Law enforcement in North Carolina faces rising challenges, from mental health response to opioid deaths, but agencies are innovating with alternative responder programs and data-driven solutions to build safer, more equitable communities.
Disaster recovery extends far beyond rebuilding physical structures. It’s a complex process that prioritizes people, strengthens community bonds, and addresses the intricacies of rebuilding lives.
What can decision-makers in the state do to better prepare their communities to manage forces of disruption in a way that mitigates negative impacts and maximizes opportunities? To help communities each develop a customized pathway forward, the UNC School of Government has developed a new program called Growing Practical Solutions for North Carolina (GPS NC). Funded by the Civic Credit Union and coordinated by the ncIMPACT Initiative, this program is designed to foster a culture of innovation that increases the capacity of local communities to respond to disruptive change.
Western North Carolina, our hearts are with you as efforts build to bring you much-needed relief from the devastating impacts of Hurricane Helene.
I started my position as Lead Data and Policy Analyst on July 1, 2024. Since then, every day I have learned something new about my home state of North Carolina and the impact of our work at ncIMPACT. Here are my top ten takeaways from my first month on the job.
At this time, the ncIMPACT television series has not yet featured stories from this specific county. We’re always exploring new communities to highlight and welcome suggestions for future episodes.
Our relationship with water varies with our circumstances. Communities often want more clean drinking water to catalyze economic development and serve new residents and businesses. At the same time, they want less polluted runoff and flooding from the growing number of rooftops and extreme weather events. As a warming climate generates more violent storms, flooding is damaging more lives and property. In many communities, the 100-year storm is becoming a regular occurrence.
About 10.9% of North Carolina’s population, including 17% of children, experienced food insecurity in 2021 (Feeding America 2022). All North Carolina counties are affected by food insecurity, with rates generally higher in rural than urban or suburban areas.
While North Carolina’s renewable energy leaders tend to be larger cities and communities in the Research Triangle region, there are many examples of rural areas and smaller cities benefiting from solar and other forms of clean energy investment.
Washouts of NC 12 on the Outer Banks. Wildfires in Western North Carolina. Rising urban heat in the Piedmont. Sound familiar? North Carolina has seen all these events in recent years. What do they have in common? They are all intensified by a changing climate.
