A nearly century-old building in Roanoke, known to many as the former main office of Roanoke City Public Schools, is set to undergo a major transformation. The site, however, holds deeper significance for the community as it originally served as an all-Black high school built in 1928. Roanoke City Public Schools held a ceremony Friday to commemorate its historical importance and celebrate its future as a Community Empowerment Center.

"Trying to give the kids the same type of experience Peter Lewis and Jonathan Rosser and Robert Johnson gave me and my brother."

Jordan Bell, a local historian in Roanoke

Questions asked to the candidates ranged in topics from economic development to crime in the area.

The City of Roanoke says it’s serious about investing in the historic Gainsboro neighborhood.

To celebrate Juneteenth, a local historian guides a group through Gainsboro on Friday, teaching about the neighborhood’s rich African American history.

Roanoke’s Gainsboro Branch Library is officially back open to the public with a new look.

ROANOKE, Va. – A Black Lives Matter demonstration marched through the heart of Grandin Village Saturday afternoon, but this protest focused on families first. “This is about the whole family structure coming out in unison with black lives and being able to do that peacefully on a beautiful morning,” said Roanoke activist Jordan Bell, who helped lead Roanoke’s first Black Lives Matter march after George Floyd’s death. “As hard as it can be to have these discussions with the kids, we need to do our part to open their eyes,” Shires said. “This is just a small step in that process.”Bell says the Black Lives Matter movement has come a long way since the initial march at the end of May, and demonstrations like this are signs progress is still being made. “A lot of conversations are happening, but we hope those conversations turn into action and substance,” Bell said.

ROANOKE, Va. – About a hundred people saw history on foot through Roanoke’s Gainsboro neighborhood on this Juneteenth 2020. Bell has spent the last few months learning everything there is to know about the neighborhood. “It used to be our Black Wall Street, Black Wall Street is getting a lot of attention in Tulsa, Oklahoma over the past couple of months, but Roanoke had its own Black Wall Street and that was Gainsboro, Roanoke,” Bell said. “Having it offered today, and especially on Juneteenth, I was like, ‘Yes, this is the way I want to celebrate,‘ I want to learn history and do my part in terms of understanding what really happened,” Trozzo said. Urban renewal happened, primarily to build the Roanoke Civic Center and Interstate 581 decimated the neighborhood back in the 60s.

ROANOKE, Va. – The conversation to solutions: That’s what a local pastor called Tuesday night’s discussion between faith leaders, Roanoke’s mayor and police chief, and a local protest organizer. All the parties sat down for a candid conversation, opening up about past hurt and future healing. We've done enough of that,” said Pastor Cecil Scott, who organized the conversation. It took Pastor Scott less than 48 hours to get the Roanoke leaders to agree to sit on a stage and talk. Tuesday evening, Roanoke Mayor Sherman Lea, Roanoke Police Chief Sam Roman, protest organizer Jordan Bell, Elevation Church Pastor David Shearer, and community mentor Jemarh Fuell, sat side-by-side with Pastor Scott to discuss looking back and moving forward.