Greensboro Daily Photo

Oath of Office, Maurice "Mo" Green

In the above photo, Maurice "Mo" Green is being sworn in as the North Carolina Superintendent of Public Instruction. The event was held at Haynes-Inman Education Center on January 1, 2025. His wife, Stephanie, is holding the Bible and the Hon. N. Carlton Tilley, Jr. is administer the Oath of Officemwas a full-circle moment as Mr. Green, also a lawyer, interned for Mr. Tilley. Before taking the oath, Haynes-Inman Principal Kevin Carr spoke. The education center opened when Mr. Green was superintendent of Guilford County Schools. It is an inclusive school for students that may need special services to accommodate their age, physical, or cognitive abilities. 

Representative Amos Quick gave the invocation. A student led the Pledge of Allegiance and Weaver Academy students sang. Next Alan Duncan spoke;  Leah Carper introduced the oath. After the Honorable Tilley administered the oath, Mr. Green made his inaugural remarks and Magan Gonzales-Smith gave the closing remarks. Speeches were uplifting, provided evidence that Mr. Green is highly qualified, reinforced the notion that teaching is an important profession, and that students deserve the best instruction possible. The whole event reminded us of how nice it is to see the community come together and support public education. It was inspiring to listen to speeches with a powerful message. Everyone who spoke had a personal connection to Mr. Green. We will follow his career with great interest. That heartfelt smile reminds us all to smile.

Happy Friday!

Year 17 for Greensboro (NC, USA) Daily Photo

 

We began Greensboro Daily Photo on January 2, 2009 as a way to give back to the community, challenge ourselves to get out and meet people, to participate in local events, to explore the places in Greensboro, and to appreciate Greensboro's  natural beauty. Several of you have been on this journey with us since the beginning; many have started reading along the way. We're Janis and David, and bill ourselves as Mr. and Mrs. Greensboro Daily Photo. The site is about the community, and not about us. When we mention ourselves, we usually write in first person plural. "We" this and "we" that--  "We" sounds so much more inclusive. David manages the tech side and I take the photos and prepare the write-ups.  After nearly 6,000 posts, unwittingly, we've become a sort of archives for the community, perhaps filling a gap as local journalism dwindles.

This year, we will try to follow up on changes in Greensboro, things new to the community: Examples are: The area where Battleground Avenue, West Fisher, and North Spring Street come together; the property at the corner of New Garden and Battleground Avenue; the end of Horse Pen Creek near St. Paul's; and, the area between Hobbs Road and the Fresh Market at Jefferson Village. All of those spaces are changing before our eyes. Preparing GDP posts has helped us be more vested this great community.  Thank you for encouraging us to continue. Thank you for saying hello when you see us out in public. We look forward to seeing what this year will bring. 

Happy Thursday; Happy Year 17.

Photo credit: Sterling Carter

Top Photos of 2024

Happy New Year!

In the City Daily Photo Community, we have the January 1st tradition of selecting the best photo of the year. We picked the one of  the Grimsley High School football team heading to Chapel Hill to play in the final 4A football championship.*  The Grimsley team won; they are state champions! This giant win represents the true spirit of community. Grimsley students had a dream, worked will together, and had great coaching. Between talent, discipline, and believing in themselves, they brought home the trophy. Parents and teachers alike accommodated  their schedules to allow this to happen. Players focused in a driven way that will take them far in life and the cheerleaders were there every step of the way, energizing the crowd. Community is comprised of people, places, and events. While Grimsley is only one of 30 high schools in the county, it is an example of the wonderful things happening in the Guilford County Public Schools. Grimsley was originally established in 1899 as Greensboro High School (see original post HERE).

In our annual reviews, we also like to share notable posts for each month. Greensboro has seen lots of change in 2024. This was the year we lost an outstanding public servant, Yvonne Johnson.  There were many construction projects underway. The Northern Lights also came to town. The News & Record building came tumbling down, signaling the end of our once prominent community newspaper. Here is a summary from the City of Greensboro of past projects and what's ahead. And now, our picks. Click on the month to follow the link for the event.

December-- Sad, but notable was the loss of Yvonne Johnson. Her service was held in Pfeiffer Chapel on the campus of Bennett College. Her casket was transported there in a horse-drawn carriage. Many family and community members shared their memories of one of Greensboro's greatest public servants. She was future oriented, yet with that old-school commitment to being ethical, fair, hardworking, and kind.

November--  We loved seeing the She Care Wellness Pods at Bennett College, constructed to help foster and maintain positive mental health in the community. Funding was made possible by Kate Spade New York and Tara P. Henson's Boris Lawrence Henson Foundation. They are placed on campuses, and communities that provide evidence they can sustain the project.

October-- The Westerwood Chili Cook-off. Greensboro has many neighborhoods that work hard to build community; Westerwood is one such neighborhood. Every October, they have a fundraiser and chili contest. They have a string band that plays throughout the event. People bring lawn chairs, yard games, dogs, and friends and spend the afternoon in fellowship with neighbors and friends. While the event is intended for Westerwood residents, we've never seen anyone turned away.

September-- In September, the 10th annual folk festival came to town. Greensboro is so lucky to have been selected for this great weekend of music. This year, the majority of the music, venues, tents, food trucks, and vendors were held between LeBauer Park and The Gaylon Depot, with Church Street being a hub of activity. The sponsors work hard to keep the event free. 

August-- The Mojud Lofts are located in what was once the Rolane Hosiery Mill. For years, the building was empty and deteriorating. Now, it has been brought back to life and added energy to a part of town that has tremendous potential- just beyond UNCG to the east and Lindley Park to the north, 

July-- The Greensboro Parks and Recreation Department does so much for the city.  They make a concerted effort to create fun things to do and places to enjoy while keeping prices reasonable, and often free. Every summer, we participate in one of the the night kayak adventures. When we went in July, all kayaks were rented, an indication that the event is popular.

June-- Summer Solstice Festival. 2024 was the 20th festival with over 5,000 people attending. Held in the Arboretum, it truly brings people together. From early afternoon to the fire show finale, the event is non-stop fun.

May-- Can you believe the Northern Lights came to town? Seeing them has been on our bucket list and to think they were visible in Greensboro is something we will always remember.  May also saw the dismantling of the News & Record building which was nothing more than a sign of the times; indeed, to quote Bob Dylan, The Times They Are a Changin. 

April-- Judy Woodruff, part of the Guilford College, Bryan Speaker Series. Since 1996, Guilford College has hosted the Bryan Speaker Series. The event format is an intimate community conversation. It is another opportunity for an Institution of Higher Education, business, and community members to come together. Guilford College is working hard to see how they can remain viable and relevant as the interests and actions of this younger generation shift. If you have a chance to support the college in any way, their roots date back to the early 1800s, making it the first college in Guilford County.

March-- Spring in Greensboro is nothing short of spectacular. From the humblest of neighborhoods to the fancy homes, dogwoods abound. 

February-- The Corner Farmer's Market has become a Saturday morning must for many people. St. Andrews Episcopal Church welcomes the market onto their parking lot, another fine example of people, businesses, and an organization coming together for the good of the community. We finally got to talk to Kathy Newsome who works tirelessly to see that everything goes well, keeping vendors and customers happy.

January-- Tanger Center is a breathtaking community resource. No longer do we need to head to Charlotte, Raleigh, or Durham to see nationally and internationally renowned performances. Greensboro has its own  state-of-the-art facility. It even has more bathrooms than Buc-kees (if you know you know).

And that, dear readers, is a recap of some of the people, places, events, and nature in Greensboro. Thank you for continuing on this journey with us. Check back tomorrow as we begin Year 17 of this daily photo site.

Happy New Year!