By Kevin Giff
On Saturday, August 10, the Fairview Youth in Action hosted the fourth-annual Walk Fairview Day at the Dorothy N. Johnson Community Center. The Fairview Youth in Action Program is a paid summer program for high-school aged youth living in or connected to the Fairview community in Hillsborough, NC. The program is sponsored by the Fairview Community Watch (FCW), the UNC Food, Fitness and Opportunity Research Collaborative (UNC FFORC), and Habitat for Humanity of Orange County (Habitat).
“It’s been incredibly rewarding to see how the Fairview Youth in Action has brought our community together. The increased engagement from residents and partners alike shows that we are all invested in making Fairview a better place to live,” said Edith DeJesus-Sanchez, Fairview Youth in Action Program Coordinator and Fairview resident.”We’re focused on safer streets, inclusive parks, and vibrant public spaces that reflect our community’s needs and cultures, making Fairview a welcoming place for everyone.”
More than 70 residents and local elected officials participated in Walk Fairview Day, a neighborhood walk and pop-up art demonstration aimed at making Fairview a healthier and more active place to live. During the walk, Fairview Youth in Action interns highlighted proposed changes (from the Activate! Fairview Active Living Plan 2022-2027) that promote healthy, active communities, specifically prioritizing actions to create vibrant public places, more inclusive parks, and safe streets.
“Hillsborough and Orange County are fortunate to have Fairview Youth in Action interns so engaged in the community,” said Hillsborough Mayor Mark Bell. “Walk Fairview Day is an excellent opportunity to hear first-hand from these young leaders about their work to enhance Fairview and strengthen Hillsborough as a whole.”
In addition to Hillsborough Mayor Bell, Town of Hillsborough Mayor Pro Tempore Robb English, Commissioners Matt Hughes and Meaghun Darab, State Representative Renee Price, Orange County Commissioner Jean Hamilton, and Orange County Schools Board of Education member Wendy Padilla all attended Walk Fairview Day.
In recent years, the Fairview Youth in Action program has actively partnered with the Town of Hillsborough and local nonprofits to make improvements to the neighborhood, including implementing traffic calming measures, upgrading facilities at the Dorothy N. Johnson Community Center, and installing green infrastructure.
During the walk, the interns shared five youth-led proposals for action, including:
Vibrant Public Places: Adding a free library and colorful landscaping at the community center to create an engaging and safe space.
Public Art Installations: Creating public art to foster a sense of place and connection.
Recreational Opportunities: Installing a soccer field and improving facilities at Fairview Park to make the space more inclusive and welcoming.
Traffic Calming: Slowing down cars with a four-way stop sign, chicanes, and a sidewalk on Rainey Ave. to make the area safer for walking and rolling.
Climate Action: Cleaning up litter and installing rain gardens with native plants to create a clean environment.
“Our youth are the future of Fairview. By involving them in these initiatives, we’re giving them the chance to carry forward the dreams of past generations and to shape the future they envision for our neighborhood. Their fresh perspectives are vital to the progress we’re making,” DeJesus-Sanchez added.
