Bayview, Virginia facts for kids
Bayview is a small community in Northampton County, Virginia, United States. It's a place where people live together but it's not officially a town or city. Bayview is special because of its long history and how its people have worked together to make it a better place.
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Bayview's Story
Bayview is a community over 300 years old. Most of its residents are African American. It's located on the Eastern Shore of Virginia. After the American Civil War, many formerly enslaved people made Bayview their home. It grew into a community with farms, a small village, shops, and even its own post office.
In the 1900s, Bayview did very well. People grew white potatoes and worked in the local seafood industry. But later in the 20th century, things got tough. Many seafood processing plants closed. This happened because there were fewer shellfish in the Chesapeake Bay. Pollution also made the problem worse.
In 1998, the community decided to take action. They formed a group called the Bayview Citizens for Social Justice. They teamed up with groups like the Nature Conservancy. Their goal was to make life better for everyone in Bayview. They raised $11 million from different sources. With this money, they bought 160 acres of farmland. On this land, they built new homes. They also built a laundry facility and a Community Enrichment Center.
Who Lives in Bayview?
About 200 people live in Bayview. Most of them are adults. The community is mainly African American. But in recent years, more White and Hispanic people have moved there.
Education is a challenge in Bayview. Not many adults have finished college. Less than half of the adults have a high school degree. Many families in Bayview have low incomes.
Bayview Citizens for Social Justice (BCSJ)
What is BCSJ?
The Bayview Citizens for Social Justice, Inc. (BCSJ) is a special organization. It helps people in Bayview improve their lives. Their main goal is to help end poverty. They also work to educate, unite, and empower the people of Bayview. BCSJ started in 1998. This was after they successfully stopped a plan to build a large prison nearby.
Community Activities
BCSJ helps bring people together. They organize cultural and religious events. These include Black History Month, Easter, and Christmas celebrations. BCSJ also works to help Bayview citizens become more independent.
How BCSJ Helps
BCSJ has received grants to help the community. These grants help them manage money and get loans. They use these funds for important programs. These programs include water and sewer improvements. They also help people buy homes through a special lease-to-purchase plan. BCSJ also manages community properties, street lights, and a community farm.
Strengths and Opportunities
Each year, BCSJ checks its progress. One big strength is that Bayview controls a lot of land. They have 150 acres for building and community farming. BCSJ has a plan for new housing, childcare, and a community center. They also own buildings for meetings and workshops.
The community works well with other groups. These include the NAACP, the Nature Conservancy, and the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Leaders in Bayview are very strong and determined. They have worked hard to get media attention and support for their community.
However, the community still needs help with some skills. These include managing money and properties. They also need more legal advice.
Bayview is close to a popular tourist area. This area has camping, golfing, and fishing. But it's hard for many Bayview families to visit. This is because there's a toll bridge to the mainland. This difference between the wealthy beach area and Bayview can create challenges. It shows how different life can be for people living just two miles apart.
Important People
Alice Coles
Alice Coles is the leader of BCSJ. Her strong leadership has helped Bayview become a thriving community. She is a descendant of formerly enslaved people. One of her first leadership roles was running Bayview's black chapel.
In 1994, the state of Virginia planned to build a large prison. It would be less than a mile from the neighborhood school. Alice Coles had only a high school education. She worked picking meat from crabs. But she decided to learn about the prison system. She traveled to Richmond, VA to fight against the prison plan. Alice Coles successfully stopped the prison from being built.
For the next 14 years, Alice worked hard for her community. She got national media attention. She also asked for help from groups like the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) and the Nature Conservancy. BCSJ raised over $11 million. They used this money to buy the prison site and more land. They then built a new village with different types of housing and new roads. This brought many new benefits to the people of Bayview.
Bayview in the News
Alice Coles and Bayview have been featured in many news stories. They have appeared on 60 Minutes, NPR, and Voice of America. A VCU documentary called “This Black Soil” also featured them. In 2006, the Virginia State legislature praised Alice. She also won the Impact Award in 2005, now called the Inspire Awards.
