Carolina MPA Calendar

• December 10-11: Fall Commencement Events
• January 9, 2023: Spring/January 2023 term begins

Whitney Afonso

Anita Brown-Graham

Leisha Dehart-Davis

Obed Pasha

Willow Jacobson

• Applicants Needed for Orange County Boards
• Upcoming QGAPS Opportunities
• UNC GPSG Climate Crisis Committee looking for project help
• Campus Recreation offers Swim Lessons
• December 7: Holiday Carolina Blood Drive
• Due March 7: Join the Data Matters Short Course Series

Applicants Needed For Orange County

Volunteer Boards And Commissions

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Tara May, Deputy Clerk to the Board (919) 245-2125

ORANGE COUNTY, NC (November 21, 2022) – One way residents can have a positive impact on the future of Orange County is to serve on a volunteer board or commission.

The Orange County Board of Commissioners is currently recruiting applicants for the following boards and commissions:

Affordable Housing Advisory Board – The Affordable Housing Advisory Board prioritizes affordable housing needs and assesses project proposals. The board also publicizes the County’s housing objectives, monitors the progress of local housing programs, explores new funding opportunities, and works to increase the community’s awareness of, understanding of, commitment to, and involvement in producing attractive affordable housing. This board typically meets on the second Tuesday of each month at 6:00 pm. There are currently four (4) at-large vacancies.

Animal Services Advisory Board – This board is charged to advise the Board of County Commissioners on matters of concern regarding animal issues and animal services in Orange County. The Animal Services Advisory Board works with the Animal Services Director to ensure quality animal services and maintains contact with the stakeholder groups from which its members are appointed. The board also provides a venue in which stakeholder concerns about animals, animal policies and issues, and animal services programming may be voiced, considered, and referred as appropriate. The Animal Services Advisory Board typically meets on the third Wednesday of each month at 6:30 pm. There is currently one (1) position open for an individual that resides within the Town Limits of Hillsborough, one (1) position open for an individual that resides within the Town Limits of Carrboro, and one (1) at-large vacancy.

Board of Equalization and Review – The Board of Equalization and Review hears appeals from residents concerning various property tax issues, including valuation and exemption appeals. The Board of Equalization and Review is charged with ensuring that all taxable property is appraised and assessed according to the standards required by the North Carolina General Statutes. This board meets up to three days per week, for approximately three to four hours per meeting, for up to three consecutive months (typically April-June). Additional meetings may occur as needed during the year. Members will be compensated for all meetings attended. Orange County residents with knowledge of real estate are specifically encouraged to apply, however, others will also be given consideration. There are currently five (5) alternate positions open. 

Commission for the Environment – This commission advises the Board of Commissioners on matters affecting the environment with particular emphasis on protection. It educates public and local officials on environmental issues and performs special studies and projects. It also recommends environmental initiatives and studies changes in environmental science and local and federal regulations. The Commission for the Environment typically meets on the second Monday of each month at 7:00 pm. There is currently one (1) open position for an applicant with expertise in water resources.

Hillsborough Planning Board – This board acquires and maintains information in order to understand past trends, prepare and amend the comprehensive plan for the development of the area, and prepare and recommend ordinances promoting orderly development. The Hillsborough Planning Board typically meets on the third Thursday of each month at 7:00 pm. There is currently one (1) open position for an applicant residing in the Hillsborough Extraterritorial Jurisdiction.

Human Relations Commission – The Human Relations Commission advises the Board of County Commissioners on solutions to problems in the field of human relationships. It also makes recommendations designed to promote goodwill and harmony among groups in the County irrespective of their race, color, creed, religion, ancestry, national origin, sex, affectional preference, disability, age, marital status, or status with regard to public assistance. The Human Relations Commission typically meets on the fourth Tuesday of each month at 6:00 pm. There are currently three (3) at-large vacancies and one (1) vacancy for a person residing in the Town of Carrboro.

Orange County Housing Authority Board – The goal of the Orange County Housing Authority Board is to provide decent, safe, and sanitary housing for low and moderate-income families in Orange County. Applicants with the following areas of experience and/or interest are encouraged to apply: real estate, development, affordable housing, municipal law, banking, and Housing Choice Voucher program participants. This board typically meets on the third Wednesday of each month at 6:00 pm. There is currently one (1) at-large vacancy.

Orange Unified Transportation Board – The Orange Unified Transportation Board (OUTBoard) advises the Orange County Board of County Commissioners and provides information and comments on major transportation issues. Specifically, the OUTBoard provides the Board of County Commissioners with recommendations regarding the overall planning and programming of transportation improvements in the County, including identification and prioritization of the County's roadway and transit needs along with associated costs and specific sources of funding; provision of recommendations to the Board regarding Federal and State legislation affecting transportation in Orange County; and exploration and suggestion of recommendations on innovative techniques and methods to improve the efficiency and capacity of existing and future transportation systems. The OUTBoard typically meets on the third Wednesday of each month at 6:30 pm. There are currently four (4) at-large vacancies and one (1) vacancy for a resident of Cedar Grove Township.

If interested, apply at www.orangecountync.gov/Apply.

Orange County strives for authentically diverse representation on volunteer boards and commissions. Residents of all demographic backgrounds, identities, and perspectives are encouraged to apply. Applicants must reside in Orange County. Volunteers appointed by the Board of County Commissioners have the opportunity to directly influence the County’s decisions, policies, and priorities.

For additional information contact Tara May at 919-245-2125 or tmay@orangecountync.gov.

Climate Crisis Committee Looking for Assistance

My name is Jasmine Davidson, and I'm part of the Climate Crisis Committee of the Graduate Student Government.

We are currently looking for additional members to help research and advocate for clean energy alternatives to UNC's cogeneration plant, be it on or off campus. If you know any graduate or professional students who might be interested in this project, please have them email me at jdavids@unc.edu.

In addition to this, we also need more members for our Climate Action Day task force, organizing a daylong event to raise awareness, launch green initiatives around campus, and celebrate our progress. Interested students can email Jimmy Doegerl at jdoegerl@unc.edu.

Thank you for your help with spreading the word!

Sincerely,

Jasmine

The Employee Forum invites you to bleed Carolina blue at the annual Holiday Carolina Blood Drive 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 7 at Fetzer Hall.

All presenting donors and volunteers will receive a commemorative T-shirt, and a variety of food and snacks will be provided. Free parking is also available in Cobb Deck.

Schedule your appointment today with sponsor code UNC: call 1-800-RED CROSS, visit Red Cross, or use the Blood Donor App.

Walk-ins will be accepted the day of the drive, but appointments are encouraged. Donors can also save up to 15 minutes at your donation with RedCrossBlood.org/RapidPass.

For UNC employees, time donating blood or volunteering is considered worktime with supervisor permission. For additional event details or to volunteer, visit carolinablooddrive.unc.edu.

We know that there are many great stories and reasons for donating blood. Please take a moment to share what inspires you to donate blood.

We look forward to seeing you at this community event.

This message is sponsored by: Employee Forum

Orange County Solid Waste Department seeks feedback on services, Road to Zero Waste Plan

Orange County Solid Waste has released a survey seeking input on their services from County residents and businesses. The survey asks respondents to share their opinions on and experiences with current Orange County Solid Waste services and to shape its Road to Zero Waste Plan.

The survey takes about 10 minutes to complete and will be open until Dec. 7, 2022. To take the survey, visit www.orangecountync.gov/ZeroWaste. The results of the surveys will inform the Road to Zero Waste Plan and be presented to Orange County's Solid Waste Advisory Group. The survey is available in English, Spanish, Burmese and simplified Chinese.

“The feedback we receive through this survey will help inform how we are doing and how we can continue improving," said Robert Williams, Orange County Solid Waste Director. "It is important to us to solicit the opinions of our community as we make plans to pursue programs and practical technologies that minimize the volume and toxicity of wastes and protect the environment for future generations. If the survey piques your interest in your solid waste system, please do not hesitate to reach out to us to learn more. We will gladly answer your questions and help you navigate our services."

Residents are encouraged to take the survey and connect with Orange County officials. To learn more about Orange County Solid Waste and get answers to some of its most frequently asked questions, visit www.orangecountync.gov/2434/Frequently-Asked-Questions. 

The Orange County Solid Waste Management Department operates the Orange County Integrated Solid Waste Management facility, which contains the Construction and Demolition Landfill, Regulated Material Recycling, and Mulch and Compost Sales. The Department also manages the county’s comprehensive Recycling Collection Programs for residential and commercial entities and five Waste and Recycling Centers, including two with Household Hazardous Waste and Food Waste drop-offs.

The National Consortium for Data Science, in partnership with RENCI and the Odum Institute, is hosting its springtime iteration of the Data Matters short-course series, virtually from March 13 - 16, 2023 — during UNC Spring Break. It’s a great way for someone to learn new skills and expand their knowledge on a subject as they apply for internships, jobs and promotions. 

Data Matters: Spring Ahead | Virtual | March 13 - 16, 2023

Data Matters™ is a week-long series of one and two-day courses aimed at students and professionals in business, research, and government. The short course series is sponsored by the Odum Institute for Research in Social Science at UNC-Chapel Hill, the National Consortium for Data Science, and RENCI. Our first-ever springtime series, Data Matters: Spring Ahead, will feature a selection of our most popular two-day courses. Learn more on their website. 

Among the classes available are:

• Introduction to Effective Information Visualization, Eric Monson. Visualization is a powerful way to reveal patterns in data, attract attention, and get your message across to an audience quickly and clearly. However, there are many steps in that journey from information to influence, and many questions – what visualization tools to use, how to get data into the right format, and which choices to make when putting it all together to tell your story? This course will quickly walk participants through a wide variety of data and chart types to help even beginners feel comfortable embarking on a new visualization project.
• Visualization for Data Science in R, Angela Zoss. Data science skills are increasingly important for research and industry projects. With complex data science projects, however, come complex needs for understanding and communicating analysis processes and results. Ultimately, an analyst’s data science toolbox is incomplete without visualization skills. Incorporating effective visualizations directly into the analysis tool you are using can facilitate quick data exploration, streamline your research process, and improve the reproducibility of your research. This course is designed for two audiences: experienced visualization designers looking to apply open data science techniques to their work, and data science professionals who have limited experience with visualization.

• Basics of R for Data Science and Statistics, Justin Post. This course introduces participants to discrete choice models, econometric models of how people choose between discrete outcomes, such as mode of travel to work or type of treatment for pain. The course will cover the subset of discrete choice models known as random utility models. These models are often used in disciplines such as economics, transportation, and public health. No prior knowledge is expected, and the course will cover logistic regression, multinomial logistic regression, and nested logistic regression. Hands-on exercises will be conducted in R. 

• Introduction to Python, Laura Tateosian. Python is a consistently top ranking programming language. Python syntax is easy to learn and the language is well-suited for rapid data exploration, as well as larger data science projects. This course will help you add basic Python skills to your data science tool belt, so that you can then go on to explore some of the vast number of libraries written in Python. Learning Python is important for any aspiring data scientist. This course is designed for students with some prior exposure to computer programming, but no Python experience. Participants will be introduced to core Python elements for working with data.

The deadline for registration is March 8 for Monday/Tuesday courses and March 9 for Wednesday/Thursday courses.

Please let me know if you have any questions or if you need any additional information.

Best,

Jayasree