Lead for North Carolina at the UNC School of Government

Lead for North Carolina at the UNC School of Government is a paid, full-time fellowship program in local government for recent college graduates. We are looking for community change agents to work on transformative community projects. Projects include hurricane recovery and resiliency, economic development, citizen engagement initiatives, affordable housing, public health, and more! Complete the LFNC Fellow Application here: leadfornc.com/apply

The Lead for NC Program is an amazing way to see NC Local Government from the inside. So glad that Talula was able to join us for the year. Her initiative and drive will take her anywhere she wants to go! See you soon!

Update!! Last week I finished serving with the Town of Chadbourn as a Lead for North Carolina Fellow. In the past 11 months, I have learned so much about local government and how to find solutions to challenges facing a small, rural town in Eastern NC. This incredible experience has affirmed my desire to pursue a career in public service, specifically in community development. I wanted to thank Lead for North Carolina at the UNC School of Government, especially Liam Hysjulien and G. Dylan Russell, for selecting me to participate in this amazing and truly unique program. Your dedication to provide support to each and every fellow in the cohort is admirable. You both are amazing and helped me have the confidence to make an impact in my local community. I also wanted to thank my entire cohort for being a much needed support system this past year. I was so inspired by all of the impactful important work each of you accomplished in your communities. I look forward to seeing all of y’all’s future accomplishments. To my friends and colleagues at the Town of Chadbourn, thank you for welcoming me with open-arms and providing me with many opportunities to work on projects with each town department. Special thanks to Patricia Garrell, RaMonda Crosby, MBA, MEd, and Jason Robenson for all your support and guidance. So what’s next for me? I have joined the Peace Corps and leave this September to begin my 2 years of Peace Corps service in North Macedonia in the Balkans. I will serve under the Community and Economic Development Sector of the Peace Corps as a Community Development Associate. In my role, I will be working with municipalities, NGOs and community groups on community and economic development projects with special attention paid to youth development and promoting opportunities for women. I have wanted to join the Peace Corps since I was a Freshman in high school so I am feeling very grateful and excited for this upcoming journey. Thank you to everyone who has supported me along the way and I’ll be back with more updates on my Peace Corps journey soon!

Yesterday marked my last day as a Lead for North Carolina at the UNC School of Government Fellow with the Town of Angier. The past 11 months have been instrumental to my growth personally and professionally and I am grateful for the lessons I have learned and the experience I’ve gathered. I am eternally grateful to the staff with Lead for North Carolina, especially Liam Hysjulien and G. Dylan Russell, for selecting me for this incredible experience and setting me on the path of admiration and respect for local government. (You could say that I am “drinking the Kool-Aid.”) As for the folks at the Town of Angier, NC, I am grateful for the amount of respect and trust I was shown when leading the way on vital finance and infrastructure projects and for the care that was put into giving me a well-rounded education within each town department. The end of my fellowship is truly a bittersweet moment. While I am sad to leave Angier, my second home and second family, I am happy to announce that I will be joining the University of North Carolina School of Law Class of 2027. My time in Angier has opened my eyes to the field of Public Interest/Government Law and the profound impact that providing legal assistance to rural municipalities can have on their success and I hope to continue my exploration of this field in my time as a law student. GDTBATH!

Wednesday, July 3, 2024 we had to say good-bye to part of the Bladen County Finance Office family. Payton Blaney came to us 11 months ago thru the Lead for NC program associated with the School of Government and AmeriCorps. She is a smart, bright, and eager to learn young lady. She plans to further her education by attending Georgetown University in the fall and we wish her only best life has to offer. The picture below is one of the most memorable events she experienced during her stay in Bladen County.

It’s been an honor and amazing learning experience working on this project for the City Of Kinston. My part in the project began in the fall of last year and I am super happy to see it come to fruition! The Downtown Kinston Social District (DKSD) had its ribbon cutting this morning, officially opening the district for Kinstonians & folks drawn to our Downtown. From the research, to listening forums, council presentations, and all the meetings in between, I’m glad to have been able to a part of a major project for our city. If you happen to be in the Kinston, North Carolina area look for our DKSD signs (positioned along the boundaries of the district) and enjoy a drink from one of our participating businesses while taking in all that Downtown Kinston has to offer. Drink responsibly, of course. 😊

After graduating from UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health with my BSPH in Health Policy and Management in May, I’m so excited to share that I'll be joining the Lead for North Carolina at the UNC School of Government 2024-2025 cohort of young leaders working to strengthen our public institutions and help transform our local communities across North Carolina. Thank you so much to Melanie Studer, Karl Umble, and Erica Thomas, PhD, CHES, CIC, CWPC for your incredible mentorship that pushed me to develop my interests in local governance and public health. Can't wait to begin working with Warren County!

As I wrap up my time in Columbus County, I'm reflecting on an incredible experience. I've gained valuable skills in financial reporting and developed a profound appreciation for public service and local government workers. I've had the privilege of contributing to several impactful projects, including water equity and expansion, mobile home park tenants' rights, local government financial compliance, flood plain mapping, and so many more. A huge thank you to Lead for North Carolina at the UNC School of Government especially G. Dylan Russell and Liam Hysjulien for selecting me to participate in this program. Your support has been invaluable, you both are awesome. And thank you to my entire cohort, who have all become excellent friends of mine, I’m excited to see you all thrive in the future! Special thanks to Lacie Jacobs who has been an exceptional supervisor, mentor, and friend. Your work ethic and welcoming nature are inspirational, you truly are a role model to me. #seahawks #forever As I embark on my next chapter to pursue a JD at University of San Diego School of Law ,I will carry these lessons with me. Thank you to everyone I've met along the way who has supported and guided me—I appreciate you all! Godspeed Columbus County, I will remember these places and faces forever ♥️

Today marks my last day serving with the Town of Cary as a Lead for North Carolina Fellow. In the last year here, I have learned so much about local government and what it takes to serve the community I’ve been a part of. All of this has helped me grow in my personal and professional life. Now more than ever, I remain committed to public service. I want to first thank Lead for North Carolina at the UNC School of Government and all the staff for choosing me to participate in this incredible program. Thank you to Liam Hysjulien and G. Dylan Russell for all of your support and trainings that you gave throughout the year. You all were very willing to provide assistance or be a listening ear when I needed it. Next, I want to thank all the amazing people in the Town Manager’s Office in Cary. Special thanks to Stacey Teachey, Kerry Harville, Mary McKay, and Heather Hennessey Whelehan for supporting me and always serving as a resource. You all are the embodiment of Cary’s People First value. Finally, thank you to all the people that I’ve met over the year in Cary, through Lead for North Carolina, and through LeaderCorps. You guys made this experience worthwhile. So what’s next for me? I will be pursuing my Masters in Public Administration at George Washington University. I am very excited to join The George Washington University Trachtenberg School of Public Policy and Public Administration family, and I look forward to being on campus in August!

Today marks my last day serving Person County, NC Government as a fellow with Lead for North Carolina at the UNC School of Government. In my two years here, I have learned an immeasurable amount about local government, public service, and rural life, which has helped me grow tremendously as a professional and as a person. I owe this growth to the incredible people who supported me during my fellowship. First, thank you to all the amazing staff and faculty at UNC School of Government, especially G. Dylan Russell and Liam Hysjulien, for facilitating this program with exceptional ability and thoughtfulness. Next, thank you to all my colleagues and department heads I had the pleasure of working with and reporting to, especially Katherine Cathey and Brian D. Hart, MLIS, MPA, our County Manager and Assistant County Manager respectively. They are all model public servants and helped show me what effective, intelligent, and selfless leadership looks like. Finally, thank you to my friends and family who have supported me so much throughout my fellowship - I truly wouldn't be where I am today without you. While I'm sad to be leaving Person County, I'm also looking forward to what lies ahead. I'm excited to announce that I'll be beginning law school at Georgetown University Law Center in the fall! Thank you so much to everyone who supported me throughout the application process, especially Amanda Brumfield and Honors Carolina, my professors who wrote me letters of recommendation, and my friends and family. I'm looking forward to being on campus in the fall and becoming a #HoyaLawya!