Issues

We’ve lived on the “worst in state” lists for far too long.

Parts of Ward 3 — especially the Edgecombe County side — face some of the toughest conditions in all of North Carolina:

•  One of the highest HIV rates in the state
•  The third shortest life expectancy in North Carolina
•  Persistent high unemployment and poverty
•  Blighted neighborhoods that have been ignored for decades
•  Disinvestment in housing, health care, and opportunity

These aren’t just statistics — they’re lived experiences. I know because I was raised right here on Clark Street. I’ve walked these blocks. I’ve seen the pain, but I’ve also seen the potential.