FOR COUNTY COMMISSION AT-LARGE
Selfless Service in Mecklenburg County
Griffin on the Issues
LEARN
Education
Workforce preparation skills means the knowledge, skills, and competencies that when developed and demonstrated, prepare individuals to obtain or retain employment or to advance in todays and tomorrows workforce. Employers need workers with the hard skills to perform jobs in technology, manufacturing, data analysis and other 21st century careers. Employers will need workers with not just the hard skills, but workers that possess soft skills to communicate well, empathize with co-workers and be able to lead their teams. We must be creative in closing the skills gap. Public institutions working in collaboration with private sector employers and community partners can play an important part of the solution. Learn more to earn more.
LIVE
Affordable Housing
Mecklenburg County’s affordable housing crisis impacts every corner of the county from Davidson to Mint Hill. Housing is considered to be affordable when a family spends no more than 30% of their income for shelter costs. The lack of stable affordable housing oftentimes serves as the basis for many of the county’s social problems including poverty, homelessness, educational disparities, and healthcare. As a cancer survivor, access to high quality healthcare should be safe, effective, patient centered, timely, efficient, and equitable, especially during a pandemic. As a community our goal should be livable communities. Communities where residents have access to healthy food, quality education and healthcare, recreational and cultural programs, safety, inclusiveness, and intergenerational homeownership opportunity. If you work here, you should be able to live here.
RECREATION
Parks and Leisure
Recreation and healthy lifestyles are valued social goods in Mecklenburg County. Our parks, greenways and open spaces should enhance the physical, mental, and spiritual quality of life for our residents. Such amenities contribute to quality leisure behavior, social well-being, and a sense of belonging to the community. Neighborhoods should have equitable access to county recreational and leisure assets. Healthy environments such as clean water, and clean air should not depend on one’s zip code. Residents and visitors to our county should find and enjoy attractive recreational, cultural, social and leisure opportunities. Mecklenburg County should be a fun community to live in.
WORK
Economic Development
Mecklenburg County is a regional economic center that is attractive to individuals and corporations. When economic development is implemented effectively and equitably, it works to retain and grow jobs and investments. Our job is to facilitate inclusive economic growth and to remove roadblocks through high quality workforce programs, criminal justice reform with smart economic strategies at the local level. By co-designing efforts with business, educational institutions, and community partners across all sectors our strategies will lead to better incomes, better living standards and improved quality of life for all our residents.