WINSTON SALEM

James Grace

James is the eldest son of 9 children of James and Willie M. Grace; born in Winston- Salem, all of whom reside here in Forsyth County and is a United States Army Veteran, serving with the Criminal Investigation Division of the 82nd Airborne Division at Fort Bragg, NC and the 173rd Airborne Brigade in Viet Nam, 1979. James was educated in the local public school system: Attended Atkins High School, Winston-Salem NC (1962) Attended A&T State University in Greensboro, NC (1966) Graduate of the “National Internship in Community Economic Development Program” at the Development Training Institute Baltimore, Maryland (1989) Attended the Management and Community Development Institute, Tufts University, Medford, Massachusetts (1998) Earned his Master of Science Degree in Community Economic Development from New Hampshire College, Manchester, New Hampshire; April 2000. James is the co-founder of East Winston CDC has been responsible for building and rehabilitating over $4 million in housing since 1993, served over 1500 public assistance residents of Forsyth County. Services include homeownership assistance, homeownership counseling, job placement, referrals and Entrepreneurial training and education. James served as Executive Director from 1989-2004. James was the planner of two African American Summits that insured “participation and inclusion” in WS/FC Common Visions, our local revitalization initiative, and one of the original board members. He was also one of the creators of the East Area Council of the Winston-Salem Chamber of Commerce and served as its first chairman. East Winston CDC under his leadership played a significant role in the successful implementation of the Enterprise Community process. James has been one of the architects of the CED movement here in North Carolina, considered by many CED professionals, to be on the cutting-edge of industry practices in the country. Innovation has been a by-word associated with James Grace; organization throughout the country has considered James always on the cutting edge of CED. He has taught Sunday school for the past 25 years (Adult Class #1) at Zion Memorial Baptist Church and been married to the former Michele Raye for the past 43 years. For the past five years James served as Chairman of The Twenty, Inc., a local non-profit whose mission is to work collaboratively with other individuals and organizations in the community to alleviate the Racial Wealth Gap. Resigned as Chairman in September 2020.