After a number of years at its South Main Street location, the Salisbury-Rowan Chapter of the NAACP is moving its office to East Spencer. The chapter, which has held a presence in Rowan County for decades had been at its office in Salisbury for seven years, but as of Monday the office will be located at the Northside Economic Development Center, 729 North Long St.
President Scott Teamer said he initiated the move, but the board voted on the relocation, saying the organization wants to make an impact in a town that it feels needs support. Teamer said the organization’s intent is not to take over local government, but to offer help to improve the community.
“As a grassroots president, I believe in self improvement as the basis of community development,” he said.
The organization wants to set a standard for the entire community as to what can be done if the community pools resources. Teamer said he doesn’t believe all the issues that plague a community should be blamed on government.
“There’s steps we can take to improve the community — citizens and the faith community can pool our resources to make it a better community,” Teamer said.
Teamer said the organization has the backing of East Spencer Mayor Barbara Mallett, who is “very supportive.”
“I believe as African Americans we have a responsibility for improving our community before we can expect anybody to help,” he said.
Just because the organization is moving to East Spencer, Teamer said, doesn’t mean the organization will overlook other municipalities within the county.
“We are the Salisbury-Rowan branch and East Spencer is in Rowan County,” he said.
Teamer said he can’t think of a better place to have a great impact than in a town that has a large faith community and people who want to affect change.
“We want to partner with the community, the town board and we want to partner with the faith community,” he said.
Teamer acknowledges the town still has a lot of needs and said he finds it “disturbing that a predominantly black municipality in 2013 still has no school, no medical facility, no bank and no library.”
The organization hopes to conduct town hall style meetings, workshops and job fairs. He said there are a number of NAACP members who are in law enforcement, are educators, local leaders and counselors who can offer assistance to others.

Contact reporter Shavonne Potts at 704-797-4253. Twitter: www.twitter.com/salpostpotts Facebook: www.facebook.com/Shavonne.SalisburyPost.