Revitalizing Uptown New Bern - The New Thang Conference!

We can’t change time, but we can change our attitudes!

It’s no secret that Downtown New Bern is thriving and Uptown New Bern (Five Points, Duffeyfield, Trent Court, Craven Terrace) is in disrepair. Every time I drive thru the Uptown area, I wonder how I can help make a difference. People say things can only change if people want them to. I believe that and thank Van Cuthbertson for inviting me to the New Thang Conference Banquet at the JEB Ballroom in Five Points.

The New Thang Conference is a citywide revival formed by Uptown community leaders and members who care about their community and want to change! The banquet celebrated their drive and commitment to restore the Uptown area as the bustling and prosperous business district that it was years ago!

The vibrant and heartfelt atmosphere inspired me, especially seeing the large turnout of people during the extended Independence Day weekend. With so many activities going on, their loyalty to this terrific movement was obvious that they were there to find out how they can make a difference in the Uptown community.

Uptown’s leaders, members and family gathered to acknowledge and thank key players in their efforts to improve the community. Reverend Kareem Edwards acknowledged numerous churches, businesses, and individuals who made a difference in the 2010 New Thang Conference during Mothers Day weekend. The Conference was the beginning of something new. Focus points were restoring womanhood and understating Determined Individuals Vying for Achievement and Self-Respect (D.I.V.A.S). A community day was designated to bring everyone together and spread a message of hope on Mother’s Day.

Rev Edwards relayed the message that “we have to pull together, make sacrifices, and change the fiber of our community”. He noted that your life is worth living, we need to rejuvenate and take a stand against drugs, broken homes, and teen pregnancy. He described the need to develop partnerships to achieve the goal which will take commitment. He asked “what would you do to save our community”? He encouraged people to “believe in the vision”.

They introduced the Ethel Bell Sampson Heroism Award for lifetime commitment to improve the community.

Torane Williams spoke about “growing up with drug dealers on the streets who wouldn’t let you stop, they would tell you to go to the gym. Now they tell a young boy or girl to hold this” which eventually turns the child into a drug dealer.

New Bern Mayor Lee Bettis spoke about having Van Cuthbertson at his house for dinner. They talked about Five Points revitalization and community unity. They discussed how to get stakeholders in Duffyfield. After meeting with Van, the Mayor talked to his wife and decided he would open his own law firm at 1036 Broad Street. His wife is a marriage and family counselor and will offer free parenting classes.

Van Cuthbertson talked about New Bern’s First All American Inclusive Family Festival (aamifam Festival) which was developed to celebrate our culture and celebrate our differences between all races, bring all the differences in one field and learn how we can use each other’s differences to make our community stronger. The aamifam Festival was also created to learn about the history of each culture.

Van defined what it takes to be a stakeholder. “You don’t have to live here and if you live here, that doesn’t automatically make you a stakeholder.” A stakeholder is someone who cares about improving Craven Terrace, Duffyfield, Trent Court, and Five Points. “Change will come with sacrifice, time and pride. We are tax payers too – we’ll meet you at Five Points”.

The New Thang Conference can only achieve so much without financial donations. If you’d like to become a Platinum Partner, become a sponsor of the community for $240. You can make $20 monthly payments. Gold Partner sponsorship costs $120. They need financial support to move the vision forward. You can purchase a Mother’s Day CD for $10 donation. If you’re interested in becoming a stakeholder, please contact Rev Kareem Edwards at 757-945-0676 or send him an email.

Kareem asked members to redeem yourself. “We’re going to bring Five Points back. Downtown is going to want to come to Five Points”.

It was obvious to me that residents of Five Points, Duffyfield, Craven Terrace, and Trent Court communities welcome New Bern residents to join them in restoring their community.

It doesn’t matter what neighborhood you live in, we can make a difference, it all depends on if you want to change and make New Bern a more diverse and better city for everyone!

Wendy Card