Scott Shackleton has lived in Raleigh for 23 years and is devoted to helping improve the community in any way he can.
“Small choices that we make really do make a difference when they are added up. I want to live in a way that I can make a difference in one or two lives at a time.”
As director of the Visual Art Exchange, chair of the Raleigh Arts Commission and an artist herself, Sarah Powers knows artists are one of Raleigh’s great assets.
“The community of artists is supportive of each other and the galleries. People who support artists are really welcoming and friendly. I think that friendliness and inclusiveness is really fantastic.”
An assistant professor of landscape architecture, Andy Fox finds a home in the space where engineering, environmental education, and sustainable development converge.
“Hopefully through the university and what we’re doing we are capable of showing how that newness is a good thing, not a scary thing.”
Vincent Whitehurst owns two Raleigh businesses and hopes to inspire others by sharing his many interests.
“Never, ever be defined by your career – whatever that is. You’re just you and you can do anything you want to anytime you want to. I think a lot of people feel really defined by what they are by the title of their career.”
As outreach coordinator at Raleigh nonprofit Neighbor to Neighbor, Pat Dawson is helping improve the lives of families in Southeast Raleigh.
“I think it’s really interesting that a neighborhood like South Park is in such close proximity to downtown Raleigh where all this vibrant life and culture is, and it’s so disconnected from that.”
Josh Bielick knows there is great music in Raleigh; and this photographer, videographer, sound editor, and NC State University student wants you to know it too.
“I want everything I do to be better than the last thing I did … You should be growing and improving all the time.”
Jon Zellweger is an architect who believes in making spaces that foster a sense of community.
“Everybody wants to feel like their time is valuable and that what they do everyday is not being squandered. And the question is how do you take the temperature in your world to determine that it is?”
It takes a lot of people to make a city great. Raleigh Obscura is a new website featuring people helping to do just that: make Raleigh an interesting and vibrant place to live. These people aren’t necessarily well known, well off, or popular, but they are all working to improve the city in their own unique ways.
Please check back soon to meet some interesting and inspiring people and take a peek into the lens through which they see Raleigh:
Everyone on Raleigh Obscura is reader recommended and we are always looking for more people to profile. If you know someone you’d like to see featured on Raleigh Obscura, please contact us.
Thanks for reading!
