Facts That Matter Blog
Facts That Matter Blog
Equity Challenges With Community-Campus Partnerships
Partnerships between academic and community researchers can have significant challenges. On March 2, 2023, as part of UNC Community Engagement Week, ncIMPACT Initiative and the Carolina Across 100 Initiative hosted a session, “Um, Who is the Expert Here? Valuing Lived Experiences as True Expertise,” to explore the issues.
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Volunteering Builds Social Capital for Older Adults
Through successful volunteering placements, older adults can develop new social skills and connections, thereby strengthening their individual social capital.
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Targeted Universalism Uses Social Capital to Increase Equity in COVID-19 Recovery
By practicing targeted universalism, policymakers can aim specific strategies, such as social capital-based programming, at problems that plague marginalized groups to advance equity in COVID-19 economic recovery efforts.
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Made in ENC, Collaborations on Talent and Economic Development
One of the significant issues plaguing rural communities in the U.S. is the ongoing brain drain of young people and skilled professionals from rural areas to urban areas, resulting in a loss of talent and economic potential. East Carolina University (ECU) has stepped up with several strategies to retain talented young adults who are excited to stay and contribute to rural communities in eastern North Carolina. RISE29 is one of ECU’s most innovative programs, where undergraduate students develop entrepreneurial skills within a supportive setting. ECU then uses its strong connections with regional industries to bolster the strength of businesses in the area by offering free student support.
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ECSU Promotes Innovative Success in Students and Region
Northeastern North Carolina faces clear economic challenges, including a notable lag in employment growth. Some unique assets are responding to the challenges in promising ways. The region’s Elizabeth City State University (ECSU) has several programs helping to prepare students for jobs that exist and create ones that do not. The university is ranked as the number one historically black college and university for economic mobility, partly because it is intentional about investing in its students in ways that promote the region.
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Innovating Mental Health Supports
Since the COVID pandemic began, the nation has experienced rapid growth in the number of adults experiencing anxiety or depression. In early 2021, CDC surveys revealed that these symptoms had increased by about 27 percent since 2019. In the wake of this rise, more people are talking about the importance of mental health. This growing acceptance and greater transparency have helped pave the way for more innovative solutions from both the public and private sectors.
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The Ongoing Workforce Shortage
Workforce shortages have been on the rise across the United States over the past year, as the COVID-19 pandemic shifted labor markets. Local solutions are emerging as communities collaborate on efforts to connect more people with jobs.
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Resilient Agriculture
The agriculture industry is at risk as farmers experience issues related to increased rates of rainfall and droughts, and increased frequency of extreme weather events, such as hurricanes, which cause flooding and other hazards. All of these weather-related issues threaten to decrease crop yields, thus increasing economic losses and hardships for farmers. Many farmers find benefits of incorporating resilient agriculture techniques to mitigate these risks.
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Working for a Living Wage
Nearly half of Americans, do not earn a living wage, which can be defined as the income necessary for a person or family to not only meet their basic needs, such as food and shelter, but also provide stability and financial independence needed for a good quality of life. Several restaurants and organizations in North Carolina are collaborating to pursue solutions in their industries.
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Veterans Closing the Skills Gap
As the state continues to emerge from the COVID-19 pandemic, communities face labor shortages as skill gaps and hiring challenges hinder the economic recovery. Fortunately, veterans returning to civilian life are searching for careers where they can use the skills they gained while in service, thus providing a potential solution to the shortage.
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