George Little shares his experiences growing up in the Optimist Park neighborhood of Charlotte, North Carolina, where his parents built their home with Habitat for Humanity. Having lived in the neighborhood for twenty-three years, he discusses being bused across town for school and graduating as salutatorian from Garinger High School. After playing football at Wingate University, Mr. Little transferred to Central Piedmont Community College and moved back to Optimist Park to help support his mother. He remarks on the changes to the neighborhood after his three year absence and notes the advantages that contemporary youth have, such as access to technology and transportation. Mr. Little also discusses the construction of the light rail and increasing diversity in the Optimist Park and how he ultimately feels these changes are improvements for the neighborhood. In the future, he hopes to take on a leadership role in the neighborhood and become a role model for the youth, and he challenges his peers to actively participate in their community.
