Daemond Nowlin is a member of the resident advisory committee and the youth leadership group at Friendship Court that designed the neighborhood’s plan for redevelopment. He’s 16 years old, is in 11th grade at Charlottesville High School, and has lived in Friendship Court since 2011.
How did you get involved in the resident advisory committee?
What did you think of the meetings at first?
What’ve been some of the highlights for you?
How do you think Friendship Court will change after redevelopment? Is it still going to feel like home?
What sort of stigma do outsiders put on residents in Friendship Court? Do you experience that with your friends?
Do you think mixed-income housing can work here in Friendship Court?
Do you feel like Charlottesville has changed in your lifetime? Is it still your city? Getting better or worse?
What’s it like for you walking around downtown, as a teenager?
Have you experienced racism here?
Were there ever any specific moments when you felt like the trust between you and PHA was really solidified?
Who do you think will move into Friendship Court, into the higher-income units, after redevelopment?