between 2000 and growth and investment on the edges of their campuses. Making students feel
2016, the group of age categories between 55 and 74 experienced the greatest at home while they’re away from home benefits the community as a whole, and
increase and the group between 20 and 44 the greatest decrease. The loss of positioning the schools as community assets is a vital step in embracing an identity
younger generations is troubling as it may lead to a vacuum in the employment as a University City.
pool and diminish the overall vitality of the community.

The number of older residents in Greensboro is increasing, due in part to the fact Historical Significance
that many people stay in Greensboro as they age, and that North Carolina is a Greensboro encompasses an area that has seen historical events of monumental
destination for retirees. This can have positive impacts on the area’s economy and proportions over the years from a pivotal Revolutionary War battle in 1781 to
increase levels of civic engagement and volunteerism. It also presents a market for a peaceful lunch counter protest in 1960 that sparked the sit-in movement
diversifying housing stock and making neighborhoods more walkable and tran- across the south. New Garden Quakers were actively involved in the anti-slavery
sit-friendly to enable residents to age in their own community rather than move. movement, and the first documented case of Underground Railroad activity was in
Overall, the goals GSO2040 align with those of the AARPs Domains of Livability 1819 when Vestal Coffin aided local slave John Dimrey. Through strategies aimed at
and being an age-friendly community. increasing diversity, embracing others, and remembering our history, the city will
continue to honor those who came before us.

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