Early childhood education is an investment that pays dividends for decades. In this episode we’re talking to Lisa Hayworth and Micki Bare from the Randolph County Partnership for Children, and Pat Cronin from the NC State Institute for Emerging Issues, about how critical intervention early in a child’s life can make a huge difference, and examining how important the right partners and innovative thinking are in improving education systems.

Relevant Links

• Lisa Hayworth Profile - RandolphKids.org
• Micki Bare Profile - RandolphKids.org
• Pat Cronin Profile - NCSU IEI
• Randolph Partnership for Children - More Info
• NC State Institute for Emerging Issues - More Info

Big challenges require creative solutions, so we’re talking about how one county’s smart approach to the challenge of workforce development has paid off by attracting business, generating job placements, and creating proud legacies.

Hugh Sandoe, who works as the Analytics and Optimization Coordinator with Cleveland County, manages the Accelerate Cleveland program, and he joins us to talk about this award-winning solution to connect underemployed citizens to industries in search of skilled labor.

Relevant Links

• Cleveland County Government - clevelandcounty.com
• Bridges BBQ - bridgesbbq.com
• LGFCU Excellence in Innovation Awards - ncacc.org/lgfcuawards
• NCACC County Management Fellowship Program - ncacc.org/304/County-Management-Fellowship-Program
• Accelerate Cleveland - clevelandcounty.com
• “I Love Lucy” Chocolate Factory Scene - youtube.com/watch?v=BXeg22BL8d8

In this episode, we look for ways to address the fact that 50% of occupations available today will be gone by 2050, and ask what counties can do to help prepare the workforce of tomorrow for an evolving job market.

Bringing an abundance of initiative and an arsenal of ideas to this topic are NCACC President Kevin Austin, who serves as Chairman of the Yadkin County Board of Commissioners, and NCACC Manager of Strategic Initiatives Laurel Edwards, who join us as guests.

Relevant Links

• Kevin Austin - Profile Page
• Laurel Edwards - Profile Page
• “Occupational Change in North Carolina and the Future of Work” by Michael L. Walden
• MyFutureNC - Home Page
• President Austin’s NC Music Picks - Arrogance, The Fabulous Knobs, Let’s Active, Corrosion of Conformity
• NCACC Map Book - Link
• Yadkin County “Dream It, Do It” Program - Yadkin Ripple Article
• CountyCast Episode 13: Laboratories of Democracy | County Advocacy From the Ground Up

With the 2020 census approaching, we filled our studio with a census expert, a couple of data enthusiasts, and a county administrator to talk about why the census matters and how this population information can be used to make our counties even better places to live.

Joining us from the State Budget and Management office are Bob Coats, Census Liaison and State Data Center Coordinator, and Mike Cline, State Demographer. Also joining the show is Dominique Walker, Assistant to the County Manager in Bertie County, and Paige Worsham, Associate General Counsel with the NCACC.

Relevant Links

• NC Office of Budget and Management - Staff Directory
• Bertie County Government - Website
• Paige Worsham - Biography Page
• “Counting Our Counties” -  CQ Spring 2019 Article
• Make NC Count - Information Page
• United States Census 2020 - Information Page
• Bertie County - Complete Count Committee
• Banana Split at Barbecue Center (Lexington, NC) - YouTube

On a special live recording of the show, Pulitzer Prize-winning historian Doris Kearns Goodwin drops by to impart perspectives on leadership from some of America’s most influential presidents and shares how experience in local government shaped each of their stories. Joining the conversation is Lillian McNeal, a 4-H youth representative from Guilford County, as well as NCACC Deputy Director and General Counsel Amy Bason, to talk about developing the skills good leaders need and the importance of mentoring the next generation of leaders.

Relevant Links

• Doris Kearns Goodwin - Author’s Page
• Amy Bason - Biography Page
• Guilford County 4-H - Facebook Page

As a long-standing yearly tradition, the NCACC convenes county officials from across North Carolina to meet in August to provide educational sessions, facilitate networking opportunities, and to conduct Association business. In a word, it’s a chance for commissioners and staff to connect. Joining us to talk about conference highlights and the theme of connection are Commissioner Jeff Phillips of Guilford County and NCACC Director of Education and Conferences Jason King. Listen in as they share why this conference has implications beyond the three-day meeting and what our host county of Guilford has been doing to exemplify connection and collaboration.

Relevant Links

• Guilford County Board of Commissioners - Information Page
• Jason King - Biography Page
• “The Family Justice Center: Restoring Hope with Care for Survivors, and Support for Caregivers” - CountyQuarterly Article
• GC STOP - Information Page
• “Leadership: In Turbulent Times” by Doris Kearns Goodwin - Book Link
• NCACC 112th Annual Conference - Information Page

Mercy triumphs over judgment. That’s not an idea that will make it in to many blockbuster action movies or courtroom reality TV shows, but when it comes to real life, nothing makes for a better story than the missteps of offenders being wiped clean. Those are the very stories that are being written in Cumberland County, as Commissioner Charles Evans and District Attorney Billy West, along with their team of partners, are working hard to achieve second chances, a new life, a clean slate, for some in their community.

Relevant Links

• Charles Evans - Biography Page
• Cumberland County District Attorney - Information Page
• Life is Worth Living - Project Fresh Start - Home Page
• Episode 10: Are counties working to combat recidivism in county jails? | Reducing costs and assisting incarcerated individuals | “Building a network of care”
• Second Chance Act - S562

The effort to end the practice of modern-day slavery that is human trafficking takes awareness and recognition of the business models in which this market exists. County employees are often positioned to notice the tell-tale signs of trafficking, and their observations and vigilance can be critical. Those in law enforcement and public health spaces often find themselves on the front lines of investigating traffickers and supporting victims.

To talk about the work counties are doing, as well as the steps they can take to tackle this “wicked problem” we’re joined by Renee Price, Vice Chair of the Orange County Board of Commissioners and Margaret Henderson, Lecturer and Director of the Public Intersection Project at the UNC School of Government.

Relevant Links

• Renee Price - Biography Page
• Margaret Henderson - Biography Page
• Project No Rest
• Polaris Project
• Truckers Against Trafficking
• UNC School of Government

Some leaders assert their strategies with raucous arguments and a self-reliant mindset. Other leaders choose a wider scope, bringing additional voices to the table and building a spectrum of relationships in order to get things done.

As a lifelong leader and proven convener, Ray Jeffers has worked hard as a Person County Commissioner, among many other roles, to bring people and organizations together. He joins the show to talk about his story and share his vision as a candidate for office with the National Association of Counties.

Relevant Links

• Ray Jeffers Candidate Profile - NACo Site
• Person County - Official Website
• National Association of Counties (NACo) - Official Website
• The Disappointments Room - IMDb Page
• Schutzhund - Wikipedia Page

We get down to the nitty-gritty on the process to come up with the state’s $26 billion budget and discuss how it is that the NC house, senate, and governor develop and negotiate the spending plan. What do the three versions of the budget have in common? What are the sticking points in the budget and how do they impact counties? Why does it take so long? NCACC Director of Government Relations Johanna Reese and Legislative Counsel Adam Pridemore join us to talk about these questions and more.

Relevant Links

• Johanna Reese - Biography Page
• Adam Pridemore - Biography Page
• “Wilber’s Barbecue, one of NC’s iconic BBQ restaurants, has closed” - News & Observer
• "How are public schools funded, exactly? | A history of education funding, including school bonds and the lottery | What we love about NC" - Episode Link
• Our NC Movie Picks - "Best In Show," "Bull Durham," "The Campaign," "The Color Purple," "The Fugitive"