“Gentrification and housing inequality touch almost every social and political issue in America,” explains Daryn Wilkerson ‘23, co-chair of the Learning Lab I Committee. “Often housing inequality is seen as an individual issue, but in actuality, it’s connected to everything.”
The Park Scholarships Class of 2023 chose housing inequality and gentrification as the subject of their Learning Lab I, an annual experience designed and implemented by Park Scholars to provide insight into leadership through the lens of a challenge currently facing the people of North Carolina. Last spring, the Class of 2023’s planned Learning Lab I experience in Durham and Goldsboro, N.C., was canceled because of the pandemic. This March, the students redesigned their experience for an online format and broadened their geographic focus.
“We were no longer limited to speakers in just the two cities we were going to be traveling to,” says Christiana Daniel ‘23, co-chair of the Learning Lab I Committee. “Instead, we were able to reach out to speakers all over North Carolina.”
The four-day program was split into two parts, March 12-13 and March 19-20. A combination of speakers and panels focused on the relationship between housing inequality and local and state policies, nonprofits, health care, education, transportation, development, racism, and food insecurity, among other topics.
One of the major takeaways for the Park Scholars was the connection between housing insecurity and other social issues. “I was blown away by the complexity of housing inequality, and how closely related it is to racism, food insecurity, education, health care, and transportation,” Shannon Carney ‘23 shares. “The variety of speakers we heard enlightened me to the concept that housing is not just one structural issue; it is a combination of numerous structural components that have to be deeply understood in order to find a solution.”
“Although I was familiar with the ties between racism and housing inequality, Learning Lab I helped me develop an even deeper understanding of the role it plays through our discussion of gentrification and redlining. Learning Lab I showed me how seemingly everything — health care, education, racism, and more — contributes to homelessness,” says Beckett Stillman ‘23.
“Housing inequality and food insecurity is a much more prevalent problem than we thought right here on NC State’s campus,” Daniel adds. “[As a class, w]e want to do something to help reduce it and combat it.”
Through this experience, Daniel gained a new appreciation for the courage of many of these community leaders. “At the end of the day, they are trying to do all they can to help people facing housing inequality but with a limited amount of resources.” In particular, she says she was inspired by the Housing Authority staff and “the passion they have for helping people overcome housing inequality despite not having the funds or resources to help everyone who needs it.”
Wilkerson explains the experience taught her about effective leadership. “The speakers showed me how important soft skills are, as that’s what sets them apart.” She valued the opportunity to hear from Councilman Corey Branch and Councilwoman Jillian Johnson. “They gave great insight into the specifics of gentrification in Durham.”
“I gained valuable insight into leadership styles from the various presenters,” Megan Cislo ‘23 says. “Some of the most successful leadership approaches include making sure you have leaders who are knowledgeable and representative of the people you’re leading, form connections with the people you are leading and learn from them, don’t make assumptions about the people you are leading but instead slow down and listen to them, and establish boundaries with the people you are serving or else you won’t really help anyone.”
Learning Lab I Schedule
Part One
Friday, March 12
2:00 p.m. – 2:15 p.m. | Introduction and Welcome
2:15 p.m. – 3:15 p.m. | Session with Dr. Mary Haskett, professor of psychology at NC State and Co-chair of the NC State Student Food and Housing Security Initiative
3:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. | Housing Authority Panel featuring Michael Dineen, Executive Director of Lenoir Housing Authority, and Anthony Goodson, CEO of Housing Authority of the City of Goldsboro
4:45 p.m. – 5:30 p.m. | Reflection Group 1
5:30 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. | Dinner Break
6:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. | Social Event
Saturday, March 13
10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. | Session with John Luckett, President and CEO of Raleigh Rescue Mission
11:15 a.m. – 12:15 p.m. | Health Care Panel featuring Dr. Jim Lefler, primary care psychiatrist, and Dr. Jacob Feigal, Medical Instructor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Duke University School of Medicine
12:30 p.m. – 1:15 p.m. | Community and Alumni Social
1:30 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. | Cultural Activity: International Civil Rights Center and Museum Interactive Virtual Tour
3:15 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. | Reflection Group 2
Part Two
Friday, March 19
2:15 p.m. – 3:15 p.m. | Session with Dr. Allison DeMarco, Adjunct Faculty in the School of Social Work at UNC-Chapel Hill and Research Fellow for the NC Poverty Fund
3:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. | Housing Development Panel featuring Bill Ahern, CEO of Habitat Wake County, Fred Dodson, Executive VP of Real Estate & COO with Charlotte Mecklenburg Housing Partnership, and Barbara Melvin, Executive Director of the NC Indian Housing Authority
4:45 p.m. – 5:30 p.m. | Reflection Group 3
5:30 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. | Dinner Break
6:00 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. | Social Event
Saturday, March 20
10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. | City Council Panel featuring Jillian Johnson, Durham Mayor Pro Tempore, and Corey Branch, Raleigh District C Council Member
11:15 a.m. – 12:15 p.m. | Session with David Price, Representative of the 4th Congressional District of North Carolina
12:15 p.m. – 1:00 p.m. | Lunch Break
1:00 p.m. – 1:45 p.m. | Group Debrief
1:45 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. | Closing
Learning Lab I Speakers
- Bill Ahern, CEO of Habitat Wake County
- Corey Branch, Raleigh District C Council Member
- Allison DeMarco, Adjunct Faculty in the School of Social Work at UNC-Chapel Hill and Research Fellow for the NC PovertyFund
- Michael Dineen, Executive Director of the Lenoir Housing Authority
- Fred Dodson, Executive VP of Real Estate & COO with Charlotte Mecklenburg Housing Partnership
- Dr. Jacob Feigal, Medical Instructor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Duke University School of Medicine
- Anthony Goodson Jr., CEO of Housing Authority for City of Goldsboro
- Mary Haskett, NC State Professor and Co-chair of the NC State Student Food and Housing Security Initiative
- Jillian Johnson, Durham Mayor Pro Tempore
- Dr. Jim Lefler, primary care psychiatrist
- John Luckett, President, and CEO of Raleigh Rescue Mission
- Barbara Melvin, Executive Director of the NC Indian Housing Authority
- David Price, Representative of the 4th Congressional District of North Carolina