October Triad Housing Hangout: Community Conversations on Regional Housing

Event Description

A screening of the new short documentary on Winston-Salem's Do School, with Q&A featuring the filmmaker, founder, and program graduates.

The Triad Housing Hangout returns Wednesday, October 28 with something a little different: a film screening.

Join us for a community screening of a new 20-minute documentary on the Do School, the Winston-Salem program founded by Jerry Anderson and local business leaders to offer men and women a fresh start through hands-on training in the building trades. Do School participants learn by doing, and their work speaks for itself: this year's cohort completed the full renovation of a once-vacant historic home in the city, gaining skills and a path forward while returning a neglected house to the neighborhood.

The film was produced by the Center for the Study of Economic Mobility (CSEM) at Winston-Salem State University. Tom Green served as director and Dr. Craig Richardson was the executive producer, and is also the founding director of CSEM. CSEM has been a long time partner of the Do School, and produced an economic impact report on participants' lives and the ripple effects of its renovation projects on surrounding neighborhoods.

Immediately following the screening, we will hold a Q&A with Jerry Anderson (Founder and Executive Director of the Do School), Dr. Craig Richardson, filmmaker Tom Green, and Do School leaders and graduates, who will share what the program has meant in their own words.

For the Triad's housing community, the Do School sits at the intersection of two of our region's biggest challenges: rebuilding the skilled construction workforce and returning vacant and deteriorating homes to productive use. Come see how one local program is tackling both at once.

Agenda:

• 1:00 to 1:05 PM: Welcome and introductions
• 1:05 to 1:10 PM: Dr. Richardson introduces the Do School, the film, and CSEM's work with the program
• 1:10 to 1:30 PM: Screening
• 1:30 to 1:55 PM: Q&A with Do School leaders, graduates, Jerry Anderson, Craig Richardson, and Tom Green
• 1:55 to 2:00 PM: Wrap-up and announcements

The Triad Housing Hangout is a monthly gathering, usually held the last Wednesday of the month, that draws a cross-section of the region's housing ecosystem: local government staff, nonprofit housing providers, developers and builders, lenders, funders, realtors, advocates, and residents from across the Piedmont Triad. All are welcome, and admission is free. Drinks and light refreshments will be provided.

What to Expect

Networking with a cross-sector mix of housing professionals, advocates, service providers, nonprofit leaders, local government staff, legal-service organizations, landlords and property managers, funders, researchers, and community members.

Brief presentations from organizations working directly on eviction prevention and response, including mediation, legal assistance, tenant advocacy, community support, and local-government initiatives.

Facilitated discussion examining what is working, what remains difficult, and how the Triad can intervene earlier and more effectively when households are at risk of eviction.

Audience Q&A and open dialogue focused on practical information, referrals, collaboration, and opportunities to strengthen the regional eviction-prevention system.

The planned format includes brief organizational presentations followed by facilitated conversation and audience Q&A.

Regional focus open to anyone working in or interested in housing issues from Guilford, Forsyth, Alamance, Davidson, Davie, Stokes, Randolph, Rockingham, and beyond.

Drinks and light refreshments provided.

Who Should Attend

• Local government staff
• Housing and community development professionals
• Legal-services and mediation professionals
• Nonprofit housing and homelessness-service providers
• Tenant advocates and resident leaders
• Landlords and property managers
• Realtors, developers, and housing providers
• Funders and lenders
• Human-service and community-based organizations
• Court-system and justice partners
• Researchers and policy professionals
• Neighborhood and faith-community leaders
• Anyone interested in preventing displacement and improving housing stability across the Triad

The Housing Hangout regularly convenes this broad cross-section of government, nonprofit, housing, advocacy, finance, service-provider, and community stakeholders from throughout the Piedmont Triad.

Location and Parking

Forsyth County Central Library
660 W 5th St.
Winston-Salem, NC 27101

Parking is available in the library lot across the street at the corner of 5th Street and Spring Street.

Triad Housing Hangout

The Triad Housing Hangout is a practical and solutions-oriented monthly gathering that brings together housing professionals, advocates, developers, local officials, funders, researchers, service providers, community organizations, and residents from across the Piedmont Triad to stay connected, share what is working, and learn from one another.

The series creates an ongoing “community conversation” space where local and regional leaders can surface timely housing challenges, highlight promising initiatives, connect people with useful resources, and translate information into action.

Each Hangout features a short, focused presentation or panel—often spotlighting a local initiative, policy development, emerging challenge, or program opportunity—followed by open discussion, audience Q&A, and networking.

At a glance:

• When: Monthly, typically on the last Wednesday of the month, 1:00–2:00 PM
• Where: Forsyth County Central Library, 660 W 5th St., Winston-Salem, NC 27101
• Format: Featured panel or presentation, facilitated conversation, audience Q&A, and networking
• Who should attend: Anyone working on or impacted by housing, including local government, nonprofit and philanthropic partners, developers, landlords, lenders, realtors, legal-service providers, advocates, researchers, service providers, and residents

The goal is simple: make it easier for the Triad’s housing ecosystem to coordinate by sharing information quickly, connecting people with resources, lifting up promising practices, identifying gaps, and strengthening the relationships that move housing solutions forward.