Projects and Programs
City of Goldsboro School of Government
The City of Goldsboro School of Government is an interactive and educational program designed to enlighten citizens about the City’s history and the governmental process; to improve and enhance communication with citizens; and to give citizens a “behind the scenes” look at City services and the employees who provide those services every day.
Annual Mayor’s Committee Awards Luncheon
October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month. The Mayor’s Committee for Persons with Disabilities under the City of Goldsboro’s Community Affairs Office pays tribute to the accomplishments of both men and women with disabilities whose work helps keep the local economy strong and ensure equal opportunity for everyone.
Diversity Day
In 2011, Governor Purdue asked that each city/county recognize a statewide Diversity Day in September. The day is to encourage citizens of our community to have a meal, coffee or tea with an individual of another race, ethnicity, religion or culture to build deeper relationships and explore how to build greater inter-group relationships and inter-group trust one friendship at a time, in recognition of Diversity Day. A proclamation is signed and presented by the Mayor, the Chairman of the County Commissioners and the Commander of the 4th Fighter Wing, Seymour Johnson Air Force Base. Brief remarks are also expected from each of the presenters.
Carver Heights Partnership Program
In 2005, the City of Goldsboro entered into its first Partners in Education Program Agreement with the Wayne County Public Schools, and partnered with the Carver Heights Elementary School.
This collaborative effort between the City of Goldsboro and Carver Heights Elementary School is very important to the success of the school and ensures that partnership activities are meaningful and mutually beneficial.
The City of Goldsboro has representatives from various departments who serve as tutors at Carver Heights Elementary School, who work one-on-one with the students primarily in grade 4, one day, one hour per week.
At Christmas the City of Goldsboro participates in a Holiday Party for students of the school, by singing Christmas carols and giving out treats to the children after a visit from Santa Claus and Rudolph. Approximately 500 children are served at this event. In addition, prior to End of Grade testing, City of Goldsboro employees have participated in a Pep Rally for the students, which featured employees as cheerleaders, and remarks made by the Mayor of Goldsboro.
Statistics given by the Principal of the school have shown that with the assistance of the tutors, remarkable growth was made with the End of Grade test scores.
Inclusive City
On March 19, 2007, a proclamation was made that the City of Goldsboro join a growing number of cities across the nation in a partnership to build inclusive communities through committed efforts to increase citizen participation and engagement, while promoting opportunity and fairness.
The Partnership for Working Toward Inclusive Communities, an effort led by the National League of Cities (NLC), unites city leaders who are working to support such issues as racial justice and inclusionary zoning as well as those who celebrate the diversity of race, religions and cultures in order to build communities that are accepting and representative of the differences among its citizens. Increased involvement by a wider representation of citizens in governmental activities will also be a hallmark of these inclusive communities.
Members of the Partnership will raise awareness and focus attention on the importance and value of inclusive communities; motivate other cities and towns to make a public commitment to building inclusive communities; provide support to local officials in focused efforts around affordable housing, race and ethnic relations, and equal citizen participation in community decision-making; share valuable insights, experiences, and lessons learned among participating cities and towns; and recognize, publicize, and celebrate the work of cities and towns that have joined the Partnership.
Fire Extinguisher Program
The City of Goldsboro and LOWE’S have joined together through a cooperative agreement to provide low and moderate-income homeowners as well as senior citizens with fire extinguishers, smoke detectors and/or batteries. The purpose of the program is to provide an additional component to the outstanding Fire Prevention Month activities. The program will last as long as the items are available.
LOWE’S has donated (75) smoke detectors, (33) fire extinguishers and (99) nine-volt batteries for distribution. The goal of the program is to assist all homeowners that fall below the medium income for Goldsboro under the Federal and State HUD Guidelines (within the city limits) with a smoke detector, batteries, or a fire extinguisher, and provide training to maintain them.
The Goldsboro Fire Department, Community Affairs, Community Development and the Inspections Department’s have worked together to develop this strategic plan to help assist its citizenry. The Community Affairs Department will take the lead roll by establishing an application that includes a waiver releasing the City of liabilities.
Once an application is completed in the Community Affairs Office, the Community Development Office will verify the income for eligibility. The Fire Inspector in the Inspections Department will be notified to make contact with the homeowner to determine if a detector or fire extinguisher is necessary and the location of its placement. After a determination is made, the Fire Department will contact the owner for a date and time of installation and training.
Fair Housing Conference
April marks the anniversary of the Federal Fair Housing Act of 1968, and the anniversary of the State Fair Housing Act that prohibits discrimination in housing because of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, handicapped condition and familial status.
In commemorating these anniversaries, the Community Affairs Commission annually provides a conference, mailing of brochures, or other activity to inform the public about any new or revised laws that would affect the Housing Act. Members of the Community Affairs Commission serve on the Housing Committee who plan and organize the activity selected for Fair Housing Month.
Mailings for conferences or of brochures/materials are sent to banks/lenders, business/industry, women/minority-owned businesses, churches, civic and fraternal organizations, the media, realtors, and landlords/tenants, in particular those tenants who have filed housing complaints against their landlords with the Community Affairs Office in the previous year leading up to the mailing.
Human Relations Annual Awards Banquet
The Human Relations Awards Banquet, which began in 1987, is the second of two events in observation of Human Relations Month in February. The awards banquet is a joint event sponsored by the City of Goldsboro and Wayne County.
Members of the Community Affairs Commission serve on the committee to plan and organize the awards banquet, and select winners from various schools in Wayne County for posters and essays submitted by the students on the topic selected by the Human Relations Commission. Posters are displayed at the Berkeley Mall one week prior to the banquet, and at the banquet, along with the winning essays.
The committee also selects winners from three other categories: the Individual Award; the Civic Organization Award; and the Business/Industry Award. These winners are selected from candidates nominated by various individuals, organizations, and businesses in the community.
The winners are recognized at the Awards Banquet with trophies and plaques presented to the winners
Human Relations Inter-Faith Breakfast
The Human Relations Inter-Faith Breakfast, which began in 2008, replaced the former Annual Human Relations Prayer Breakfast, which began in 1989, and marks the observance of the month of February as Human Relations Month, with a joint proclamation made by the Mayor of Goldsboro, the Chairman of the Wayne County Commissioners, and the Commander of the Seymour Johnson Air Force Base 4th Fighter Wing.
Members of the Community Affairs Commission serve on the committee to plan and organize the breakfast, which is a joint event sponsored by the City of Goldsboro and Wayne County.
Three ministers from different denominations of local churches are invited to make three-minute remarks on the Human Relations topic designated by the Human Relations Commission.
Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday Celebration
The Community Affairs Commission spearheads the county-wide Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday Committee, which included adopting a 9-mile stretch of highway renamed Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Expressway in 1996. (It was the longest stretch of dedicated highway in the state of North Carolina.)
The Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday was first observed by the Federal Government in 1985, by State Government in 1987, and by the City of Goldsboro and Wayne County in 1987.
This joint committee has at least two (2) commission members serving on it, as well as members of local civic and fraternal organizations, the general public, and a representative from Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, who work to bring together citizens in Goldsboro and Wayne County to help the dream espoused by Dr. King. They meet several times during the year to provide a joint celebration of activities, which include the annual Holiday Breakfast held the third Monday of each January at a location in Wayne County that is able to accommodate the “sold out” crowd of over 600 people.
Mayor’s Committee for Persons with Disabilities
The Mayor’s Committee for Persons with Disabilities is affiliated with the North Carolina Governor’s Advocacy Council for Persons with Disabilities and the President’s Committee on Employment of People with Disabilities, and other groups.
The goal of the Committee is to promote equal opportunity for people with disabilities in all aspects of society including employment, housing, transportation, recreation, and education, and to give recognition to people and organizations that contribute, support and/or enhance this cause.
The principle objectives of the Committee are to promote, improve and enhance the quality of life of the disabled by offering aid and assistance in overcoming and resolving problems and conflicts; also, promote citizen awareness and understanding of the capabilities and needs of disabled persons through various actions.
Members of the Committee shall be recommended by local government agencies, private/community organizations, by other committee members, or by personal request. Length of the appointment is four (4) years.
Regular meetings of the Committee are conducted on the third Thursday of each month at a time and location designated by the Committee, and meetings are open to the public and the news media. An annual recognition banquet is held on the third Thursday in the month of October.
Each May, the Annual Hal K. Plonk Disability Awareness Walk is held, and the Annual Recognition Banquet is held on the third Thursday in October.
Mayor’s Youth Council
Mayor’s Youth Council
The Goldsboro Mayor’s Youth Council was established in October of 1972 to offer an organization through which youth implement programs and develop projects and special events that will benefit them and their community. The Youth Council offers programs of civic involvement, career and leadership, education, and fun. The council serves as a means for young people to practice democracy in order to better prepare themselves for later responsibilities as citizens and serve as a line of communication between the youth and the adults of the community. The group is recognized for their annual gift-wrapping in the Berkeley Mall at Christmas.
Other activities include the Brian Center and Britthaven Bingo and many other activities and projects in the community. The council is also a chartered member of the State Youth Council. Membership consists 9th-12th graders from the following schools: Southern Wayne, Spring Creek, Charles B. Aycock, Wayne Country Day, Eastern Wayne, Rosewood, Wayne Early School, Goldsboro High, Wayne Christian and Wayne School of Engineering. The council meets every 1st and 3rd Wednesday of each month from September to June of each year at City Hall from 7:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m., in the City Council Chambers. Teens have lots of fun in making a difference in their community!