Three questions with Lynchburg Mayor Tweedy
SERVING — Treney Tweedy calls for student involvement in the community during their college years.
Lynchburg native Treney Tweedy serves as the mayor of Lynchburg. She grew up in Rivermont and graduated from E.C. Glass High School. Tweedy served in the United States military as a journalist and earned a bachelor’s degree in English from Lynchburg College in 1997. Tweedy was elected in 2018 and will serve until 2020.
1. How have you been able to impact the Lynchburg community through your position as mayor?
Hopefully, I think we are working to lessen our poverty rate here in our city. … I worked with the former mayor, and currently, I’m working with the current vice mayor, myself, and other council members to decrease the poverty rate and increase our household family median income (through the Bridges to Progress Initiative). … So, hopefully, we are putting solutions together in order to solve this issue and a few others for the long term.
2. How would you summarize the Bridges to Progress Initiative? And how can Liberty students get involved with the Bridges to Progress initiative?
I would say (the Bridges to Progress Initiative is) the opportunity to reduce poverty in our city through collaboration and making systems and resources work for those persons who live in poverty. One thing that is really supportive is to have boots on the grounds. … Nonprofits or faith communities are often limited by the folks who are available to support the effort. So, the availability of students who, one, have the passion to help, and, two, understand how to do ministry work is wonderful because it enables programs that need persons to volunteer.
Community — Treney Tweedy believes students have much to add to the community.
3. Why should college students engage with the Lynchburg community?
I think it’s really important for one because they become a part of that community during that three or four years (they’re in college). They’re volunteering, they’re working, or maybe participating in internships. They add to our community base. … We are also investing in creating more entrepreneurship opportunities and learning opportunities here, especially for our college students. So, if they have a dream of starting a business, there is a pathway here in Lynchburg. … We enjoy them, and they know us. So, the ability to plant roots here … in a community that embraces their knowledge, their passion — we just hope they want to grow with us.
