Kinston Teens Purchases Historic Lewis School Property in East Kinston
Kinston Teens is proud to announce the purchase of the former Lewis School building in East Kinston. The approximately 2 ½ acre property is rich with local history and full of potential for future community use.
Lewis School, once a thriving elementary school, closed in the 1990s and has since sat largely vacant and blighted. While the organization has already identified a separate location for the future East Kinston Neighborhood Hub—the community resilience hub Kinston Teens is hoping to open whose plans have been named a finalist for the World Landscape Architecture Awards—this acquisition represents another important step in Kinston Teens’ long-term vision for community revitalization.
A Strategic Real Estate Investment
When funds allow, Kinston Teens has made several strategic real estate investments like this to help maintain local ownership of properties, reduce blight, and steward sites until the opportunity arises for renovation or transfer to a qualified developer. In the meantime, the organization ensures properties are well-maintained, cutting grass, clearing trash, and preserving the overall appearance of the land so that they no longer serve as an eyesore for neighbors.
Next Steps for the Lewis School
Kinston Teens will be sharing more updates soon, including a dedicated page on the East Kinston website with history, photos, and future opportunities to engage. The organization will also be calling on volunteers to help clean up the site—cutting the grass, trimming hedges, and removing debris—so that this once-proud neighborhood landmark reflects the pride and resilience of East Kinston once again. The goal is for this space to be something that is built for, by, and with the community and to be a collaborative project with many partners.
Community members interested in helping shape the future of East Kinston are encouraged to volunteer or donate. You can sign up to support clean-up days and stay informed on future announcements at www.kinstonteens.org or www.eastkinston.org.
Like other efforts led by Kinston Teens and the East Kinston Neighborhood Hub, this project will once again show the power of local ownership, neighborhood-led development, and community pride. By securing the Lewis School property, Kinston Teens is ensuring that the story of East Kinston continues to be written by the people who call it home.
About Kinston Teens:
Kinston Teens, Inc. is a youth-led and youth-centered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization with a mission of empowering young people through service, leadership, and civic engagement. Kinston Teens was created in direct response to youth-involved gun violence and systemic disinvestment in East Kinston—the most economically distressed neighborhood in North Carolina. Over the past decade, our organization has grown into a recognized force for youth-driven and neighborhood-focused community development, leading efforts to reduce blight, increase food security, promote environmental resilience, and mobilize youth in civic engagement and advocacy. The East Kinston Neighborhood Hub, operated by Kinston Teens, serves as our flagship resilience hub and community center.