Communities across the nation increasingly recognize racial inequities imbedded in their policies, places, and mindsets. In Winston-Salem/Forsyth County, the local history of slavery and its enduring legacy are directly related to the profound racial injustices inflicted on people of African descent, and disparities persist in housing, health, education, transportation, environment, food systems, policing and incarceration.

On April 19, 2021, the Winston-Salem City Council passed a resolution that included an apology for slavery, segregation, and past racist “policies, practices and procedures.” Apology is a first step, but the generational damage from public policy decisions -- including neighborhood destruction from highways and urban renewal -- requires action through transformational policies and structural reform going forward. “Reparative Planning” is a concept for implementing equitable planning strategies that purges racist policies and repairs past wrongs through a citizen-guided inclusive approach.

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Charlottesville, Virginia has been a recent epicenter of racist violence, and the community has responded with action, including monument removal, memorial installation, and reparative planning policies. The Equity Center of the University of Virginia and the School of Architecture Urban + Environmental Planning Department are leaders in promoting innovative approaches. Barbara Brown Wilson and Siri Russell are key participants in the Charlottesville work and will lead our local discussion.

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What is Reparative Planning? What specific practices are being considered and applied in communities? How could we actively integrate racial equity into Winston-Salem/Forsyth County's planning? Through zoning, community engagement, housing and developments, etc.? How are residents participants in the process?

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