VISION PARTNER - ENERGETICS

Aura Chaya Gispan is a vision partner in the Temple Beth El revitalization. Aura hails from New York City and took the first faithful step on the journey for the conversion of Temple Beth El in Rocky Mount from a local congregation at the end of its story to beginning of another story, a reimagining and revitalization of a once sacred space to a new life as a cornerstone within something also sacred, community.

Seeing this once sacred space now a building in need of love and for sale online in May 2022, Aura was compelled through her Jewish faith and intuition to drive down from New York, down I-95, to a city and state she had never been to before.

There were stories in this place both to be told and yet to be written.

Her pilgrimage brought her face to face with the community, one resilient through trials and setbacks, and she put it under contract, connecting with local elected officials, community organizers, and leaders, but ultimately the distance, short timeline, and the magnitude of the project and need were too much to overcome with will and passion alone.

Temple Beth El went back on to the market.

VISION PARTNER - CONNECTOR

Demian Dellinger is a vision partner in the Temple Bethel revitalization. Demian is a native North Carolinian with roots in Western and Eastern North Carolina and growing up Wake County.

Demian is a graduate of Davidson College, where he studied Psychology with a neuroscience curriculum core.

Demian’s history with Rocky Mount extends back to the years of redevelopment after Hurricane Floyd which hit Eastern North Carolina in 1999. As Director of Data Management for the State’s Housing and Business Redevelopment Office, Demian worked with non-profits and local governments in Nash and Edgecombe County to assist with housing and business redevelopment programs.

For years Demian passed Temple Beth El on his way into or through Rocky Mount and it always caught his eye and curiosity.

Demian is now a Town Councilmember in Garner, North Carolina and with the town’s rapid growth (and that of Downtown Raleigh) he is acutely aware of the loss of landmarks, historical place, and sacred spaces, both religious and spiritual.

When the opportunity presented itself to be a part of the revitalization and an agent of preservation he pursued the chance, making an offer, and getting the property under contract.

VISION PARTNER - ARCHITECHURAL DESIGN

Michael Sims, Jr. is a vision partner in the Temple Bethel revitalization. Mike is a native of Detroit, Michigan, moved to Raleigh, North Carolina in 1993. He then graduated UNC-Charlotte and his architecture career was in full gear.

Mike has spent the past 14 years living in London, England working for Frank Gehry and Zaha Hadid as an Architect and Lead Designer.

More typically designing large scale towers with an emphasis and eye on impact and efficiency, Mike is also a master at creating properly scaled high-functional spaces, always designed for nurturing the human experience.

As his native Detroit and Raleigh undergo explosive growth and revitalization, his interests center on the impacts on communities and proper stewardship of history, architecture, and people who are a part of both.