Caswell County
County Seat: Yanceyville
Date Visited: October 2021
Caswell County Demographics
Our visit to Caswell County began in downtown Yanceyville at CoSquare. CoSquare is a coworking space funded initially by Caswell County1 GoldenLEAF and the Danville Regional Foundation. CoSquare is located in a former pharmacy in Yanceyville.
Dr. Pamela Senegal, the president of Piedmont Community College (PCC), served as our host. We were also joined by representatives from the Caswell County Chapter of The Health Collaborative, the county health department and other county leaders.
Our conversation zeroed in on the health and wellness of all Caswell County residents and a recent health scan conducted by the health department. Topics highlighted by the health survey as needs included cell service and broadband, an increase in self-reported mental health challenges and structured activities for youth. Eastwood noted the “tripledemic” of RSV, flu and COVID-19 will likely cause a strain for health departments throughout the winter of 2022-23. In addition, Eastwood pointed out that maintaining a proper level of staffing for the health department has been an issue throughout COVID-19 – and now through this “tripledemic.”
Senegal showcased a coming bright spot for Caswell County including the Center for Educational and Agricultural Development (CEAD). CEAD is designed to be an economic development project anchored around community assets. It will also serve as the home of the Agribusiness Technology Program for the college when the campus goes live.
“We want this space to have not only an impact for local farmers but also serve as a site for the improvement of the full community,” continued Senegal. “People’s lives are waiting to be transformed, and we can’t wait.”
The first phase of CEAD is fully funded. Future phases will include an education building for PCC, space for an after-school agriculture program named Breakthrough Learning in Agriculture Science Technology (BLAST!), a local health clinic, storage for food pantries, food retail spaces for local providers and walking trails.
BLAST! is a free, inclusive program aimed at after-school enrichment focused on the intersection of community gardening, healthy eating components and literacy. Senegal noted that BLAST is, “Investing in our youth by planting a seed.”
The commonality for all of these programs – and for what will come with CEAD – is collaboration between a range of community entities and PCC.
“Our middle name is community. We can’t just provide an education. We are trying to build community through all that we do,” declared Senegal.
