The weeklong Way to Grow fest, in full swing in Henderson and Vance County, is shaping up to provide the community with a variety of ways to come together and support the place we call home.
At Monday’s community block parties, folks gathered at several different spots to share an easy meal and let the kids play together, conjuring up feelings of nostalgia for Tracy Mosley, director of Helping All People Excel.
When she was a child, cookouts and playing with other kids in the community all summer long were routine; it’s less so nowadays, but the Way to Grow festival is creating opportunities for children to play together and find things in common with one another instead of focusing on differences.
Mosley spoke with WIZS News Tuesday and outlined the rest of the week’s activities, leading up to the culminating street festival Saturday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
The block parties Monday “set the stage” for the rest of the week, Mosley said. “The energy is good; the vibe is great!”
Tuesday marks the launch of “Buy Local, Build Local,” a campaign that supports local businesses. Patrons download an app on their phone and earn points or credits for shopping local.
It’s important to support small businesses and entrepreneurs, she said, but for small business owners to be successful, the whole economy around them has to be strong.
Wednesday is all about the S-Line, with a focus on what the future holds for Henderson and Vance County as plans progress to return passenger rail service to the area. Thursday brings a focus on the arts and Friday’s theme is college and careers. Come out to Southern Charm between 12 noon and 4 p.m. for Friday’s information about college and careers.
“We were very intentional about how we built this week,” Mosley said. From small business and economic development to education and the arts, the Way to Grow Fest offers a glimpse into what a future could look like when different sectors of the community come together for a common goal: helping each other to be better.
“The whole week is designed to be what we want it to be,” Mosley said, “to help Henderson and Vance County grow in the right direction.”
Visit www.waytogrowfest.com to learn more.
Saturday’s daylong festival in downtown Henderson has grown from last year. Last year, the festival stopped at Orange Street, but this year stretches one block further to include more buildings on the far end of Garnett Street, Mosley explained.
There will be more vendors and food trucks, participating shops and resource tables available for folks to enjoy, but if you don’t do anything else, Mosley said bring the kids to the Youth Village.
“They are the future of this community,” she said.
“For them to get together and get to know one another and learn how to work with each other now while they’re younger and learn that they have more in common than not, because at some point they’re going to leave this community and it’s our job to make sure that they’re getting everything that they need to be the best leaders that they can be. It’s truly a chance to invest in your future,” she said.
Learn more about Gateway CDC at www.thegatewaycdc.org
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