Focus on the Present to Impact the Future

Origins

Future Scapes Inc. was founded in 2022 by Gwen Jackson, a native of Salisbury, North Carolina with extensive experience in real estate development and community engagement. Having worked on small- and large-scale mixed-use projects for both public and private developers, Gwen saw the critical need to bring young people and emerging developers into the fold of urban and rural revitalization efforts. Inspired by her own experiences and recognizing the gaps in knowledge and opportunities, she launched Future Scapes with the vision of sharing her and others' expertise with the next generation. Through Future Scapes, Gwen shares her mission to pass on the skills, insights, and passion for community development to individuals who will continue to shape and uplift their communities.

Importance

Revitalization is a pressing need in many communities, particularly those with underutilized properties and historical origins. The traditional approaches to community development often overlook the importance of inclusivity, local knowledge, and intergenerational perspectives. Future Scapes is essential to the City of Salisbury and Rowan County because it redefines urban and rural redevelopment by focusing on community-driven solutions and nurturing the leadership of young, emerging developers. By empowering individuals from these communities with the tools and resources to address these challenges, Future Scapes creates a more inclusive pathway to urban and rural renewal, ensuring that these community development efforts are equitable and sustainable.

Mission

To prepare industry-knowledgeable, socially impactful, emerging real estate and community developers for equitable urban and rural redevelopment initiatives.

Vision

A Salisbury and Rowan where every individual lives in a prosperous, resilient, and equitable community.

A Unique Approach

Future Scapes Inc. is unique in achieving its mission through a dual focus on education and its direct impact on young people and emerging developers in the communities they call home. The organization works toward breaking the barriers to local incentivized community revitalization by providing the resources, industry connections, and technical assistance to both youth and emerging developers in Salisbury and Rowan County. Future Scapes bridges the gap between the young, aspiring leaders in Rowan County and its redevelopment industry through mentorship, career development, and hands-on learning labs with local projects in real estate, urban and rural revitalization, and historic preservation. Rather than only preparing the youth and emerging developers for their careers, Future Scapes immerses them in their own neighborhoods, helping them see firsthand how they can make a meaningful difference in revitalizing the urban and rural areas. This personalized, holistic approach leads to deep emotional and intellectual investment in their work and the transformation of the spaces they live in.

Through its programs and initiatives, Future Scapes will foster a deeper understanding of land-use decisions and the important roles that individuals may play in shaping their neighborhoods and communities. By nurturing the next generation of developers, Future Scapes creates a future where urban communities are more prosperous, resilient, and equitable.

Programs

Future Scapes operates with two main initiatives that serve as the cornerstone of its mission to transform neighborhoods and empower emerging developers: the Neighborhood Revitalization Youth Consortium(NRYC) and Neighborhood Urban Redevelopers(NURD). Future Scapes is also working toward adding a third initiative as a Community Development Corporation (CDC).