At the recent graduation ceremony for the Salisbury Citizens Academy, I heard a point that is important to consider and share: “Pick a spot and make a difference.”

This point is applicable to all citizens, no matter if you’re a retired professor, real estate agent or high school student; we can all make a difference in the city in which we dwell.

Understanding the value of Salisbury’s position in the economic and physical landscape of North Carolina and the world is critical as we move forward in innovation and development.

Salisbury is centered between the Piedmont Triad and the Charlotte Metro areas. We have great weather and access to beaches and mountains. The beauty of the city is evidenced in the fact that we have 10 National Historic Districts and five local Historic Districts. Furthermore, with four colleges, ongoing improvements in K-12 education and a thriving artistic footprint, why not find a spot to positively impact our city?

In addition to what we currently enjoy about Salisbury, we have the impending renovations of the Empire Hotel, additional greenways and soon there will be a new park downtown. These improvements will welcome new businesses, visitors, and residents, which will lead to economic growth.

As Salisbury grows and stretches, how do we keep up and stay connected? Simple, we pick a spot in our community to work, organize and make it better. We work in our neighborhoods, with our mayor, City Council, community leaders and specialty boards, for our city to progress.

Believing in the city that we have, making individual contributions and developing positive community bonds, are critical components to our city’s future. By each citizen “picking a spot” to work and collaborate with neighbors and leaders, we will all benefit from an innovative and progressive, historic Salisbury.

— Caren Davis Lightfoot

Salisbury