Chris J. Suggs

Chris J. Suggs Community developer. Organizer. Former city councilmember. Rooted in Kinston, working everywhere.

I’m a homegrown leader from Kinston, North Carolina, with a proven track record of building durable institutions, strengthening public systems, and turning community vision into real, measurable outcomes. I’m the Founder & CEO of Kinston Teens, a youth-led organization I launched at 14 that has grown into a nationally recognized model for civic engagement, community revitalization, and youth leade

rship. Over the last decade, my work has included transforming vacant properties into community assets, managing a portfolio of neighborhood real estate, guiding local government through crisis and recovery, and helping communities build power rooted in local ownership and trust. I recently completed a four-year term on the Kinston City Council, where I focused on improving City Hall operations, strengthening core services, and advancing neighborhood-level investment—helping lead Kinston to be named a 2025 All-America City. My work sits at the intersection of community development, governance, and civic engagement, and I’m increasingly focused on sharing lessons learned from my hometown with communities across the country and around the globe.

04/20/2026

I’m proud to be building something bigger than just me, and grateful to have a supportive team along for this effort. 💚💪🏾

04/14/2026

Our Spring Clean Up will be held Saturday, April 25th at Grainger Stadium from 8:00am- 12:00pm! City residents may bring unwanted items for us to dispose of, at no cost.
Kinston Public Services does the Spring Clean Up in an attempt to fight illegal dumping.

For more information, please call our 24hr Customer Service Center at 252-939-3282.

04/09/2026

We don’t just need better roads.
We need stronger communities.

That means investing in people, relationships, and trust — not just physical infrastructure.

03/30/2026

I asked a room of 100 people: “Would this town support a nice steakhouse?”

Five hands went up.

Then I asked: “How many of YOU would eat at a nice steakhouse if one opened?”

Ninety hands went up.

This is low civic self-esteem in action.

Everyone thinks they have good taste. Nobody thinks their neighbors do.

So nobody opens nice things. And everyone drives to the next town over for dinner.

Where they see all their neighbors who also thought nobody would support it.

Everyone likes nice things.

03/08/2026

One of the most powerful things a community can do is simply come together and talk about the future. In , we’re doing just that—and so much more.

Organizing with your neighbors is where real change begins.

03/06/2026

More than 160 digital opportunity champions from 40 counties gathered in Tarboro on Dec. 4 for the December 2025 NC Digital Opportunity Gathering.

Today is World Teen Mental Wellness Day! Kinston Teens is hosting an event today at 4:30PM to create a space for open co...
03/02/2026

Today is World Teen Mental Wellness Day! Kinston Teens is hosting an event today at 4:30PM to create a space for open conversations around what it means to be a young person today, and what support and resources young people need to thrive.

Bring a friend and RSVP at www.kinstonteens.org/events 💚

Thank you to Act Now Community Development Corporation, Inc. and NC Climate Justice Collective for being partners in this effort to strengthen youth mental health and wellbeing!

If you are around Kinston this weekend, please attend Roots and Renaissance hosted by Jamil Burton and the Smart Kinston...
02/26/2026

If you are around Kinston this weekend, please attend Roots and Renaissance hosted by Jamil Burton and the Smart Kinston City Project Foundation. This event will feature art by Black artists, powerful performances, and beautiful local connections in celebration of Black History.

Rev. Jesse Jackson was a giant amongst men. Few have had the courage and conviction to lead in the way he did — from lea...
02/17/2026

Rev. Jesse Jackson was a giant amongst men. Few have had the courage and conviction to lead in the way he did — from leading protests to running for President — knowing that “liberty and justice for all” wasn’t just a catchy slogan, but a vision we must fulfill through all our means. May we all pray for his family and “Keep Hope Alive.”

02/17/2026

Late night leaving-the-gym reflections… Last year, I hired an Executive Coach. If you’re an entrepreneur, an executive, or in some form of leadership, you’ve got to know when to lean on the expertise of others *and* when it’s time to start firing yourself. Not because you’re doing something wrong, but because the organization, the business, or the system has outgrown the version of you that needs to touch every aspect.

Address

P. O. Box 3355
Kinston, NC
28502

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