Chris J. Suggs

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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 leadership. 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.

Address

P. O. Box 3355
Kinston, NC
28502

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