#2BFayetteville

A message from our Chamber President Dear Reader, This issue is distinct from every other issue we have published. Those issues focused on success, achieve- ment and opportunity. This issue focuses on basic human needs unaddressed or not comprehensively addressed in our hometown today. Chamber Fayetteville categorizes these needs as shelter, hunger, safety and water. We define shelter as a structure as simple as a lean-to to a standalone structure with a roof, walls, floor, windows, doors, heating. We define hunger as a desire to eat accompanied by a feeling of discomfort or weakness caused by lack of food/nutrition. We define safety as fire, police, emergency services, a citywide communication network connecting these services with all our citizens, plus behavioral services available uniformly and citywide for the everyday challenges of living. We define water as the ability to guarantee our friends and neighbors safe, clean drinking water regardless of a natural or man-made disaster. When these four needs are met on a universal basis, communities thrive. Inside this magazine you will find the fact that on any given day or evening approximately 900 men, women and children in our commu- nity are confronted by lack of shelter or adequate shelter. Most often the challenge of shelter is accompanied by the challenge of hunger, coupled with fear for safety and concern about access to safe drinking water. There are numerous nonprofit groups in Fayetteville that focus on meeting at least one of these needs, and several work to meet all. They all do a remarkable job and truly make a difference. Yet our needs are growing, not stabilizing or being fully met. Why? Because there does not now exist a comprehensive long-term plan to confront all these dilemmas working alongside our nonprofits to implement on a continuing basis an adaptable permanent plan. A plan that will function until 2040 or 2045, which anticipates long-term growth. An emergency plan is just what it states it is. A plan designed for an emergency. We need emergency plans, but we assert Fayetteville needs more. Chamber Fayetteville is now examining how we can help facilitate and bring together a forum and plan to address these challenges. We have witnessed other cities and regions experiencing rapid growth, many of which expected these challenges would remedy themselves due to their growth. Facts have proven when these challenges went unmet most cities faltered in reaching their potential. Chamber Fayetteville is commit- ted to Fayetteville succeeding. Our mantra going forward is "Community First." Share your ideas and thoughts with us at chamber@fayettevillear.com. Steve Clark, president and CEO Community First

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