Samantha Luce is this year’s Good Neighbor of the Year

The Wake Forest Human Relations Council (HRC) is pleased to announce that Samantha Luce is Wake Forest’s 2024 Good Neighbor of the Year. Mayor Vivian Jones announced Luce as this year’s winner during Saturday’s Good Neighbor Day celebration at E. Carroll Joyner Park.

In her nomination narrative, Katy Doyle acknowledged Luce’s efforts to organize the October 5 Wake Forest Pride Festival, along with her support of downtown.

“When a Little Free Library supporting the LGBTQ+ community was torn down and destroyed one evening in November 2023 in downtown Wake Forest, it was a painful reminder that prejudice exists among us,” wrote Doyle. “The library was filled mostly with children’s books and a few cookbooks that were donated by people in the community. If the Little Free Library represented community and love, what should happen next? The Town of Wake Forest approved Samatha Luce’s application to organize and celebrate what is hopefully the first annual Wake Forest Pride Festival on October 5, 2024, for all to attend! Let's make sure love wins! Samantha also supports our downtown business community as the owner of Jubilation Spa.”

The HRC solicits Good Neighbor of the Year nominations for one adult and one youth each year from April through August, votes on the submitted candidates, then announces the winners during Good Neighbor Day. This year, the HRC did not receive any nominations for the youth award that met the submission requirements. For more information, contact Human Resources Director Angela McCray at [email protected].