In Episode 3 of For Forsyth, we talk with a candidate for Congress, hear from two Forsyth County residents, and return to our recurring segment focused on helping us understand how government actually works.

Dan Naber sits down with Cyril Jefferson, Mayor of High Point and Democratic candidate for the U.S. House of Representatives in North Carolina’s 6th Congressional District. Their conversation covers Jefferson’s roots in Forsyth County, his background in education, and his experience as mayor. They also discuss affordability, healthcare, housing, education, government accountability, gerrymandering, congressional war powers, and the issues Jefferson says he would prioritize if elected. You can learn more about Cyril Jefferson at ⁠https://cyrilforcongress.com⁠ .

Then Jeremiah talks with Keniyah and Tiarney, two local residents he meets at a community cookout. They share their perspectives on homelessness, childcare, rising housing costs, public schools, roads and sidewalks, jobs and opportunities, activities for young people, and what they hope to see in Forsyth County over the next five years.

And finally, Ron Jones returns as The Civics Guy.

In this episode’s “The Civics Guy” segment, Ron explains why voting is only the beginning of our civic responsibility. He explores the importance of civic education, following elected officials after Election Day, comparing campaign promises with voting records, understanding the influence of money in politics, and consistently holding government accountable.

In This Episode:

• 00:00 — Welcome to For Forsyth
• 00:56 — Episode overview
• 01:29 — Early voting public service announcement
• 02:17 — Interview with High Point Mayor Cyril Jefferson begins
• 03:41 — Jefferson’s Forsyth County roots and path to public service
• 04:49 — From education to city government
• 06:53 — High Point’s progress on public safety and economic development
• 08:12 — Why Jefferson is running for Congress
• 11:22 — What the 6th District has in common
• 12:57 — Healthcare, housing, and the affordability crisis
• 16:44 — Jefferson’s personal experience with economic assistance
• 20:04 — Healthcare reform and access to preventive care
• 22:04 — Education as a pathway to economic mobility
• 23:46 — Transparency and accountability in government
• 25:39 — Ending gerrymandering
• 26:46 — War, congressional oversight, and executive power
• 27:24 — The congressional race and public accountability
• 29:51 — Political distractions and the issues that matter
• 31:39 — Jefferson’s closing message to voters
• 33:28 — Community interview with Keniyah and Tiarney
• 34:14 — Homelessness, childcare, and local concerns
• 35:10 — Whether local leaders are listening
• 35:54 — Rising costs and housing pressures
• 36:12 — Public schools and young people’s futures
• 36:43 — Roads, sidewalks, and infrastructure
• 37:15 — Jobs, opportunity, and reentry challenges
• 37:55 — Youth activities and community investment
• 38:23 — Hopes for Forsyth County’s next five years
• 39:25 — The Civics Guy: Why voting is only the beginning
• 40:17 — The case for stronger civic education
• 42:05 — Why civic knowledge does not always stick
• 44:42 — Voting, political loyalty, and accountability
• 47:56 — How to monitor elected officials
• 49:50 — Campaign money and political influence
• 51:04 — Consistency, participation, and democratic power
• 52:25 — Closing thoughts and where to find For Forsyth

In Episode 2 of For Forsyth, we talk with a candidate, hear from a Forsyth County resident, and introduce a new recurring segment focused on helping us understand how government actually works.

Dan Naber sits down with Ashley Bell, Democratic candidate for North Carolina’s 10th Congressional District. Their conversation covers affordability, healthcare, education, government accountability, gerrymandering, congressional war powers, and the issues Bell says she would prioritize if elected. You can learn more about Ashley Bell at https://ab4nc.com.

Then Jeremiah talks with Forsyth County resident Suzette Leal about what she is seeing closer to home, including rising grocery prices, challenges facing local schools, support for teachers, jobs and opportunities, activities for young people, and what she hopes Forsyth County will look like in the years ahead.

And finally, meet Ron Jones, the Civics Guy.

Ron begins with a simple question: How can we hold government accountable if we don’t understand how it works?

In his first "The Civics Guy" segment, Ron looks at what Americans know about the structure of government, why government can be difficult to understand, and why civic knowledge matters when we make decisions about our communities and our country.

IN THIS EPISODE:

00:00 Welcome to For Forsyth
00:52 What’s coming up in Episode 2
01:14 Dan Naber interviews Ashley Bell
01:47 Who is Ashley Bell?
03:05 What Bell is hearing across NC-10
04:25 Affordability and the cost of living
05:26 Congress, the economy, and healthcare
07:23 Government accountability and corruption
11:39 Healthcare and the Affordable Care Act
12:30 Public education and higher education
15:19 The Epstein files and transparency
17:12 Gerrymandering
18:32 Iran and congressional war powers
19:03 Representation in NC-10
23:07 Winston-Salem’s International Black Theatre Festival
24:14 What Bell says she would fight for in Congress
25:47 Bell’s closing remarks
28:24 Jeremiah interviews Forsyth County resident Suzette Leal
30:03 Rising prices and groceries
30:40 Forsyth County public schools
31:31 Jobs and opportunities
31:55 Activities and opportunities for young people
33:07 What should Forsyth County look like in five years?
34:47 Meet Ron Jones, the Civics Guy
35:45 How much do Americans know about civics?
38:12 What do we mean when we talk about “the government”?
39:13 How government touches everyday life
41:52 Why understanding government matters
42:40 What to expect from the Civics Guy
45:00 Closing

For Forsyth is a podcast of the people, by the people, and for the people of Forsyth County, North Carolina. We hear from local residents, people asking for our vote, and the Civics Guy so we can make choices based on what we know, not what we think we know.

Follow For Forsyth so you don’t miss the next episode.

For more about this podcast, visit our website at https://forforsyth.org

Thanks, DeBeen ! 💜☕

We'd like to offer a special thanks to the folks at DeBeen Espresso in Winston-Salem for allowing us to conduct our interview in their café. Learn more about DeBeen Espresso (High Point and Winston-Salem) on their website: https://debeenespresso.com/.

Meet the people behind For Forsyth, a new podcast created by Forsyth County residents who believe local voices matter.

In this introductory episode, Laura Zielke, Dan Naber, Jeremiah Leal, and Ron Jones share a little about themselves, why they’re getting involved, and what each will bring to the show. You’ll hear about plans for conversations with candidates, interviews with people across our community, plain-language civics explainers, and discussions about the issues affecting everyday life in Forsyth County.

For Forsyth is about getting beyond labels, learning how our government works, listening to our neighbors, and focusing on the values we share. Our goal is simple: to help all of us make informed choices based on what we know—not what we think we know.