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Cohort 1

Jurisdiction: Pembroke

University: UNC-Chapel Hill

Hometown: Hamlet, NC

Shayla Douglas served her fellowship in Pembroke, working as an assistant to the town manager. Her completed projects included facilitating the town’s ADA transition, grant writing, and serving as the chair for Pembroke’s Complete Count Committee for the 2020 Census. Douglas secured a $160,000 grant from the Golden LEAF Foundation to support mitigation efforts for cleaning ditches and culverts in Pembroke. She also received more than $135,000 in disaster recovery funds to reimburse the town for costs incurred as a direct result of Hurricane Florence.

Prior to LFNC, Douglas was an intern for Democracy Matters and helped create a chapter of the organization at UNC-Chapel Hill, where she served as president. She earned bachelor’s degrees in political science and history with a minor in women and gender studies from Carolina.

January 19, 2024

The first cohort of Lead for North Carolina Fellows made a splash in communities across the state, launching meaningful projects with real-world impact.

January 19, 2024

Fellow Nick Boyd’s work with the Community Rating System program earned recognition for reducing flood insurance premiums for county homeowners.

January 19, 2024

The UNC School of Government furthers its commitment to serving North Carolina’s local governments through a course taught by William Rivenbark and Rebecca Badgett.

AmeriCorps