Orange County BIPOC Elected Officials Present “Let America Be America Again” for Black History Month

For Black History Month 2022, the BIPOC elected officials of Orange County, N.C., have released their video presentation of the Langston Hughes poem “Let America Be America Again.”

Watch the video on YouTube at https://youtu.be/iFscQ_oyMtA and consider its meaning and message this Black History Month. The poem highlights the discrepancy between the ideals of the American Dream and the realities of American life. Has the United States fulfilled its promised vision of freedom and equality for all people? Read the poem at https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/147907/let-america-be-america-again

“I chose this 1936 poem by Langston Hughes because of its correlation to Dr. Martin Luther King’s ‘I Have a Dream’ speech,” said NC Senator Valerie P. Foushee. “Although the references and images are different, the messages are inextricably linked; that the ‘ordered liberty’ experiment that George Washington spoke of remains a dream deferred for many. America is not perfect. It is not what it can be, but it is still a great nation. It is still the land of hope. We must ensure that it remains the land of opportunity.”

The elected officials representing the Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC) coalition who are featured in the video presentation are as follows:

N.C. State Senate: Valerie P. Foushee
District Court for 15B Judicial District: Joal Hall Brown
Carrboro Town Council: Barbara Middleton-Foushee
Chapel Hill Town Council: Camille Berry, Allen Buansi (former member), Tai Huynh and Paris Miller-Foushee
Hillsborough Board of Commissioners: Robb English and Matt Hughes
Orange County Board of County Commissioners: Jean Hamilton, Renée Ann Price and Anna Richards
Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools Board of Education: Rani Dasi, Riza Jenkins and Deon Temne
Orange County Schools Board of Education: Brenda Stephens

The Orange County Human Relations Commission Presents: “An Evening of Deep Reverence, Celebrating the Life of Dr. Pauli Murray” at 5 p.m. on Feb. 20 at The Drive-in at Carraway Village. The ceremony will include a community screening of “My Name is Pauli Murray,” an award-winning documentary that looks at the life and ideas of Murray, a non-binary Black lawyer, activist and poet who influenced Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Thurgood Marshall. Parking is limited. Please R.S.V.P by clicking the graphic to reserve your spot today. The event is free.

OCAS to host low-cost rabies vaccination clinic Feb. 26

Orange County Animal Services (OCAS) will host a low-cost rabies vaccination clinic on Saturday, Feb. 26. This is a drive-through clinic that will be held in Chapel Hill.

These low-cost clinics help to ensure that cats and dogs are current on their vaccinations while providing pet owners with substantial savings on this service. The clinic will offer one-year and three-year vaccinations for $10. Pet owners will need to have a previous rabies certificate in hand to receive the three-year vaccine. A tag alone is not sufficient. The date, time, and location of the clinic are as follows:

Saturday, Feb. 26, from 9 a.m. – Noon
Park & Ride lot on Eubanks Road in Chapel Hill, NC (see map here)
This is a drive-through clinic and OCAS is asking that everyone stay in their car and wear a mask when interacting with staff or volunteers.

Microchips will also be offered at this clinic for $35 each. Owners can choose to have a pet receive only a microchip, only a rabies vaccine, or both. If you are bringing a cat to this clinic, please make sure the cat is in a secure carrier.

OCAS would like to thank everyone in advance for their patience as many participants are expected. Cash payments are encouraged to help the line of cars move more quickly.
For more details, please visit www.orangecountync.gov/308/Low-Cost-Clinics or call 919-942-PETS (7387).

Librarians at the Orange County Public Library spend hours gathering the best anime, fiction, graphic novels, and non-fiction for all ages. We are committed to bringing books and other materials to the community that celebrate all types of voices and experiences.

State, County offer financial assistance for housing payments

The NC Homeowner Assistance Fund is now accepting applications from North Carolina homeowners whose finances were impacted by the pandemic and who need assistance with housing-related expenses.

The fund was established through the 2021 American Rescue Plan to prevent mortgage delinquencies, defaults, displacements and foreclosures for homeowners experiencing financial difficulties due to the coronavirus pandemic. It offers assistance of up to $40,000 for qualified homeowners as long as funding is available.

For qualified homeowners, the fund offers:

Housing payment assistance for primary residence in North Carolina (for example, single-family home, townhome, condo or mobile home).
Assistance for mortgage reinstatement to catch up on late payments (first or second mortgages) or other housing-related costs due to a period of forbearance, delinquency or default.
Assistance covering other housing-related costs such as homeowner’s insurance, flood insurance, mortgage insurance, homeowner’s association dues/fees or delinquent property taxes to prevent foreclosure.

Homeowners can learn more and apply for help by calling 1-855-MY-NCHAF (1-855-696-2423) or by visiting NCHomeownerAssistance.gov.

Help is also available for renters. Orange County Housing Department manages the Emergency Housing Assistance (EHA) Program, which has provided over $8.5 million in housing assistance to more than 2,000 Orange County residents since March 2020. This program is funded by Orange County and the Towns of Chapel Hill, Carrboro, and Hillsborough, along with state and federal funding.

Rent, mortgage and utility payments, security deposits, application fees and other emergency housing-related expenses are eligible for reimbursement. Visit the Orange County website for more details on this program.

Feedback Needed—Take the Orange County Transit Plan Survey Today

Help shape the future of transportation in Orange County by completing the Orange County Transit Plan Survey online in English or Spanish, now through March 4.

For a paper survey, email Caroline Dwyer or call (919) 636-5032 x 401 no later than Tuesday, March 1. More information on the Orange County Transit Plan Update can be found on the project website: www.octransit2020.com.

For questions, contact Orange County Department on Aging’s Transportation Specialist, by email Brandi Beeker or call 919-717-1853.

Orange County Caregiver Support Groups

Support groups are resuming in-person meetings! These support groups are a space to meet with other caregivers to share experiences, learn new skills, and get answers to questions about dementia and other long-term disabilities. We have also added a new Zoom only group.

Zoom Only Support Group
Contact Kim Lamon-Loperfido (919-245-4253) to join.

Tuesday, March 1 at 10:30 a.m. at Seymour
Tuesday, March 15 at 10:30 a.m. at Seymour

Chapel Hill Support Group
Contact Kendall Kopchick (919-245-4278) to join.

Friday, March 11 at 10:30 a.m. at Seymour
Friday, March 25 at 10:30 a.m. at Seymour

Hillsborough Support Group
Contact Kendall Kopchick (919-245-4278) to join.

Thursday, March 10 at 1 p.m. at Passmore
Thursday, March 24 at 1 p.m. at Passmore

Orange County Recreation is hiring for Summer Camp counselors. A variety of positions are open.

Registration open for Spring Athletic Leagues

Orange County Recreation Department is now registering for our Spring Youth Athletic leagues.

Youth Soccer (ages 5-15)
Registration: http://www.orangecountync.gov/576/Youth-Soccer-League---Spring

Deadline: March 4

Girls Volleyball (ages 9-15)
Registration: http://www.orangecountync.gov/582/Youth-Girls-Volleyball-League---Spring

Deadline: Feb. 28

Teen Basketball (ages 13-15)
Registration: http://www.orangecountync.gov/2893/Youth-Basketball-League---Spring-Teen

Deadline: Feb. 28

Teen Basketball is a new program that was not listed in the Program Guide and is being offered in response to requests from the public.

Burlington-Graham MPO seeks ideas to reduce crash rates

The Burlington-Graham Metropolitan Planning Organization seeks your ideas to reduce crash rates in our region during an informational virtual meeting on Wednesday, Feb. 23, at 6 p.m.

Email questions to: Wannetta Mallette, MPO Administrator or Eric Tang, Project Manager.

If you can't attend the meeting, a project survey will be available soon.

Click here for more information.
Click here to register for the meeting.

www.orangecountync.gov