hello everybody [Applause]
oh I’m Twyla McDermott and I’m so happy
oh I’m Twyla McDermott and I’m so happy to be here to share with you an
to be here to share with you an
to be here to share with you an incredible journey working with a group
incredible journey working with a group
incredible journey working with a group of students in Newton three years ago I
of students in Newton three years ago I
of students in Newton three years ago I opened the wine bar in newton I was told
opened the wine bar in newton I was told
opened the wine bar in newton I was told it was a crazy idea my family thought
it was a crazy idea my family thought
it was a crazy idea my family thought I’d lost my mind those in the wine
I’d lost my mind those in the wine
I’d lost my mind those in the wine business said don’t do it and it was
business said don’t do it and it was
business said don’t do it and it was difficult enough going through the
difficult enough going through the
difficult enough going through the government regulation just to establish
government regulation just to establish
government regulation just to establish a business that sold alcohol I opened a
a business that sold alcohol I opened a
a business that sold alcohol I opened a wine bar anyway and I opened it a
surprising thing happened I would have
surprising thing happened I would have never expected that I wound up creating
never expected that I wound up creating
never expected that I wound up creating community this is the Catawba County
community this is the Catawba County
community this is the Catawba County Courthouse how many of you have seen it
Courthouse how many of you have seen it
Courthouse how many of you have seen it how many of you have been to Newton I
how many of you have been to Newton I
how many of you have been to Newton I can’t see a thing so maybe you need to
can’t see a thing so maybe you need to
can’t see a thing so maybe you need to clap the courthouse is beautiful it’s a
clap the courthouse is beautiful it’s a
clap the courthouse is beautiful it’s a monument it’s the centerpiece of
monument it’s the centerpiece of
monument it’s the centerpiece of downtown Newton I grew up in newton in
downtown Newton I grew up in newton in
downtown Newton I grew up in newton in the 60s and 70s when the new when Newton
the 60s and 70s when the new when Newton
the 60s and 70s when the new when Newton was alive and vibrant I spent my
was alive and vibrant I spent my
was alive and vibrant I spent my saturdays at the library which was just
saturdays at the library which was just
saturdays at the library which was just a block away from the courthouse and I
a block away from the courthouse and I
a block away from the courthouse and I spent my money at this store spent my
spent my money at this store spent my
spent my money at this store spent my allowance at Eagle five-and-dime i
allowance at Eagle five-and-dime i
allowance at Eagle five-and-dime i bought candy and of all things at Easter
bought candy and of all things at Easter
bought candy and of all things at Easter time I bought chicks and ducks
time I bought chicks and ducks
time I bought chicks and ducks I went to newton-conover high school we
I went to newton-conover high school we
I went to newton-conover high school we called Newton rootin tootin Newton the
called Newton rootin tootin Newton the
called Newton rootin tootin Newton the day Newton is anything but routine and
day Newton is anything but routine and
day Newton is anything but routine and two with the exception of last week
two with the exception of last week
two with the exception of last week which is our soldiers reunion so once a
which is our soldiers reunion so once a
which is our soldiers reunion so once a week once a year for a week Newton is
week once a year for a week Newton is
week once a year for a week Newton is rootin tootin but today stately
rootin tootin but today stately
rootin tootin but today stately courthouse that monument that we’re all
courthouse that monument that we’re all
courthouse that monument that we’re all so proud of is lined vacant and decay
even the library where I spent so many
even the library where I spent so many of my Saturdays moved away from the
of my Saturdays moved away from the
of my Saturdays moved away from the central business district to the edge of
central business district to the edge of
central business district to the edge of town and it was built eyes that were
town and it was built eyes that were
town and it was built eyes that were windowless turning its face
I opened a wine bar in Newton and then
I opened a wine bar in Newton and then engaged citizenry stepped up they
engaged citizenry stepped up they
engaged citizenry stepped up they stepped up they talked they became
stepped up they talked they became
stepped up they talked they became friends and started to work towards
friends and started to work towards
friends and started to work towards being small smart all for civic good
being small smart all for civic good
being small smart all for civic good this is the story
these are some of my wonderful customers
these are some of my wonderful customers they wear white collars they wear blue
they wear white collars they wear blue
they wear white collars they wear blue collars they wear clergy collars they
collars they wear clergy collars they
collars they wear clergy collars they were no callers at all their retirees
were no callers at all their retirees
were no callers at all their retirees attorneys teachers young and old and
attorneys teachers young and old and
attorneys teachers young and old and what happened over a glass of wine or a
what happened over a glass of wine or a
what happened over a glass of wine or a craft beer that they began to talk that
craft beer that they began to talk that
craft beer that they began to talk that happens right when you’re drinking you
happens right when you’re drinking you
happens right when you’re drinking you talk and they talked about the state of
talk and they talked about the state of
talk and they talked about the state of their city because it was staring them
their city because it was staring them
their city because it was staring them in the face the wine bar was in Newton
largely they were disgruntled with the
largely they were disgruntled with the state
within the walls of the wine bar an
within the walls of the wine bar an amazing thing happened an uncommon thing
amazing thing happened an uncommon thing
amazing thing happened an uncommon thing happened the conversations led to the
happened the conversations led to the
happened the conversations led to the combination of these five elements
combination of these five elements
combination of these five elements citizens as volunteers working with the
citizens as volunteers working with the
citizens as volunteers working with the government working with schools working
government working with schools working
government working with schools working with business sponsors using technology
with business sponsors using technology
with business sponsors using technology to improve their City people like mr.
to improve their City people like mr.
to improve their City people like mr. Wilson mr. Dixon from discovery high
Wilson mr. Dixon from discovery high
Wilson mr. Dixon from discovery high school came into that bar now they like
school came into that bar now they like
school came into that bar now they like beer so while serving them beer we began
beer so while serving them beer we began
beer so while serving them beer we began to have a conversation about Newton both
to have a conversation about Newton both
to have a conversation about Newton both of them are from Newton and are now
of them are from Newton and are now
of them are from Newton and are now teachers they could have moved anywhere
teachers they could have moved anywhere
teachers they could have moved anywhere they’re brilliant we talked about a way
they’re brilliant we talked about a way
they’re brilliant we talked about a way to engage students to help improve the
to engage students to help improve the
to engage students to help improve the quality of life another thing happened
last year was an election year for the
last year was an election year for the local government in Newton mr. Dixon and
local government in Newton mr. Dixon and
local government in Newton mr. Dixon and mr. Lefever both made a decision while
mr. Lefever both made a decision while
mr. Lefever both made a decision while in that wine bar to run for City Council
in that wine bar to run for City Council
in that wine bar to run for City Council a third candidate was greatly influenced
a third candidate was greatly influenced
a third candidate was greatly influenced by conversations that were going on and
by conversations that were going on and
by conversations that were going on and also ran for City Council and while I
also ran for City Council and while I
also ran for City Council and while I was talking with the teachers we came up
was talking with the teachers we came up
was talking with the teachers we came up with a plan an idea to get the youth
with a plan an idea to get the youth
with a plan an idea to get the youth involved what a better way to engage
involved what a better way to engage
involved what a better way to engage students than with a problem my
students than with a problem my
students than with a problem my colleague Michael and I were invited
colleague Michael and I were invited
colleague Michael and I were invited into the classroom to talk to the
into the classroom to talk to the
into the classroom to talk to the students about their community the first
students about their community the first
students about their community the first question I asked them was what do you
question I asked them was what do you
question I asked them was what do you love about your community and I heard
love about your community and I heard
love about your community and I heard things like well I like it because it’s
things like well I like it because it’s
things like well I like it because it’s close to Charlotte and I said no what do
close to Charlotte and I said no what do
close to Charlotte and I said no what do you love about your community love not
you love about your community love not
you love about your community love not like not what’s nice about it what do
like not what’s nice about it what do
like not what’s nice about it what do you love we heard lots of nice things
you love we heard lots of nice things
you love we heard lots of nice things about what they love its small-town feel
about what they love its small-town feel
about what they love its small-town feel that there really were amenities but
that there really were amenities but
that there really were amenities but they were hidden so we challenged them
they were hidden so we challenged them
they were hidden so we challenged them and through the course of the discussion
and through the course of the discussion
and through the course of the discussion they came up with a project and that
they came up with a project and that
they came up with a project and that project was really
project was really
project was really a tangent off of this comment one of the
a tangent off of this comment one of the
a tangent off of this comment one of the students as we were having the love
students as we were having the love
students as we were having the love discussion said well outside Newton
discussion said well outside Newton
discussion said well outside Newton Newton doesn’t exist which was quickly
Newton doesn’t exist which was quickly
Newton doesn’t exist which was quickly followed by another student who had this
followed by another student who had this
followed by another student who had this to say inside Newton now that’s pretty
to say inside Newton now that’s pretty
to say inside Newton now that’s pretty somber ring right inside Newton Newton
somber ring right inside Newton Newton
somber ring right inside Newton Newton doesn’t exist meaning people don’t take
doesn’t exist meaning people don’t take
doesn’t exist meaning people don’t take advantage of the treasure that it is so
advantage of the treasure that it is so
advantage of the treasure that it is so that group of students defined a project
that group of students defined a project
that group of students defined a project and took to the streets their project
and took to the streets their project
and took to the streets their project was to document the current state of
was to document the current state of
was to document the current state of Newton they configured an application
Newton they configured an application
Newton they configured an application using technology donated by ESRI a GIS
using technology donated by ESRI a GIS
using technology donated by ESRI a GIS software company a little app that ran
software company a little app that ran
software company a little app that ran on a smartphone and used it to collect
on a smartphone and used it to collect
on a smartphone and used it to collect land use and quality data on every
land use and quality data on every
land use and quality data on every business and every structure in downtown
business and every structure in downtown
business and every structure in downtown Newton let me back up just a minute and
Newton let me back up just a minute and
Newton let me back up just a minute and tell you when I first charted this
tell you when I first charted this
tell you when I first charted this project out i have i have an IT
project out i have i have an IT
project out i have i have an IT background so i had to do you know
background so i had to do you know
background so i had to do you know project plan for the teachers and i said
project plan for the teachers and i said
project plan for the teachers and i said this going to take us six weeks we’re
this going to take us six weeks we’re
this going to take us six weeks we’re going to come into the classroom for sit
going to come into the classroom for sit
going to come into the classroom for sit for once a week for six weeks and then
for once a week for six weeks and then
for once a week for six weeks and then we’ll be done
it took us nine months from start to
it took us nine months from start to finish it became so involved and the
finish it became so involved and the
finish it became so involved and the students were so passionate about it
they collected this data and while
they collected this data and while they’re out on the streets right if you
they’re out on the streets right if you
they’re out on the streets right if you can imagine it’s nutan it’s a small town
can imagine it’s nutan it’s a small town
can imagine it’s nutan it’s a small town they’re looking at their phones they’re
they’re looking at their phones they’re
they’re looking at their phones they’re looking at buildings they’re going back
looking at buildings they’re going back
looking at buildings they’re going back on their phone people began to chatter
on their phone people began to chatter
on their phone people began to chatter merchants came out onto the sidewalk
merchants came out onto the sidewalk
merchants came out onto the sidewalk people I haven’t seen in years people i
people I haven’t seen in years people i
people I haven’t seen in years people i haven’t seen in three years since I open
haven’t seen in three years since I open
haven’t seen in three years since I open that wine bar came out stepped outside
that wine bar came out stepped outside
that wine bar came out stepped outside what are you doing not all of them were
what are you doing not all of them were
what are you doing not all of them were happy either but it was good it was good
happy either but it was good it was good
happy either but it was good it was good for the students to have these
for the students to have these
for the students to have these conversations with the merchants to get
conversations with the merchants to get
conversations with the merchants to get a feel for the culture and the
a feel for the culture and the
a feel for the culture and the perspectives the local newspaper found
perspectives the local newspaper found
perspectives the local newspaper found out what was going on and invited the
out what was going on and invited the
out what was going on and invited the students to compose and to pose the only
students to compose and to pose the only
students to compose and to pose the only juried question to the full slate of
juried question to the full slate of
juried question to the full slate of candidates in the 2015 Newton city
candidates in the 2015 Newton city
candidates in the 2015 Newton city council in mayoral election so they came
council in mayoral election so they came
council in mayoral election so they came up with the question and they also got
up with the question and they also got
up with the question and they also got to ask it they got to ask each of those
to ask it they got to ask each of those
to ask it they got to ask each of those candidates what do you intend to do
candidates what do you intend to do
candidates what do you intend to do specifically to improve the quality of
specifically to improve the quality of
specifically to improve the quality of the downtown it wasn’t always like it is
the downtown it wasn’t always like it is
the downtown it wasn’t always like it is now
what a tremendous experience for them at
what a tremendous experience for them at the conclusion of their project they
the conclusion of their project they
the conclusion of their project they assembled all their data into a
assembled all their data into a
assembled all their data into a technology product called the story map
technology product called the story map
technology product called the story map so the story map allowed them to
so the story map allowed them to
so the story map allowed them to integrate video audio internet links
integrate video audio internet links
integrate video audio internet links research and interactive maps all into
research and interactive maps all into
research and interactive maps all into one application this application the
one application this application the
one application this application the story map is live today if you do a
story map is live today if you do a
story map is live today if you do a Google search on Discovery High School
Google search on Discovery High School
Google search on Discovery High School story map for civic good you can get to
story map for civic good you can get to
story map for civic good you can get to it and page through it this is how their
it and page through it this is how their
it and page through it this is how their story map started out its last question
story map started out its last question
story map started out its last question what would be one more that you use to
what would be one more that you use to
what would be one more that you use to describe new hot so
but perhaps it’s a word with an agile
but perhaps it’s a word with an agile [Music]
hotel friendly I like been a new just
hotel friendly I like been a new just feel like I said I like the small town
feel like I said I like the small town
feel like I said I like the small town feel I think Newton has a lot of
feel I think Newton has a lot of
feel I think Newton has a lot of potential it’s beautiful and I think the
potential it’s beautiful and I think the
potential it’s beautiful and I think the word I would use is unity small town
word I would use is unity small town
word I would use is unity small town quite quite but Newton is a good mixture
quite quite but Newton is a good mixture
quite quite but Newton is a good mixture of world culture and downtown culture
of world culture and downtown culture
of world culture and downtown culture it’s a good balance charming and I have
it’s a good balance charming and I have
it’s a good balance charming and I have used that word many times it’s at very
used that word many times it’s at very
used that word many times it’s at very charming see the starter hometown yeah
charming see the starter hometown yeah
charming see the starter hometown yeah yeah hotel it feels like all plus just
yeah hotel it feels like all plus just
yeah hotel it feels like all plus just helpful oh I think everybody here is
helpful oh I think everybody here is
helpful oh I think everybody here is kind of odd maybe we’ve been through the
kind of odd maybe we’ve been through the
kind of odd maybe we’ve been through the worst you know used to be a mill town
worst you know used to be a mill town
worst you know used to be a mill town and all the jobs left and now they kind
and all the jobs left and now they kind
and all the jobs left and now they kind of snagged a nap I’d be perfectly well
of snagged a nap I’d be perfectly well
of snagged a nap I’d be perfectly well that gives you changes will bring about
that gives you changes will bring about
that gives you changes will bring about some positive things and I think we’re
some positive things and I think we’re
some positive things and I think we’re just married
just married
just married on the future great potential
[Music]
[Music] Oh
pretty good for high school students
pretty good for high school students don’t you think they also ventured off
don’t you think they also ventured off
don’t you think they also ventured off without even talking to their mentor of
without even talking to their mentor of
without even talking to their mentor of volunteers Michael and I undid their own
volunteers Michael and I undid their own
volunteers Michael and I undid their own primary research they asked their peers
primary research they asked their peers
primary research they asked their peers after high school after graduate from
after high school after graduate from
after high school after graduate from college how likely are you to live in
college how likely are you to live in
college how likely are you to live in Newton seventy percent said not likely
in order for a town to attract youth to
in order for a town to attract youth to be a youth magnet there has to be
be a youth magnet there has to be
be a youth magnet there has to be amenities there needs to be restaurant
amenities there needs to be restaurant
amenities there needs to be restaurant shopping coffee shop outdoor activities
shopping coffee shop outdoor activities
shopping coffee shop outdoor activities parks so one of the recommendations that
parks so one of the recommendations that
parks so one of the recommendations that these students put together was to
these students put together was to
these students put together was to create a youth magnet they had other
create a youth magnet they had other
create a youth magnet they had other recommendations to know more vacancies
recommendations to know more vacancies
recommendations to know more vacancies for example and all of them are in this
for example and all of them are in this
for example and all of them are in this story map at the conclusion of their
story map at the conclusion of their
story map at the conclusion of their project just a few months ago they were
project just a few months ago they were
project just a few months ago they were invited to City Hall to present their
invited to City Hall to present their
invited to City Hall to present their work they stood in front of the very
work they stood in front of the very
work they stood in front of the very City Council members that were elected
City Council members that were elected
City Council members that were elected during that 2015 election and then some
during that 2015 election and then some
during that 2015 election and then some of the legacy guard the comments and
of the legacy guard the comments and
of the legacy guard the comments and accolades they received from that group
accolades they received from that group
accolades they received from that group of elected officials were over the top
one said we don’t need consultants we
one said we don’t need consultants we just need our young people helping us
just need our young people helping us
just need our young people helping us they were in awe we presented the
they were in awe we presented the
they were in awe we presented the outcomes during that session
outcomes that we believe influenced the
outcomes that we believe influenced the adoption by City Council of the Newton
adoption by City Council of the Newton
adoption by City Council of the Newton streetscape plan we also believe we
streetscape plan we also believe we
streetscape plan we also believe we affected the outcome of the election by
affected the outcome of the election by
affected the outcome of the election by taking part in that candidates forum
this project also set a pathway for the
this project also set a pathway for the mayor’s teen leadership program that’s a
mayor’s teen leadership program that’s a
mayor’s teen leadership program that’s a program that had been going on for a
program that had been going on for a
program that had been going on for a number of years that involved
number of years that involved
number of years that involved newton-conover high school students and
newton-conover high school students and
newton-conover high school students and discovery high school students they
discovery high school students they
discovery high school students they would take field trips to businesses and
would take field trips to businesses and
would take field trips to businesses and various government agencies over the
various government agencies over the
various government agencies over the course of six weeks and then come up
course of six weeks and then come up
course of six weeks and then come up with a recommendation or a project that
with a recommendation or a project that
with a recommendation or a project that needed to happen to improve the
needed to happen to improve the
needed to happen to improve the community those words always stayed on
community those words always stayed on
community those words always stayed on paper but now because of the for civic
paper but now because of the for civic
paper but now because of the for civic good program those projects have a
good program those projects have a
good program those projects have a fulfillment path through the for civic
fulfillment path through the for civic
fulfillment path through the for civic good program these are the five elements
good program these are the five elements
good program these are the five elements that were a success that our success
that were a success that our success
through the for civic good movement and
through the for civic good movement and in Newton it included the city of Newton
in Newton it included the city of Newton
in Newton it included the city of Newton the government the planner the downtown
the government the planner the downtown
the government the planner the downtown coordinator the city manager included
coordinator the city manager included
coordinator the city manager included discovery school mr. Wilson mr. Dixon
discovery school mr. Wilson mr. Dixon
discovery school mr. Wilson mr. Dixon Carolina vines wine bar and esri the
Carolina vines wine bar and esri the
Carolina vines wine bar and esri the technology company
and today hello we are Newton we are
and today hello we are Newton we are small smart and connected and things are
small smart and connected and things are
small smart and connected and things are looking bright there’s been positive
looking bright there’s been positive
looking bright there’s been positive change in Newton we’re also sustainable
change in Newton we’re also sustainable
change in Newton we’re also sustainable that’s coming school starts next week
that’s coming school starts next week
that’s coming school starts next week we’ll be stepping into the classroom to
we’ll be stepping into the classroom to
we’ll be stepping into the classroom to solve another problem a problem that
solve another problem a problem that
solve another problem a problem that came out of the mayor’s teen leadership
came out of the mayor’s teen leadership
came out of the mayor’s teen leadership program there were three groups two of
program there were three groups two of
program there were three groups two of them said they wanted to work on
them said they wanted to work on
them said they wanted to work on renewable energy and environmental
renewable energy and environmental
renewable energy and environmental problems we’re going to be working with
problems we’re going to be working with
problems we’re going to be working with the students to solve Newton’s energy
the students to solve Newton’s energy
the students to solve Newton’s energy puzzle how can as an electricity a
puzzle how can as an electricity a
puzzle how can as an electricity a member of an electricity and electric
member of an electricity and electric
member of an electricity and electric co-op
that has to pay a certain threshold to
that has to pay a certain threshold to the big energy company every year no
the big energy company every year no
the big energy company every year no matter how much you consume how can our
matter how much you consume how can our
matter how much you consume how can our businesses our residents and our public
businesses our residents and our public
businesses our residents and our public agencies have renewable energy options
agencies have renewable energy options
agencies have renewable energy options that’s what we’re doing next we’re
that’s what we’re doing next we’re
that’s what we’re doing next we’re starting next week
the fourth civic good concept works
the fourth civic good concept works whether you live in a large city
whether you live in a large city
whether you live in a large city neighborhood in a large city or a small
neighborhood in a large city or a small
neighborhood in a large city or a small city what are you going to do what are
city what are you going to do what are
city what are you going to do what are you going to do for your community and
you going to do for your community and
you going to do for your community and the problems that you know it has that
the problems that you know it has that
the problems that you know it has that your children
up to me let’s figure out how we can
up to me let’s figure out how we can make civic good common for everybody
and last here’s cheers to these
and last here’s cheers to these communities in the Catawba Valley and to
communities in the Catawba Valley and to
communities in the Catawba Valley and to the good fortune of the citizens that
the good fortune of the citizens that
the good fortune of the citizens that live there thank you
”
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