Candidate Biography (submitted by campaign):

My name is Nettie Lewis Coad.  I am 73 yrs. young. I was employed by Sears Catalog Distribution Center from 1970 until retiring as the Assistant Manager in 1993. I was hired by The  Partnership Project in  January of 1994 as the community organizer. I am currently the Executive Director of The Partnership Project. The Partnership Project is a highly interactive process that educates people about the origins of racism, organizes people to develop strategies to undo racism and supports people in the healing process from the damaging effects of racial oppression.

 My journey to become deeply involved began in my own neighborhood,  Olde Asheboro.  I have been a community organizer, activist and leader for over 30 years. I started organizing in the mid seventies  to form a neighborhood association that would address critical issues affecting the quality of life primarily resulting from blight, crime and inequality. Over the years we have successfully implemented numerous projects to improve conditions in the neighborhood: designated community development area, improved housing, streetscape, improved public transportation, park upgrades, Undoing Racism training and assumed management of an apartment complex.  Work in the neighborhood is still progressing as a committee has revised plans for housing and business development.

Also central to my organizing is the creation of the Greensboro Health Disparities Collaborative, a group that represents 28 community leaders, advocates, public health professionals, university faculty and staff, clergy and other members in the Greensboro community.  The Collaborative brings together the work of The Partnership Project in Undoing Racism with the expertise of UNC research faculty in a community based participatory research process.

A result of our organizing is the mandatory Undoing Racism training implemented by the departments of Human Relations and Housing and Community Development. This has made a positive difference in the work, understanding, interactions, and relationships in their service to the community at large.

My goal is to  create high community confidence through leadership and direction based on the values of economy, equality, compassion, and honest effort among citizens, employees, and policy-makers. 

I plan to commit my strengths as a community leader, organizer and activist to create an environment of collaboration and expectation amongst all citizens, businesses and nonprofits. I will work with the City employees to ensure that clear direction is coupled with high productivity and efficiency.  I will strive to seek the trust and confidence of our citizens by ensuring that local government is transparent, open and accessible by everyone, equally.

I will be dedicated to attacking the hard issues, making tough choices, and finding new pathways and solutions by involving the community in the planning process, implementation and monitoring in the development needed to acquire a sustainable future. I will provide an atmosphere that is inclusive to our diverse population, viewpoints, interests and creative ideas. I will encourage our Council to share concerns and issues so that the problems that we must face can be studied and corrected and cease to hold us back.

I will not accept  artificial boundaries that limit us in creating productive partnerships. I  recognize the worth of all jobs and will concentrate my efforts on ensuring that all have the opportunity to work and to earn a livable wage. I will diligently seek to identify goals that will ripple out and have multiple benefits. I will continue my support for  neighborhood development efforts that focus on safety, sound housing, appropriate enforcement, and the empowerment of  the community to regain its political power to receive equal treatment in all services.