A Wednesday Word from the Director | Growth Takes Community

Dear Community,

It’s not lost on me that unconscious bias and perceived stereotypes about the safety of the Susan B. Anthony Preservation district make running any business on West Main Street extremely challenging. It should come as no surprise that over the decades very few businesses have had longevity on the West Main strip despite the efforts made to improve the look and feel of our neighborhood. Decades of red lining, systemic racism, purposeful segregation, lack of city funding, and concentrated poverty has stilted the business development of the Susan B. Anthony preservation district. A back handed compliment from a patron; solidified what my mind said but my heart had tried to deny “This place (540WMain Community Learning Academy) would be a goldmine if it was located on Park Avenue”

“This place (540WMain Community Learning Academy) would be a goldmine if it was located on Park Avenue”

The point is that West Main as a whole will only grow when certain people deem it worthy of their time, dollars, and development. Change often begins with one person planting one seed. But true growth does not happen in a silo. Growth takes a community. Your continued support of our grassroots community school has not gone unnoticed and truly means more than you could ever know.

xoxo

Calvin

Founder & Executive Director

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