West Side Stories; Pastor Calvin Brown

During the midst of this pandemic, there are local heroes relentlessly working to improve the lives of others. CJ Bland, youth engagement coordinator at West Side Grows, has made it his mission to elevate the stories of those heroes on the West Side of Wilmington. The newly rejuvenated West Side Stories Series is a collection of interviews photos and videos that capture the history, beauty and greatness of the West Side. If you know someone who embodies a West Side hero, please send your nomination to CJ at cbland@westsidegrows.org.

In March, CJ spoke to Pastor Calvin Brown from New Life Christian Center, 234 N Clayton St, Wilmington. Pastor Brown has been a resident of the West Side for over 30 years and pastor of New Christian Life Center since 1999. Living just steps away from the church and rooted in Judy Johnson park, Brown has led by example in his community from spearheading and participating in Hilltop Day to helping to unite religious communities on the West Side.

After decades of observing the ins and outs of the West Side, Brown has been a witness to a litany of change. One ray of hope that has cast its brightness in Brown’s neighborhood has been the Lights On, Wilmington Strong program brought to the city by the Help Initiative Inc., a 501 (c) 3 focused on bringing energy efficient solutions to low income families. One of the program’s first installations was the New Life Christian Center, where Brown witnessed the results almost immediately. He saw criminal activity decrease in the neighborhood as the lights brightened up the streets. Lighting up the streets is just one step towards a stronger and safer community. Looking ahead, Brown sees opportunities around financial education, youth mentorship, community pride, and uniting institutions, government, and citizens in the West Side.