The document presents a communication plan for the Grier Heights neighborhood in Charlotte, North Carolina. It provides background on the neighborhood, including its history as a community for wealthy African Americans. The plan aims to improve conditions in Grier Heights by better managing its public image and increasing social capital. Key recommendations include holding regular neighborhood meetings, creating a welcome basket for new residents, launching an e-newsletter, applying for grants, using social media, attending outside events, and engaging local non-profits. The overall goal is to transform Grier Heights residentially and economically through improved communication.

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Prepared by Christine Edwards
For Constructing Messages and Audiences
Queens University of Charlotte Master of Communication
Grier Heights Neighborhood Communication Plan

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Where is Grier Heights?

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Who
 Grier Height’s Community Center, opened in September of 2015 in
the Grier Heights neighborhood, located in the Southeast corridor
of Charlotte, North Carolina. According to local histories, the Grier
Heights Neighborhood was formerly home to wealthy and
progressive African Americans in Charlotte (G. Green, personal
communication, February 17, 2016).
 Vision: Our collective vision is that Grier Heights will be
transformed residentially and economically, and the quality of life
dramatically improved, with a constant focus on justice to its
residents throughout the process. via Crossroads website
 Mission: Grier Heights has had an active neighborhood
association since the 1940s. Our Mission is to provide leadership
that promotes the physical and social well-being of the
neighborhood. We have a vision of becoming a proud historically
progressive neighborhood via Neighborhood Link

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What
The purpose of this communication plan is to offer strategic
recommendations to better the state of the Grier Heights Community Center
and neighborhood as a whole. Recommendations are based on 1st person
accounts and researched communication theory.

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Why
 The Grier Heights neighborhood has experienced a slow
decline. The current population of Grier Heights is
approximately 3,100.
 Although Grier Heights enjoys a location in close proximity to
downtown Charlotte, unfortunately the advantages of its
location have not resulted in the same prosperity for its
residents.

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How
 Theoretical Frameworks
 1) Impression Management
 The neighborhood suffers from a negative public image due to lack
of impression management
 2) Social Capital
 Bonding capital is already strong there but is not much cross-group
collaboration

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Impression Management
Erving Goffman
 Face
 Framing
 Front Staging
 Back Staging

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Social Capital
Robert Putnam
 Establishing Reputation
 Bonding Capital
 Bridging Capital
 Trust
 Social Networks.
 Proactive and Intentional
 Identities are shared

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Now what?
Internal Strategies
Recommendation Description Resources Metrics/Goal
Conduct consistent
neighborhood
meetings
Monthly neighborhood
meetings will consistent
face-to-face contact
between neighborhood
leaders and residents
Community Center
Meeting room,
website and
newsletter to get the
word out
1 meeting within the first 60
days of implementing plan
Create “welcome
basket”
The Welcome basket is a
physical toolkit for
newcomers to use to find
their way around the
neighborhood. Residents
will learn about trash
pickup, local safety
contact numbers,
community meeting
schedules and more.
Brochures, paper,
printing tools to
print off toolkit.
Other fundraising
can be done
Deliver new welcome basket
toolkit to at least the next
three neighbors/families who
move to Grier Heights
Create e-Newsletter Create an e-newsletter to
highlight important
community events,
people
Computer and
printing (optional)
tools, email list
Deliver a new newsletter
within 60 days of
implementing plan.

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Now what?
External Strategies
Recommendation Description Resources Metrics/Goal
Apply for
Neighborhood
matching grants
Grants are made
available through the
City of Charlotte
neighborhood and
business services and
other grant making
foundations.
Neighborhood
liaison,
volunteers
Research neighborhood matching
grants
Manage Social Media
presence
Smartphone or
computer
Increased engagement on
Facebook and Twitter
Attend outside
community meetings
and events
Attend meetings for
adjacent
neighborhoods.
Volunteers Number of meetings attended each
month
Engage with non-
profit community
Invite non-profit
spokesperson to
every other
neighborhoods
meeting to teach
available resources;
invite neighbors to
volunteer at nonprofit
Volunteers Host at least one community
service project on an annual basis

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Connecting for Change: Grier Heights
Neighborhood Communication Plan
Prepared by Christine Edwards
Mecklenburg County Community Relations Coordinator
Christine.edwards@mecklenburgcountync.gov