2019-2020
NCACC President and Yadkin County Commissioner Kevin Austin appointed a task force to assist with his presidential initiative titled, Pathways Initiative, NC Counties Guiding Our Next Generation to Brighter Futures. The Task Force established vision and mission statements for the initiative, and produced a report which outlines successful county-led efforts and factors that influence youth engagement.
Vision
Equipping counties to lead local youth toward a meaningful and sustainable future.
Mission
The NCACC Pathways Task Force seeks to identify strategies for counties to help youth chart pathways to leading productive, healthy and happy lives in adulthood. The goal is to reduce the rate of North Carolina’s disconnected youth – those not in school or working – by asking counties to commit to analyzing the issue at a local level and undertaking programs and initiatives that address the local need. The Task Force will produce a report to equip counties with resources and tools to reach their local youth through education and employment opportunities.
Task Force
Karen Howard, (Co-chair) Chatham County
Mike LaBrose, (Co- chair) Caldwell County
Jimmy Clayton, Person County
Tony Hunt, Hoke County
Matt Calabria, Wake County
Hank Henning, Guilford County
Gary Meiggs, Camden County
Fleming El-Amin, Forsyth County
Amanda Edwards, Buncombe County
ET Mitchell, Craven County
Sherry Lucas, Wilson County
Mark Jerrell, Mecklenburg County
Kevin Austin, Yadkin County
Ronnie Smith, Martin County
Rebecca McCall, Henderson County
Linda Rouse Sutton, Lenoir County
Hope Haywood, Randolph County
CountyQuarterly Articles
“President Austin’s Pathways Initiative Task Force Kicks Off with Data Dive”
by Laurel Edwards, NCACC Manager of Strategic Initiatives
“President’s Perspective”
by Kevin Austin, NCACC’s 103rd President
“Federal Programs To Help Disconnected Youth”
by Leslie Mozingo, Federal Relations Consultant, Strategics Consulting
Related Resources
- NCACC Video of the Week: Presidential Task Force Announcement
- NCACC Press Release: Task Force Primary Meeting
- NCSU Institute for Emerging Issues Podcast: First in Future with President Kevin Austin
- Occupational Change in North Carolina and the Future of Work: Research by Michael L. Walden, William Neal Reynolds Distinguished Professor, NC State University
- The Yadkin Ripple: Industry Inside: The Future of Manufacturing