South Greensboro Area Plan - Public Review Draft - 9.25.25

07.03 Culture & Connectivity

Culture Lives Through Food

Food is a powerful connector in south Greensboro. Stakeholders described backyard gardens overflowing with peppers, mint, tomatoes, cassava, squash, and collard greens, plants that hold ties to heritage, memory, and identity. Traditional dishes are prepared and shared with friends and family, especially during celebrations. Whether soul food dishes from the Deep South or traditional Vietnamese soups, stakeholders shared that meals carry stories across generations. While food is a shared language, it is often expressed within cultural silos. Stakeholders voiced a desire for more opportunities to connect across those lines through spaces like farmers markets, grocery stores, community gardens, and restaurants. Stakeholders shared that these places can act as bridges between cultures while also increasing access to healthy, affordable, and culturally relevant food that reflects the community’s traditions, values, and needs.

Draft

Some local businesses and the food they serve found in south Greensboro. (Sources: Bolton & Menk; Google Maps)

146 / SOUTH GREENSBORO AREA PLAN

Culture & Authenticity

PUBLIC REVIEW DRAFT - 9/25/25