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Cohort 1

Jurisdiction: Kinston

University: UNC-Chapel Hill

Hometown: Raleigh, NC

Sarah led the Downtown Kinston Mural Program, a public art initiative funded by a $100,000 NEA Our Town Grant; the grant involved the creation of seven unique, outdoor public murals intended to enhance connectivity between cultural and economic assets in Kinston’s city center. Two of the murals honor Kinston’s Civil Rights heroes and will contribute to the ongoing community conversations about social justice. Additionally, she created Kinston 101, the city’s first citizen academy. The program had 40 citizens participate in the inaugural class. The curriculum helped citizens gain better access to their leaders.

Arney earned a bachelor’s degree in philosophy and public policy from UNC-Chapel Hill. As an undergraduate, she was a Carolina Scholar and a Buckley Public Service Scholar. She also collaborated with the Community Empowerment Fund, assisting community members in achieving their goals related to housing, employment, and financial independence. This experience taught her about trauma-informed care, harm reduction, and Housing First principles to navigate Orange County resources.

April 14, 2025

After graduating from UNC Chapel Hill and NC State University in 2024, Kristy Nguyen and Anu Mishra were selected to be part of a unique local government fellowship program based…

February 12, 2025

When Hurricane Helene tore through western North Carolina, leaving destruction and uncertainty in its wake, Elias Henderson didn’t hesitate to find a way to lend a hand.

February 10, 2025

Dante Pittman, a newly elected state representative for Wilson County, received a bachelor’s degree in political science from Carolina in 2018 and was an inaugural member of the UNC Institute of…

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