the conservation leaders program, a partnership between the national park conservation association and participating universities, aims to increase student engagement with national parks and introduce them to a career in the national park service.

the program was born out of the need to connect young people with nearby national parks, and encourage them to further engage with public service. i had the privilege of working with fellow students on the blue ridge parkway, a scenic roadway spanning north carolina and virginia, where we spent sessions learning about park management, citizen engagement and outreach, and some of the challenges those in the nps are encountering. 

the night after the murder, a vigil was held at the site. scenobia taylor, an african-american elder, received a vision from god which inspired her to donate 5 acres of her land so that the community may heal. she gave it to the cedar grove united methodist church, of which a majority of its congregants are white — a move that angered some but laid the groundwork for a place of reconciliation.

at the same time, pastor grace hackney of cgumc was attempting to address food insecurity in the community. when mrs. taylor approached her with the offer of land, she recognized that this was an opportunity to create a place that could provide both food and friendship. 

another county-wide effort to promote healthier citizens and environment is the orange county food council, which seeks to raise awareness of food insecurity in one of the wealthiest counties in the state, and provide direction in navigating those community resources that provide relief. formed in 2016 as a response to community requests, the council operates on many several fronts, including promoting economic partnerships among local farmers and businesses and connecting food-insecure populations with assistance. 

mayor tom stevens of hillsborough, the seat of orange county, believes that such initiatives do not exist in a vacuum, but actively inform each other and contribute to a holistic vision of health and wellbeing for citizens and the environment that we share.