"The growth is in the person, not the place."

I thought of this quote the other day, as I was researching workforce development programs at community colleges for my summer internship. The quote comes from Melvin, a community college student we met at Patrick Henry Community College in Martinsville. His was one of the most inspiring stories we heard during our time in Southside.

Melvin grew up in Mount Vernon, NY, eldest child of a single mother. He told us about succumbing to the temptations of the street early in life, fathering children and getting involved in drugs. After a stint in jail, and with his thirtieth birthday approaching, Melvin decided he needed to do something to turn his life around; he was determined to be a father to his children in a way his never was. He got a job driving a truck cross-country to pay his child support and keep his kids on the right path.

Melvin continued to better himself by moving south from New York to Martinsville, to go to Patrick Henry. He decided to relocate to Martinsville because he liked the people, and he thought the city was a place where he could earn a second chance. He enrolled at Partick Henry, got a job in the Athletic Department, and is now student body president. He hopes to get a job working at a community college so that he can help others like himself, looking for second chances.

Melvin's story drove home a few key points for me about the challenge of redevelopment in a place like Southside. First, the most important resource Martinsville has is the people who live there, who love the community and want make it better. Outside money can be a bridge to redevelopment, but truly revitalizing communities will need people to cross that bridge. Second, buildings are not a panacea to blight -- a shimmering downtown will not save Martinsville. Only deep investments in human capital, education, and healthcare can transform neighborhoods. And, finally, in order to get it's second chance, Martinsville needs to make it easier for its people to pursue their own second chances. The programs described by Dr. Angeline Godwin, president of Patrick Henry, are a great first step toward that goal. The community college's investment in the New College Institute, programs in advanced mechanics, and a new childcare center on campus for students will help Martinsville in it's transition to the new economy.