You can come to our library, get a bag of books, and maybe a bag of groceries. As the LFNC fellow in Granville County, I recently had the exciting and rewarding project of creating a new food security program for our county library system. The word “Library” does not often …
Every morning, I pass the flagpoles in front of our courthouse. Every morning, at least it seems, the flags are at half-mast. It’s been that way as long as I can remember. Everything is so heavy these days. For many years, we’ve sat in classrooms, constantly inundated with the seemingly …
Sometimes, tunnel vision is needed when seeking success. Each fellow within the LFNC program enters with the impression that their work will truly impact the community they serve–and they do. Each fellow becomes successful when they can highlight not only the need but also the assets of their community and …
I am fairly used to be the youngest in the room, but I’ve found that being one of the youngest in the workplace a bit more challenging. There are many stereotypes about young people in the workforce – some may have truth to them, others do not. Recently, I was …
Capacity building is a key pillar of the LFNC program. Coming into the fellowship, we discussed capacity building regularly in our training sessions, highlighting the urgency of decreasing capacity at the local government level and the importance of preparing a future generation of local public servants. But while it is …
This March, my team wrapped up our Job Shadow Program for our Wilson Youth Council students. This program offered 28 of our student volunteers the chance to learn about potential careers by connecting them to local businesses and organizations. After the students completed their applications where they stated their career …
While serving in Hyde County, North Carolina, I have had the opportunity to work with the Ocracoke Waterways Commission, as well as the Ocracoke Planning Advisory Board. Once a month, I commute via ferry to the island of Ocracoke, situated 35 miles offshore from the mainland of Hyde County. Although …
The town of Liberty is on the brink of drastic change. A new Toyota manufacturing plant is being built just miles outside the city limits and is estimated to have ~2,100 employees by 2025 (compared to Liberty’s population of 2,657). The property tax value of the town has increased by …
With a little over two months left of my fellowship, I began to reflect on what aspects assisted me most as I navigated this experience. Leaving your hometown is never easy, especially when adjusting to a completely new place with its own community and dynamics. For those who also have …
I’d like to offer special thanks to all the individuals that took time out of their schedules to allow me to interview them. I was able to complete this with their willingness to share their expertise and experiences. They are leaders shaping their communities’ future to ensure sustainable and responsible …
