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What's your new year's wish for this community? Here's some hopes and wishes from Triad residents. 

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"It is my belief that the residents of Guilford County will experience a successful 2009 if we depend on our own spirit and resourcefulness. In the coming year, there are many predictions of lean times and challenges to the health of our economy and to the health of our personal beings. Every day we see indigence and opulence existing side by side, but through unified efforts we can narrow this divide and assure everyone access to the basic necessities of life.

"My hope is for an across-the-board increase in caring. The situations that we will face will probably not limit themselves to a certain part of town, a certain religious denomination, or a certain income bracket, but rather we should expect that problems will confront us all.

"This means that as we assess our individual values and ideals, we will be forced to prioritize our financial, social and educational futures, and adjust each of these to a level where all basic needs are met without an abundance of extras.

"I want to see each of us take personal responsibility for random acts of kindness that bring encouragement and hope to our sisters and brothers throughout this nation."

Merle Green,
director, Guilford County Department of Public Health

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"My wish for 2009 is that the leadership of the Piedmont Triad will prioritize working collaboratively across city and county boundaries to address our shared regional economic challenges and opportunities."

Don Kirkman,
president and chief executive officer, Piedmont Triad Partnership

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"I just came back from the Mellow Mushroom, with a friend who had no idea how close we were to it. While there, we realized we had three friends in common and two among us there at the restaurant. It is a small world and a small city, and I hope that in 2009 we can become the tight-knit, close community, a village, that will help us realize our goals of low crime and full employment and success that I know Greensboro is capable of."

Bert VanderVeen,
president of Aycock Neighborhood Association

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"My hope for 2009 is that the economic hurricane will end and no more men, women and children will be added to the homeless ranks.

"I have been involved in urban ministry work for over 30 years and have never seen such an opportunity as now. Now is the time we can end homelessness in our community and country. How do you end homelessness? You give people homes. With these homes, you also give supportive services as needed.

"In the fall of 2008, Urban Ministry launched its Beyond Pathways program to rapidly rehouse homeless families living at our Pathways Center.

"My hope for 2009 is that we find 10 more housing welcoming teams so that Urban Ministry can fully implement phase one of Beyond Pathways by serving 20 formerly homeless families."

the Rev. Mike Aiken,
executive director, Greensboro Urban Ministry

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"My biggest hope is that the FedEx mid-Atlantic hub has a smooth opening and that our local government officials finally embrace a more integrated land-use planning vision.

"Central to this dream is that the county and city planning departments begin to integrate their operational platform regarding an airport area land-use plan and the elected officials actually follow the plan recommendations.

"Finally, I hope that our community manages to leverage a healthy share of the expected federal and state stimulus packages to fund the appropriate mix of infrastructural investments needed to generate high-quality, environmentally friendly growth patterns in the airport region.

"Bottom line: Greensboro emerges as a highly regarded and more sophisticated and innovative type of 'Gate City.' "

Keith G. Debbage,
UNCG geography professor

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"I would say to you that my hopes and dreams for 2009 are the same as they were for 2008 and all years past. I wish to see unity, fair and equitable treatment of people, more housing and community development, good paying jobs, health care and prosperity. And know that prosperity may not always be money, but enrichment of family and home and peace within.

"As I come home to Southeast Greensboro, a lot of those things are missing and there is no real reason why. My community in Southeast Greensboro is owed equity in housing, jobs, safety, beautification, and a better infrastructure for inviting new development, particularly retail. These things must and will come about in the New Year. ...

"The year 2009 will offer more opportunities that were once unavailable to many, and I must attribute that new mentality to the incoming administrations. I am hopeful that what happened in November was not just getting a black president or a woman governor, but an eye-opener for many people to realize that we are all ONE. I envision all facets of people working together to enhance our community, not for selfish gain, but because it is the right thing to do."

Sharon Hightower

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"My biggest hope for 2009 would be that we continue the momentum for strengthening our community and its unparalleled quality of life. Although the Greensboro Chamber is 'thinking big,' we know what matters most to our members and our neighbors is the quality of life they experience.

"In 2009, I would like to see us continue our commitment to entrepreneurship. As a business community we must focus on weaving the 'creative' story and fostering the environment for that spirit to thrive. If we continue to push forward in spite of the current economic woes, we will build a stronger and more diverse economy that will spotlight the wonderful community we call home."

Robert H. Clapper,
president, Greensboro Chamber of Commerce

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"My hope for 2009 is that the state Office of Purchase and Contract will listen to the results of the $100,000, independent tire study presented to the N.C. legislature this spring by Smithers Scientific (one of the world's leading experts in tire technology). The study showed other retread products perform 100 percent better than the product our schools are told to buy. The savings to North Carolina taxpayers would exceed $1.5 million per year."

Russ Hunt,
an executive with Snider Tire in Greensboro and a critic of the state's policies for buying retreaded school-bus tires

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"My hopes and dreams for Greensboro include the following:

• Our government leaders will see beyond special interests and do what is best for the community.
• Our residents will take more personal responsibility for themselves and our community.
• Our neighborhoods will continue to organize and support one another.
• Our amazing nonprofit community will be provided with sustainable funding so they can continue their good works.
• Our generous local foundations will reap increasing returns so they can continue to support the community.
• Our homeless neighbors will be housed.
• Our economic development leaders will be able to secure jobs, jobs and more jobs for the region.
• Our community at large will be even more appreciative of this wonderful place where we live."

Donna Newton,
adviser to the Greensboro Neighborhood Congress and director of the Guilford Nonprofit Consortium

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"In 2009 I hope to see economic recovery. We can start with a stop to bailouts and economic incentive packages. The recent news from Wall Street (refusal of data for where the money went) and locally from FedEx (opening late and with half the jobs they promised) should teach us that we cannot buy a solution to our economy; we can only fix it by, well, fixing it.

" I run a small business and the bottom line is that I cannot get an incentive from the government to expand my company; I am far too small to even think about asking. Truth is that the small risk to give to small companies can help firm up the foundation of our economy, which is small businesses. I don't need millions in incentives, but $20,000 can go a long way for most small businesses.

"Besides the economy, I hope to see more transparency from all levels of government and a continued move to a more accepting community here in Greensboro as we continue to struggle with issues of race and public trust in our government. Understanding all of our neighbors in a community is the key, and the path we are heading down."

Jay Ovittore,
Greensboro Human Relations Commission member

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"When I reflect on the coming year, I also look back at the past year. Our community has worked very hard to address the issue of homelessness, and there is much to show in terms of that effort. The 10-Year Plan to End Chronic Homelessness is moving ahead; the day center is being planned; new programs are being developed; and dozens of individuals with long histories of homelessness now have homes. All of that gives me hope.

"At the same time, when I drive around the community, work on street counts of homeless, and from the number of phone calls I receive from people seeking assistance, I am able to recognize that there is still much to be done. I worry in a time of shrinking resources that this issue could be put on hold.

"My hope for 2009 is that we continue to move ahead. Together we can work out creative responses (like the recent We! initiative) and truly be a community that values each of its members equally. The grant that funds the Housing Support Team comes up for renewal this year. I hope that the community and legislature recognize its benefits and savings, and continue to fund this program."

Mitch McGee,
housing support team coordinator, Family Service of the Piedmont

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"I have been concerned for some time with the problems within the Greensboro Police Department and the high crime rates we have in our city. My hope is that our city's leadership will, at long last, prioritize these issues on behalf of the residents of the city of Greensboro. Some officers were treated very unjustly, and their careers and families harmed, because of the wrongheaded measures taken by the city during late 2005 and early 2006. I hope these situations can somehow be made right.

"Finally, my wish is that our leaders at the city and county level will come to the awareness that we face stiff competition from the rest of the southeastern United States, and indeed the whole world, for the limited number of jobs that employers are creating. They need to understand that unwise spending, and the resulting pattern of ever-increasing local taxes we have seen, tends to chase jobs and prosperity away. Our leaders fundamentally need to reconsider their approach."

Joe Guarino,
Greensboro physician