WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. -- City workers and faith leaders made took a stand in Winston-Salem on Wednesday night, asking the city to institute a $15 per hour minimum wage.

Demonstrators say it's about a commitment to a living wage -- for not only people employed by the city -- but for all working people.

“There are city workers here who aren’t making enough to make ends meet, and how it’s a whole city-wide issue. It’s not just the city workers. We need to all come together to talk about raising wages for people in our community,” said Catherine Medlock, Walton Sate director.

A city report from last year showed Winston-Salem has a 23-percent poverty rate.

That's higher than Forsyth County, as a whole and the rest of North Carolina.

The same study found a worker would have to make $14.86 an hour to support his or herself and one child in Forsyth County.