Quaneisha Payne is an inspirational young woman from Greensboro. Her great smile, as seen above, is one of the first things you notice about her. It reflects her positive outlook on life. Quaneisha has been a lifelong member of Warnersville, Greensboro’s historical, African American community just south of downtown. She helped start the first community garden and farmers’ market in Warnersville. Quaneisha has great leadership skills and loves to initiate projects and see them to completion. Although she is not yet 20 years old, she has already been involved in many groups in Greensboro. The Smart Girls Leadership Academy and the The National Conference for Community and Justice (NCCJ) are two organizations where she has logged countless service hours. She is also an advocate for adolescent health.

Quaneisha is a graduate of the Middle College of UNCG in Greensboro and now attends Johnson C. Smith University, where she is studying political science. In October, she accompanied a group from her university to Washington D.C. on the Million Man March. She was proud to be part of a movement committed to the common good and to bringing about change.

About Greensboro, Quaneisha loves the way our city is growing and developing. She loves that the town has a rich history and cultural diversity. Quaneisha reminds us that we have the arts, historical museums, beautiful scenery, and many institutions of higher education. What she misses, while away at college, is being able to participate in annual events such as: the fair, the NCA&T homecoming, the ACC sporting events at the Coliseum, and food from Beef Burger and Stamey’s Barbecue. Quaneisha, next time you are in town, we’ll treat you to a meal at Beef Burger or Stamey’s. Your choice! Today is ABC Wednesday and for our A-Z local people series, “Q” is for Quaneisha.