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(04/17/09 4:00am)
While serving in the military for 10 years, Lois Harvin-Ravin gained a wealth of experience that allows her to relate to her clients.Harvin-Ravin is Orange County's only veterans service officer.Being a veteran myself" I have a good understanding of other veterans' needs" she said.She mostly works with veterans living in Chapel Hill and Hillsborough.For 22 years, Harvin-Ravin has primarily assisted veterans with their applications to receive federal benefits and public assistance programs such as emergency assistance and food stamps. But due to the ongoing recession and projected decreased county revenue, she expects services for veterans to be in higher demand.One part is an economic strain"" said Sharron Hinton, director of community services for the Orange County Department of Social Services. We don't have the staff and we're trying to integrate as many areas as we can"" and this is one area.""The county is facing an $8.7 million shortfall in tax revenue next year and county staff are preparing potential budget cuts. Under the recently proposed change" Harvin-Ravin would be responsible for assisting veterans in their attempts to secure both federal and local benefits" currently handled by other social workers.""It will become a sort of one-stop-shop that I'm hopeful will be a positive change for veterans"" she said.Because the social services department expects to see overall increases in people using its services as soldiers return from war, social workers are worried they will not be able to meet demand.David Kennedy, district service officer for the N.C. Division of Veterans Affairs, said he expects an increase in demand for veterans services will diminish the quality of benefits if no new funding comes in.He said he expects to see more veterans using the Durham VA Medical Center, the only veterans hospital in the area.In addition to having served as the county veterans service officer, Harvin-Ravin spent 11 years working with veterans to apply for public assistance programs.Because of her experience in the area as well as years of noncombat military service during the Vietnam War era, Harvin-Ravin said she feels ready to take on the proposed expansion in her responsibilities.I have a lot of familiarity in all of these programs" she said. It will be a challenge but because I have that background" the changes will work for me.""In 2008" the Orange County Department of Social Services offered services for more than 8000 veterans to help obtain pensions and other compensation. Harvin-Ravin said veterans are a valuable asset to the community and benefits bring in more than $20 million in annual income to the county.Contact the City Editor at citydesk@unc.edu.
(01/30/09 5:00am)
Local businesses have been given the green light to go ""Green Plus.""The Institute for Sustainable Development is set to launch Green Plus next week"" which will assist businesses in achieving sustainability.""The program is designed to help smaller enterprises" businesses and nonprofits reach better sustainability in the triple bottom line concepts" said Chris Carmody, director of the Sustainable Business Initiative at the institute.The triple bottom line encourages environmental sustainability, social equity and financial stability. An online tool, Green Plus will consist of 80 multiple-choice questions that address how well businesses currently meet and can improve on the three prongs of the bottom-line principle.If companies meet certain standards for each of the three areas in the bottom-line principle, they will be eligible for Green Plus certification. The interesting part is that this is not just a certification process" but is also a place where businesses can communicate with each other" said Joe Polich, a UNC graduate student involved with the program.While Green Plus certification does not provide any tax subsidies for businesses, it recognizes their efforts to achieve the bottom-line principle. The program will publicly launch on Feb. 16. This is a program to reward businesses for being sustainable"" Carmody said.Barbara Jessie-Black, executive director of the nonprofit PTA Thrift Shop and chairwoman of Foundation for a Sustainable Community, offered her businesses to participate in the program testing. Since using Green Plus, she said her business has begun recycling scrap metal wastes for profits. The program should help businesses cut utility costs in the long term. But because Green Plus has not launched yet, its overall economic impacts are still unknown.Carmody said there are several elements to the program that could help the local economy. He said it will make businesses more competitive in the marketplace. Sustainability is becoming increasingly attractive, Carmody said.By linking small businesses to formerly unavailable resources, the program promotes networking to share information. The days are long gone where it's productive to be just an environmentalist or entrepreneur or social worker" Polich said. To get everyone moving" it's going to take a bit more cooperation.""Jessie-Black said she will further her efforts to reduce her businesses' waste stream. Starting Feb. 16"" she will try to become certified.""We are" as an organization looking to expand and when we do that" we will be incredibly mindful to use as many green products as we can."" Contact the City Editor at citydesk@unc.edu.
(01/19/09 5:00am)
Due to a reporting error, Tuesday's pg. 1 story, Ongoing battle"" incorrectly states where the annual Martin Luther King Jr. day march ended. It ended at First Baptist Church. The Daily Tar Heel apologizes for the error.Following in the footsteps of decades past"" a chorus of voices on Franklin Street rang in unity early Monday morning.""I ain't gonna let nobody turn me around" gonna keep on walking keep on talking marching up to freedom land" they sung.Decades after the Civil Rights Movement, many in the Rogers Road community said they are still fighting a battle for social equality. Hundreds gathered at the Chapel Hill-Carrboro annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day rally and march to commemorate the leader's life.This rally is so important because you must have a vision" and this visionary gave me a vision" said the Rev. Robert Campbell, who was the keynote speaker at the event. Campbell helped lead the protest against building a waste transfer station on the site of the current landfill in the Rogers Road community, one of the few remaining black neighborhoods in Orange County.County officials decided in March 2007 to put the transfer station at that site, but eventually eliminated the site following protest and accusations of environmental racism.We're not just talking about environmental pollution" but social pollution Campbell said.Campbell said he has been involved in demonstrations and rallies since the 1960s but has concentrated his activism in the Rogers Road community since returning from the military in 1973.Bishop Ila D. McMillan said the Rogers Road community still has inadequate services.I'm hoping for justice in the city and there is no justice here" McMillan said. We were promised something we never got.""The neighborhood is divided between Chapel Hill" Carrboro and unincorporated Orange County so several government bodies share responsibility. McMillan and Campbell described several essential improvements including greater public transportation access better sewage systems and safe water.A task force in November of 2007 presented 24 recommendations for the neighborhood" but few have been implemented.""We want changes that can come to the community"" Campbell said. And we want to be a part of that political change."" Campbell's speech stressed the importance of unity in overcoming environmental and social injustices.""Environmental racism has no boundaries" Campbell said. It's not about color" but it is about power in unity.""We have seen the movement of the vision and of change.""Other political and social activist groups spoke at the event of many current inequities in the area. Members of the UNC and the Chapel Hill-Carborro National Association for the Advancement of Colored People chapters"" Orange County Human Rights and Relations and the Chapel Hill Town Council all emphasized King's vision for equality and continued efforts for change.""It's going to take the small groups to come together to make a big group that stands for change"" said Bettye Jenkins of Bettye Jenkins Ministries.The group ended the rally with the annual march down Franklin Street to St. Joseph CME Church, singing the same hymns protesters sung five decades ago.This movement has history and purpose"" Jenkins said. And we want that same history and purpose to continue.""Contact the City Editor at citydesk@unc.edu.
(12/02/08 5:00am)
Orange County likely won't follow national trends of foreclosures and decreased funding for affordable housing local housing providers said.Nationwide job loss has both contributed to an increase in home foreclosures and decreased the amount of tax revenue available for affordable housing programs. But Orange County might be insulated from some of these trends because of high job security. Many residents are employed by either UNC or the hospitals and those groups do not expect the high numbers of layoffs seen in other parts of the state said Robert Dowling" executive director of the Orange Community Housing and Land Trust.""We don't have a lot of the issues that cause the squeeze"" said Tara Fikes, director of Orange County Housing and Community Development. Unemployment is low" we don't have any manufacturing jobs" and we don't have job loss.""That's not to say we won't suffer"" but it won't be as bad as in other areas.""Between January 2007 and June 2008" Orange County saw fewer than 500 foreclosures according to the N.C. Department of Commerce.Wake Mecklenburg Forsyth and Guilford counties — all of which were targeted for emergency assistance from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development — each saw more than 3"000 foreclosures during that time.""This created a domino effect"" said Chris Estes, executive director of N.C. Public Housing Coalition. More people losing their homes are looking for limited rentable houses.""Housing fundingLocal leaders said the relatively stable job market should also keep tax revenue and Orange County funding for affordable housing consistent with past years.Chapel Hill is predicting a shortfall of $1 million in sales tax revenue but officials say that attempts to cut the budget will come from unoccupied positions and will not affect services provided.But local leaders are not as confident about the security of federal funding for affordable housing.Because of the economic downturn" the government likely won't raise its funding for housing programs even as demand rises nationwide.In 2008 Orange County received $600"000 from federal money to go toward affordable housing.Fikes said she is unsure how funds usually allocated to Orange County will be affected for 2009.""The question now is whether we will see stabilized funds or increased ones" but we do not expect decreases in funding" Fikes said. Indications are that it should remain stable.""But Estes said federal support for national affordable housing organizations has decreased recently.Susan Levy" executive director of Habitat for Humanity of Orange County said that if federal funding drops" local governments will have trouble making up the difference.""Some people feel a little nervous about home ownership given the current headlines"" Dowling said, explaining that voters would be unlikely to support bonds for increased affordable housing funding.And Levy said her organization expects to meet its goals for private donations, including raising at least $60,000 in private contributions for the Phoenix Place subdivision project by Jan. 31.The development, off Rogers Road, will include 50 affordable homes with environmentally sustainable facilities such as energy-efficient technology.I don't think we've seen all the effects of the market crisis yet" but we hope that people will respond in a positive way for those that have nothing to fall back on" Levy said.Dowling said it's too early to predict demand for affordable housing in the coming months, but the number of people seeking the affordable housing is expected to increase nationwide.We haven't seen a rush in people trying to buy housing" but this is the beginning of a trend Dowling said. People are going to have less money to spend so in theory" more people will be looking for affordable homes.""Contact the City Editor at citydesk@unc.edu.
(11/03/08 5:00am)
Due to a reporting error" this story incorrectly stated the number of partnerships Kidzu Children's Museum has with UNC entities. It has 16. The Daily Tar Heel apologizes for the error.Kidzu Children's Museum has crossed a line but in this case" that's a good thing.The Chapel Hill-based Foundation for a Sustainable Community annually awards the title of Nonprofit Business of the Year to a local organization. This year it is Kidzu that best represents the foundation's ""triple bottom line"" principle:""We measure an organization's commitment to sustainability based on the economic prosperity" social equity and responsibility and environmental protection" said Anne McKune, the foundation's associate director. Organizations can choose to nominate themselves for the award, as Kidzu did, or can be nominated by a community member. Once nominated, Kidzu had to submit an application detailing how they meet the triple bottom line criteria.They are a great example of this triple bottom line overlap because of their work in the social area" and their programs are leaning in the direction of environmental sustainability" McKune said. Kidzu, located on East Franklin Street, offers interactive programs and displays for children and families. During its first two years of operation, Kidzu showcased traveling exhibits from other children's museums. The organization opened its first original hands-on program entitled KidZoom: The Power of Creativity!"" in July.""Our new exhibit that opened in July is a great example of how people in the local community worked to fit the triple bottom line"" said Jonathan Mills, board president of chairman of Kidzu's board of directors.The exhibit features local artists' attempts to promote environmentally sound and healthy values. The new program is intended to educate children on the process produce takes from the garden to the market, promote healthy food choices, teach building and community design and encourage children to be artistically creative. With more than 100 community volunteers, the children's museum works with 68 UNC entities, including student interns, the UNC Department of Athletics, and many fraternities and sororities.Volunteering is important because of what you give but also because of what you get" and this is all part of being part of the community" Mills said.And to make the museum more accessible, highlighting the museum's emphasis on social responsibility, Kidzu will offer free admission every Sunday beginning in early 2009. A Durham Regional Hospital grant will fund these admission-free Sundays.On these days, Kidzu will feature its Good to Grow"" program" in which different providers will teach caregivers about how children grow. The program includes events such as free dental screenings seat belt-check instructions and early reading courses. Contact the City Editor at citydesk@unc.edu.
(10/26/08 4:00am)
U.S. Rep. David Price" D-N.C. quickly surveyed the crowd at the Morris Grove Elementary School dedication ceremony before asking" ""Can any students tell me: What did Mr. and Mrs. Hogan do?""After a pause" one girl said" ""Um"" they learned to read and write and then decided to open a school.""Officials" alumni faculty and students gathered Sunday to honor Morris Grove Elementary which opened in August 80 years after a school with the same name closed.The event recognized Morris Hogan a former slave who founded the original school" and his attempts to equalize education standards for children of all races. ""He was a pioneer in that he wanted to make an education system better" and that was inspiring" Principal Amy Rickard said.Born a slave in 1853, Hogan was freed after the Civil War ended, whereupon he married and became a successful farmer. Passionately spiritual and with a similar passion for bettering education, Hogan opened Morris Grove Elementary School for the area's local black children in the late 1880s.Using his own land and funds, Hogan built and operated the two-room school with two teachers instructing several grades at a time.Because we had parents that made education very important" we knew that by going to school we would be better citizens" said Marie Smith, who attended the original Morris Grove Elementary.The original schoolhouse, now a private residence, closed in the 1920s and still stands adjacent to the current Morris Grove Elementary.This school has a lot of values (Hogan) promoted in his community to educate all the children in this area"" said Jimmy Rogers, Hogan's great-grandson and a former student at the school.The new school building boasts many energy efficient aspects, including natural day lighting, renewable energy for heating and cooling, and rainwater storage devices.Following a ribbon cutting ceremony, the Morris Grove fifth grade chorus sang America the Beautiful"" which alumni from the original Morris Grove sang every morning.Members of Hogan's family attended the event and were presented with white roses by the first kindergarten class of the new Morris Grove Elementary.The school's colors, chosen by the students, are blue and green and their mascot is the gecko.The ceremony concluded with fourth and fifth grade marshals conducting tours of the facility.It is an absolutely beautiful school"" Carrboro Mayor Mark Chilton said. I can't image what Morris Hogan himself would say or think if he could see this school right now.""Contact the City Editor at citydesk@unc.edu.
(09/19/08 4:00am)
As Tuesday's practice came to a close, Bouncing Bulldogs head coach Ray Fredrick took his time as he looked around at his athletes, who were waiting to leave.If anyone can tell me what ‘maximum effort' means" you all can go" he announced.Scanning the room in the silence that followed, he eventually pointed to a young girl on the rope-skipping demonstration team.Maximum effort means always giving your best"" she said, quoting the team motto.The maximum effort"" of the athletic display of daring back-flips and elaborate footwork that drew hundreds of Chinese and international spectators at last month's Beijing Olympic Games" where 10 team members performed will show in the full team's demonstration Saturday at University Mall.The performance will recognize all members of this year's National Championship team in a two-hour show of both solo and team routines.A 10-member delegation from the Carrboro-based team chose to forgo the World Rope Skipping Championship in South Africa in favor of touring and performing during last month's Beijing summer Olympics.During the trip which was paid for through fundraising" the team gave both scheduled and impromptu performances in Beijing and experienced the games firsthand.""The opportunity of the Olympics — especially in a place like Beijing — was unusual" so it made sense to skip out on Worlds and use our money for Beijing this year" said Erica Zenn, a Durham Academy sophomore. She said the most memorable performance of the trip was an impromptu demonstration given in a park surrounding Beijing's Temple of Heaven, a historical Chinese landmark.It was really exciting being part of the Olympic experience"" Zenn said.As an organization dedicated to teaching young people peer-to-peer leadership and communication skills, Fredrick said the Bouncing Bulldogs' mission extends far beyond just building athletic excellence.To build leadership skills, daily practices are run strictly by older jumpers, with minimal involvement from Fredrick.Rarely ever do you see me coaching or raising my voice"" he said. It empowers the young people.""And promoting student growth is what the team is all about. ""Our team is a lot like a family"" said team captain Mary Benton, a senior at Carrboro High School. And our coach is like our second dad."" These family-like bonds proved to work well for the first team ever to win a national championship five consecutive times.The Bulldogs' more than 100 jumpers include 18 world champions"" many of whom perform in international shows every year. Fredrick said performances add to the team's mission of connecting people through the sport.""Our whole thing is about connecting our world to make it a better place"" he said. ATTEND THE SHOWTime: 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. SaturdayLocation: University Mall, 201 S. Estes DriveInfo: www.bouncingbulldogs.org Contact the City Editor at citydesk@unc.edu.