Carolina MPA Student Digest 9/17/21:
Carolina MPA Calendar
  • September 29, 12-1 pm EDT: UNC MPA American Rescue Plan Funding Community Conversation (Details below)
  • September 29: Deadline to apply for December, 2021 graduation
  • October 3-6: ICMA Conference in Portland, Oregon
  • October 12: University Day Events
  • October 17: Fall Portfolio due date, 11:55 pm
  • October 22: Registration opens for January/Spring 2022 terms
  • December 11-12: Fall Graduation Events
  • March 3-5, 2022: TENTATIVE date for the MPA Immersion
NOTE: Check out other dates on the MPA Intranet!
MPA News
 
Students, Alumni, and SOG Faculty are currently contributing to support local governments in their understanding and administration of American Rescue Plan Act funds. Join fellow MPA’ers for coffee and casual conversations as you share your experiences navigating receipt and allocation of these funds.
 
Kara Millonzi, School of Government Robert W. Bradshaw Jr. Distinguished Professor of Public Law and Government and subject matter expert, will also be there to provide insight on North Carolina’s interpretation of federal law and use of ARPA resources within the state - take a look at some of her recent SOG-Cotes’ Canon: NC Local Government Law blog posts.  
 
September 29, 2021
12:00-1:00 pm, via Zoom
 
Reconnect with old friends, connect with current students and faculty, while gaining guidance and some Tar Heel community support. We look forward to seeing you there.
 
Please register HERE so that we have an idea of who we will see.
 You will receive a Zoom link upon your registration!
 
If you have problems logging in email Kristin.
 
Carolina MPA together. Carolina MPA strong. 
University & Beyond Events
  • Campus & UNC area Opportunities
  • September 15- October 15: Latinx Heritage Month
  • Starting October 8: Improv Your Way to You
  • Healthy Heels: Suicide Prevention Week; Flu Vaccines have Arrived
  • Carolina Outing Club
  • Virtual Opportunities to Connect
  • Peer2Peer Support
  • September 23: UNC Law Celebrates Constitution Day
  • September 29: Shared Governance & Academic Freedom: The Foundations of Higher Education and Their Uncertain Future
  • October 14, 21, 22: Professional Communication Skills Boot Camps for Graduate Students
  • College Student Food Access & COVID-19 Research Study
  • Professional Development Opportunities
  • September 21: How to Apply for a State Job, 3-4:30 pm EDT, virtual
  • September 29: DART Info Session on Careers in Community Organizing
  • Applicants Needed for Orange County Advisory Boards and Commissions
  • Social Innovation Opportunities
Pa’lante is a Spanish slang term that combines the words, “para adelante”, meaning moving forward. This year our theme focuses on how our community learns to move forward from pandemics, from missed opportunities, and from hardships; and uses those roadblocks as lessons for a brighter future.
 
All of our events have been added to our CLC calendar for easy access!

History of Latinx Heritage Month
From September 15 to October 15 the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill celebrates Latinx Heritage Month. This event recognizes the contributions made by Latinx Americans to the United States and celebrates their heritage and cultures. Latinx people have had a profound and positive influence on our country through their strong commitment to family, hard work, service, and religious values. Latinxs have enhanced and shaped our national character with their traditions that reflect the multiethnic and multinational customs.
In 2010, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill began hosting events throughout the month to celebrate the Latinx community. The month-long celebration includes annual events, such as a kick-off celebration, a distinguished keynote speaker, and Carnaval, a student-led show showcase. Other events vary per year and may include guest lectures, dance lessons, and discussions about current political issues.
Suicide Prevention Week





September 5th - September 11th was National Suicide Prevention Week.
To help raise awareness and increase prevention support, healthy heels is sharing signs, symptoms, and resources to connect students to help. 
Below are some warning signs that may help determine if a loved one is at risk for suicide especially if the behavior is new, has increased, or seems related to a painful event, loss, or change: 
  • Talking about wanting to die or to kill themselves
  • Looking for a way to kill themselves, like searching online or buying a gun
  • Talking about feeling hopeless or having no reason to live
  • Talking about feeling trapped or in unbearable pain
  • Talking about being a burden to others
  • Increasing the use of alcohol or drugs
  • Acting anxious or agitated; behaving recklessly
  • Sleeping too little or too much
  • Withdrawing or isolating themselves
  • Showing rage or talking about seeking revenge
  • Extreme mood swings
Talking with and finding help for someone that may be suicidal can be difficult. Here are some tips that may help make the conversation become less challenging and connected your love one to support they may need.
  • Be direct. Talk openly and matter-of-factly about suicide.
  • Be willing to listen. Allow expressions of feelings. Accept the feelings.
  • Be non-judgmental. Don’t debate whether suicide is right or wrong, or whether feelings are good or bad. Don’t lecture on the value of life.
  • Get involved. Become available. Show interest and support.
  • Don’t be sworn to secrecy. Seek support.
  • Offer hope that alternatives are available.
  • Take action. Remove means, like weapons or pills.
  • Get help from people or agencies specializing in crisis intervention and suicide prevention.
If you or a loved one needs help, here are some resources: 
Connect 24/7 to a crisis counselor by texting the Crisis Text Line Text HOME to 741741.
Contact Counseling and Psychological Services at UNC:
  • Call the 24/7 phone line: 919-966-3658
  • For non-emergencies, email caps@unc.edu with general questions
*For severe or potentially life-threatening medical or mental health emergencies, call 911, go to a local hospital emergency room, or call campus police at 919-962-8100.
UNC Non-Emergency Campus Resources 
  • Contact Counseling and Psychological Services at UNC:
  • Call the 24/7 phone line: 919-966-3658
  • For non-emergencies, email caps@unc.edu with general questions
  • LGBTQ Center: lgbtq@unc.edu, (919) 843-5376
  • Student Wellness: studentwellness@unc.edu , (919) 962-9355

Strides are being made in suicide prevention: the WHO reported that the number of people who die by suicide globally each year has decreased by nearly 13%. 
And, more people are asking for help: last spring, the National Mental Health Crisis Hotline experienced call volumes 891% higher than the prior year.
Continue to raise awareness by sharing National and campus resources this week. For a full list of resources, signs and symptoms visit the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline and follow us @unchealthyheels. 
Flu Vaccines Have Arrived

Get your flu vaccination today. The sooner you get one, the longer you are protected. 
Influenza can be a serious, contagious respiratory disease. The best way to prevent seasonal flu is to be vaccinated every year. This year, getting your flu vaccination is even more important. It is likely that flu viruses and the virus that causes COVID-19 will both spread simultaneously this fall and winter. Being vaccinated against influenza will help reduce the overall burden of respiratory diseases and help conserve health care resources.
Starting today, UNC Chapel Hill community members can receive a flu vaccination with Campus Health thru: 

  • Student Stores Pharmacy - will offer no-appointment flu shots for students, faculty and staff Mon.-Fri. 9am to 5pm and Sat. 11am to 3pm. Located on the 3rd floor of UNC Student Stores. 
  • Campus Health Pharmacy  - will offer no-appointment flu shots for students, faculty and staff Mon.-Fri. 1pm to 5pm. This clinic will be outside at the Loading Dock area of Campus Health (between the Football Stadium and UNC Hospitals).
  • 
Most insurance plans offer flu vaccinations with no co-pay. Bring your health plan card and your UNC One Card ID to the clinic. 
More information regarding UNC-Chapel Hill flu clinics and flu prevention is available at flu.unc.edu.
This year, the University is once again partnering with Alana’s Foundation to track our campus participation in a national university competition. Anyone vaccinated at an on-campus pharmacy or flu clinic will have their vaccine counted for UNC. 
The Outing Club at UNC-CH offers students with a variety of outdoor activities and classes. UNC students lead most of the activities, which include backpacking, outdoor cooking, geocaching, and others. Trips vary in length. Come join us!
Be sure to follow our Instagram for more details as well!
What is Peer2Peer?
Peer2Peer is a student-led group that advocates for the mental well-being of the members within our community through peer support. We offer free one-to-one sessions to talk with a peer responder with the option of remaining anonymous. Our organization is open to any graduate and undergraduate students at UNC.

What is Peer Support? 
Peer support is a linkage between people that can provide support, encouragement, and feelings of normalcy. Peers can share knowledge and support that can only be gained through lived experience.
​What are the benefits? 
  • Improves self-efficacy 
  • Builds confidence 
  • Reduces the use of emergency services 
  • Provide feelings of social relatedness and normalizes experiences
  • Conveys knowledge and information about resources 
  • Positive effects on hope, empowerment, and quality of life   

Peers are available for Zoom, phone & text support. Click here to connect with someone.
The law school is proud to invite our community to recognize Constitution Day at a webinar on Thursday, September 23 at 5:30pm on Zoom.

Law and political science faculty panelists include:
  • Andy Hessick, Judge John J. Parker Distinguished Professor of Law, UNC School of Law
  • Eisha Jain, Assistant Professor, UNC School of Law
  • Bill Marshall, William Rand Kenan Jr. Distinguished Professor of Law, UNC School of Law
  • Kevin McGuire, Professor of Political Science, UNC-Chapel Hill
  • Isaac Unah, Associate Professor of Political Science, UNC-Chapel Hill
  • moderated by: Mary-Rose Papandrea, Samuel Ashe Distinguished Professor of Constitutional Law, UNC School of Law

Panelists will focus on the impact recent retirements from and appointments to the U.S. Supreme Court have made on the court’s decisions, and discuss the court’s landmark decisions in the 2020 term and significant cases coming up in the 2021 term.

Each year, UNC School of Law organizes the campus-wide Constitution Day celebration to commemorate September 17, the day on which the Constitution of the United States was signed. Constitution Day allows schools and colleges across the country to reflect on United States history, the deeper meanings within the Constitution and hopes it represents for the future. UNC will celebrate the federal observance this year on September 23.
Wednesday, September 29th
3:30 pm

While the history of higher education is one of constant tensions among state, private and faculty power, recent attacks on the work of researchers and educators are more subject to disinformation and political polarization than in decades past. The sometimes indistinct boundaries of academic freedom make the discussion about what it is or should be more challenging; the public itself is largely disconnected from that discussion and how such principles and practices serve or should serve them.

This two-part seminar, sponsored by the Royster Society of Fellows and The Graduate School, is designed to educate students, faculty and the public about the principles, practices, and history of academic freedom and shared governance in the U.S. It will also consider new and emerging critiques that challenge principles that have traditionally been viewed as inviolate.

The first session will focus on the history that brought us to the present moment and will help contextualize the debate. Panelists include:


Professional Communication Skills Boot Camp for Graduate Students (Oct 14, 21, 22)
The Communications Boot Camp is a three-part series intended to increase students’ confidence communicating to broader audiences and practice developing persuasive skills that will create effective messaging and relay the importance of one’s research. 
 
Full details are listed on the Registration page. This event will be held in person and online.
Has the coronavirus pandemic impacted your ability to access food? If so, you are invited to participate in a research study.
You are invited to take part in a research study about your access to food and how it has been impacted by the coronavirus pandemic. This study is being conducted by Dr. Jessica Soldavini, Dr. Maureen Berner, and Dr. Hazael Andrew, and about college student food access and the COVID-19 pandemic.
If you are 18 years or older, an enrolled student at UNC-CH, and COVID-19 has impacted your food access, you are eligible to participate. Please use the Qualtrics link to schedule an interview time: https://bit.ly/3qcLmHg. Before the interview, we will ask you to fill out a short survey with some background information that should take about 5 minutes. Then we will ask you some questions over Zoom about how COVID-19 has impacted your ability to access food. This interview should take about thirty to sixty minutes, depending on how much information you would like to share. You will be entered to win a $25 gift card.
This research study has been reviewed by the UNC Wilmington's Institutional Review Board #21-0014.
For Information, please contact: Jessica Soldavini, PhD, MPH, RD, LDN; Jessica6@live.unc.edu 
This course will provide an introduction to the stylistic features of academic writing at the graduate level. It will focus on the important linguistic features and on common strategies for organizing information. Emphasis will be placed on students developing familiarity with the writing style of their own academic disciplines. Course text: Academic Writing for Graduate Students. Degree-seeking UNC graduate students and postdoctoral scholars have priority registration. Others will be placed on a waiting list until space is available.
 
Section 1 (Zoom): Tuesdays and Thursdays, 10:00 AM-12:00 PM, September 7-23. Register
Section 2 (asynchronous): September 7-October 15. Register
Location: All classes will be held remotely. Registered participants will receive a Zoom link. UNC-CH authentication is required.
Check the MPA Calendar later for the registration link!

DART will hold an online info session on Wednesday, September 29 at 7pm EST to discuss careers in community organizing. All UNC students and alumni welcome, particularly those graduating before August 2022.
 
 
DART trains professional organizers and community organizations how to work for social, economic and racial justice, including:
* Holding police departments accountable
* Shutting down the school-to-prison pipeline
* Reining in predatory lenders
* Expanding access to primary health and dental care
* Prioritizing funding for affordable housing and job training
* Fighting for immigrants' rights
 
Associate Community Organizer starting salary $40,500/year + benefits.
 
Positions begin on January 10, May 9, and August 8, 2022 in:
Florida: Fort Lauderdale, Fort Myers, Jacksonville, Manatee County, Miami, Sarasota, St. Petersburg, Tampa
Kansas: Lawrence, Wyandotte County, Johnson County
Kentucky: Lexington
South Carolina: Charleston, Columbia
Virginia: Charlottesville, Richmond
 
Lead Community Organizer / Executive Director positions begin Fall 2021 in:
Florida: Brevard County, Sarasota
Kansas: Wyandotte County
 
DART organizations are diverse coalitions that include communities of color, low-to-moderate-income communities and immigrant communities. We strongly encourage people from these backgrounds, as well as fluent Spanish speakers and DACA recipients, to apply.
To apply or learn more about DART, visit www.thedartcenter.org or find us on instagram and facebook @theDARTcenter. Still have questions? Contact justin@thedartcenter.org or 614.517.9586
Applicants Needed For Orange County
Advisory Boards And Commissions

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
 
Contact: Tara May, Deputy Clerk to the Board (919) 245-2125
ORANGE COUNTY, NC (September 15, 2021) – One way residents can have a positive impact on the future of Orange County is to volunteer to serve on an advisory board or commission.
 
The Orange County Board of Commissioners is currently recruiting applicants for the following advisory boards and commissions:
Affordable Housing Advisory Board – This 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. The Affordable Housing Advisory Board meets the second Tuesday of each month at 6:00 pm. There are currently two (2) At-Large vacancies.
Agricultural Preservation Board – This board promotes the economic and cultural importance of agriculture in the county, and encourages voluntary preservation and protection of farmland for future production. The Agricultural Preservation Board typically meets the third Wednesday every other month at 7:30 pm. There is currently one (1) position open for a representative of the Cedar Grove Voluntary Agricultural District.
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 best-in-class 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 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 Chapel Hill, and one (1) position open for an individual that resides within the Town Limits of Carrboro.
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 paid 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. 
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 the third Wednesday of each month at 6:30 pm. There is currently one (1) vacancy for a resident of Little River Township, 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 advisory 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.
New Book:
The Systems Work of Social Change: How to Harness Connection, Context, and Power to Cultivate Deep and Enduring Change, by Bonnici and Rayner -- and thanks to the Schwab Foundation, you can get a kindle version for $1.99, cheaper than a cup of coffee.
 
 Join the World’s Leading Changemakers at the Ashoka Changemaker Summit 2021
Ashoka invites you to a 3-month journey to explore nine of the world's most pressing challenges and social innovation trends. From September 30 to November 25, attend weekly Thursday online sessions with social entrepreneurs, business leaders and young changemakers. Learn more on the Summit website and register now! Note: The Summit's online content is free and available to anyone who would like to watch. If you would like to make a voluntary contribution in order to support our work, you can pay as you wish. 
  
Revisit and Explore Past Exchange Sessions
A reminder that you can access content from past Ashoka U Exchanges for free? The Exchange took place annually from 2011 – 2021 and grew into a global community of thousands of thought leaders, visionaries, innovators, and friends devoted to social innovation and changemaking in higher education. You can sort by year, topic, and speaker.
 
 Submit a Project to the SIMA Awards
The annual SIMA Awards will accept entries Sept. 7 – Oct. 7. These awards celebrate outstanding achievements in social impact storytelling, honoring the most cutting-edge filmmaking from over 140 countries that inspires activism, compassion, and social transformation. More entry info here.
 
Free Acumen Courses in September/October – Sign up now:
 
Job and Internship Opportunities:
Carolina MPA | UNC School of Government | carolinampa.sog.unc.edu | Website | Intranet