In conjunction with its 75th anniversary, the Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation recently concluded a series of Community Dialogue sessions across North Carolina. We considered throwing a big party in Winston-Salem, but decided that would have been out of keeping with the history and values of the Foundation. Instead, we decided to visit communities across the state, with the goal of engaging thoughtful people in dialogue about how to make our state and its communities more inclusive, sustainable and vibrant.
These sessions brought together community leaders across a range of sectors – business, education, government, health, legal, and nonprofit. Many of whom we had not previously engaged with.
Staff gave presentations on public education, climate change, immigration in NC and tax reform. These presentations, along with small group discussions, provided a jumping off place to engage in lively conversation with attendees and to gain more insight into the opportunities and challenges presented in these communities.
Dialogue sessions were held in Wilmington (in conjunction with UNC Wilmington), Charlotte, Greenville (in conjunction with East Carolina University), Boone (in conjunction with Appalachian State University) and Fayetteville. We would once again like to thank Chancellor Miller, Chancellor Ballard and Chancellor Peacock and their respective universities for graciously co-hosting these events with us.
The Foundation finds tremendous value in sparking conversations such as these with leaders across the state to understand how issues of concern are playing out in their communities. We hope these quarterly updates will serve as yet another way to continue the dialogue with one another.