Activate Selma "Four Cups of Coffee" What can happen when people decide to take action in their own community? In Selma, it started with four people meeting for coffee. In 2018, Jeffery Hamilton was working at The Rudy Theatre, which was bringing thousands of visitors to town each year. But when those visitors stepped outside the theater, there weren't many other places downtown for them to go. At the same time, Cindy Brookshire was volunteering at Selma's welcome center. A c

For Central Johnston Rotary President Kristen Tucker, being a good neighbor starts with paying attention–and being willing to show up. Kristen Tucker, President of Central Johnston Rotary Finding Her Place in Smithfield Kristen has served as senior pastor of First Baptist Church Smithfield since January 2022 and lives in downtown Smithfield. As she settled in, she intentionally looked for opportunities to get involved and meet people beyond her everyday work. That led her to

Some businesses become part of a community so naturally that people stop thinking about how often they see their work. That was especially true for us during Ham & Yam this year. From the Local70 tent and table setup to the ducks people kept carrying around downtown all weekend, a lot of what helped us show up well came from a Smithfield business that’s been quietly supporting local schools, organizations, churches, and businesses for decades: Hinson Printing. Local70 set-up

Every community has a story—and the places that endure are the ones that understand, preserve, and build from that foundation. In Smithfield, that work is not just about looking back. It’s about ensuring that as the town grows, it stays connected to the people, places, and history that define it. In March, Todd Johnson was honored as a North Carolina Main Street Champion—a recognition of the lasting impact he continues to have on Downtown Smithfield and communities across Nor

You can feel how much Johnston County is changing right now. It shows up in small ways—new homes taking shape, more activity throughout the day, a sense that things are building on themselves. Working on Local70, we get a closer look at what’s behind that. It’s not just growth for the sake of it. Chris Johnson didn’t come into this role through big recruitment deals or headline announcements. His background is Main Street—small businesses, historic buildings, and the kind of

In our Your Future Neighbor series, we’ve had the opportunity to talk with many of the people shaping Johnston County’s future—leaders who are thinking not just about growth, but about how that growth translates into opportunity for the community. At Johnston Community College, that work is happening every day. Under the leadership of Dr. Vern Lindquist, the college is playing a central role in preparing students, supporting local businesses, and aligning workforce developmen