CoronaVirus

Feb 9, 2021

First in Future: Dr. Jim Johnson

The pandemic is affecting everyone in our country. Almost any indicator you look at, the impacts have been greater on people of color in the state. The infection rates are 3x higher among African Americans than whites, and death rates are 6x higher. According to CDC data, COVID hospitalization rates are 5 x higher for American Indians and African Americans and 4x higher in the LatinX community. So you would think that when it comes to vaccinations, people of color might be receiving priority treatment. Not initially, says our First in Future guest, Dr. Jim Johnson. He looked at data from six states that are reporting COVID vaccination rates by race, and found that North Carolina has the widest gap in race and ethnic disparity. 

Dec 22, 2020

First in Future: Laura Marx and Anita Barker of the United Way

When the pandemic hit, calls to United Way NC's 211 line for assistance tripled. Now the organization has taken a close look at what is happening to families across the state during the pandemic. No surprise there are a lot of people that are hurting. We talk with Laura Marx and Anita Barker about some of the surprising findings of their new survey and how people across the state can help respond to the needs. 

Nov 24, 2020

First in Future: North Carolina’s Poet Laureate – Jaki Shelton Green

This episode of First in Future, we hear from North Carolina's Poet Laureate, Jaki Shelton Green. She speaks to our hearts with a message about our personal power to connect to something important within ourselves and to the power we have in common cause with each other. She noted that historically pandemics have been times for radical change and a chance to move through a gateway to new kinds of thinking. We wanted you to hear her words with the message that she called "harvesting light and grace", as you go over the river and through the woods for the holidays or even if you're staying at home. This holiday season. These are words of healing and hope. 

Nov 10, 2020

First in Future: The Ties That Bind Us (part 2) – Dante Pittman

This is part of a three episode series of First in Future, where we want to focus on community, specifically what people and places in North Carolina are doing to make the places we live special. Small towns everywhere complain about "brain drain", young educated people who move away for college and don't come back. In the second part of our series on what makes the places we live special, we talk with Dante Pittman, who chose to move back home to Wilson, NC, with the help of a new effort called "Lead for North Carolina." And we explore the question: how do we retain and retrain and stop brain drain? 

Nov 3, 2020

First in Future: The Ties That Bind Us (part 1) – Caroline Parker

This is part of a three episode series of First in Future, where we want to focus on community, specifically what people and places in North Carolina are doing to make the places we live special. This episode starts with the story of Hayesville, NC, in the far western corner of the state, and we talk with Caroline Parker of Education NC about her new series, "Anchored in Hayesville," about how the people in that community are working together to maintain their uniqueness and strength in a town that is "two hours from everywhere." 

Oct 27, 2020

First in Future: Mike Ward and Deanna Townsend-Smith

This First in Future episode's guests are, Mike Ward, the former state superintendent of public instruction and chair of the steering committee for the NC Education Corps and Deanna Townsend-Smith is director of operations and policy for the State Board of Education. 

Oct 20, 2020

First in Future: Alicia James

This First in Future episode guest is Alicia James, Institute for Emerging Issues Program and Policy Manager. 

Oct 13, 2020

First in Future: Maggie Woods

Recently, many have been trying to help our kids with digital homework, or our local government officials have been trying to figure out how to make our community more accessible or competitive in this digital world. This First in Future episode's guest is the Institute for Emerging Issues' own Maggie Woods, Policy and Program Manager, who is looking at the idea of "digital inclusion." She explores what a difference it can make for our state to take full advantage of high speed 

Oct 6, 2020

First in Future: Jess George

One of the most complicated challenges of the coronavirus has been the need for more broadband. It has been a challenge that the Institute for Emerging Issues has been working on for awhile. We have been working with the state Broadband Infrastructure Office to get grants out to school systems, nonprofits, and communities. Our First in Future guest this episode is Jess George, who represents one of the critical private investors in infrastructure, Google Fiber. Jess is their government and community affairs representative. 

Sep 29, 2020

First in Future: Lindsey Haynes-Maslow

Our First in Future guest on this episode is Dr. Lindsey Haynes-Maslow. She has written a remarkable first-person summary of her ongoing battle with bulimia, an eating disorder, and what it has been like for her during this pandemic. Dr. Maslow is an associate professor and extension specialist at NC State in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences in the Department of Ag and Human Sciences.