To my brothers, sisters, elders, and youth of Melrose City, I write with respect, hope, and love. This community is strong. More than 27,000 Black residents live here. That means we have real political power, real voting power, and real economic strength. Those numbers matter. They give us a voice that can reshape schools, streets, safety, and opportunity. Yet too often, our power is divided.
Many good organizations work hard in Melrose City. Each one has a mission, a dream, and caring people. But when we work in silos, our strength is scattered. Projects stall. Ideas fade. Energy is lost. What could move us forward together often goes nowhere apart. Unity does not erase differences. Unity connects them.
I see the potential here. I see a place where peace is normal, where youth are guided, where elders are honored, and where families feel safe and proud. I see a community that builds what it needs, instead of waiting for others to decide our future. This is the new thing I invite us to consider.
Let us practice with a shared purpose. That means meeting, listening, and agreeing on a few common goals each year. Not many. Just a few that matter most. Let us share calendars, spaces, skills, and voices. When one group wins, the whole community wins. When one group struggles, the whole community supports.
Let us invest in ourselves. Support local businesses. Hire local talent. Train our young people. Spend our dollars where our values live. Economic power grows when money circulates at home. Political power grows when we vote together and hold leaders accountable. Social power grows when we show up for one another.
Let us protect our culture and spirit. Tell our own stories. Celebrate our history. Teach our children who they are and where they come from. Care for our minds, bodies, and spirits. A healthy spirit builds resilience. A shared culture builds pride.
I am not originally from Melrose City, but it is my home until I die. I love what this place can become. I hope to welcome my brothers, sisters, and especially my grandchildren to experience a community that chose cooperation over division. The new thing is simple: we build together what we desire and contribute to. The time is now. The power is already here.
This work will not be easy, but it is possible. It begins with trust, patience, and steady action. Small steps matter. Honest talks matter. Consistent follow through matters. If we choose unity repeatedly, our children will inherit strength, not struggle. Melrose City can become a model of what is possible when we act as one person, with one heart. And purpose. Radio Melrose 96.9 is a megaphone for our voices, our imagination, our visions and our healing. The Roanoke Tribune is a billboard for sharing information , both lead to a vibrant future, no matter the opposition. Informed citizens are powerful. Subscribe and read, support and listen, then act together.
With respect and commitment.
Rev. Carroll C. Carter
