May 2012

A free and public event exploring civic engagement and social justice issues is scheduled for 3 p.m. Sunday, May 20, at the Chapel Hill Public Library's Program Space in University Mall across from Alfredo's Pizza. Please share the EVENT FLIER.

"Voices of Action: Translating Words into a Movement" is organized by the Chapel Hill Public Library and the Town of Chapel Hill Justice in Action Committee. The public is invited to attend and participate in an interactive workshop and discussion to consider questions such as "What makes you want to act?" "How do you engage?" and "How can your voice be powerful?" The purpose of this event is to encourage creative expression of opinion and support participants as they recognize the power of words and find their individual voices.

The event will be facilitated by the Sacrificial Poets (http://sacrificialpoets.com), North Carolina's premier youth poetry organization. You don't have to be a poet or even write poetry to attend. If you appreciate spoken word, want to learn more, or you just have something to say about social justice, LGBT rights, Occupy, racism, fracking, environmentalism, immigration reform, or a host of other issues, this program is for you.

"We are excited to be involved because librarians are advocates of intellectual freedom," said Maggie Hite, head of circulation services. "And our library is a trusted, safe space for civic engagement."

Many residents are more comfortable expressing divergent ideas at libraries because they are neutral places that advance knowledge through freedom of expression and critical inquiry, Hite said. The Chapel Hill Public Library supports the idea that civic reflection builds community connections.

Formed by the Town Council, the role of the Justice in Action Committee is to give voice to issues and concerns regarding race and power in Chapel Hill and the surrounding community; and to educate the Chapel Hill community through workshops and seminars on issues of racism, diversity and inclusiveness. The committee meets at 6 p.m. on the first Thursday of most months at Chapel Hill Town Hall. For more information, contact samathryn@gmail.com. For more information about Sunday's program, see www.chapelhillpubliclibrary.org or contact mhite@townofchapelhill.org.

A public information meeting on the Carolina North Development Agreement will be held at 5:15 p.m. Tuesday, May 22, in the Council Chambers of Town Hall, 405 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.

A development agreement for UNC-Chapel Hill's Carolina North Campus was approved in June 2009. It contains guidelines and standards for the development of the first 3 million square feet of a mixed-use research and academic campus on 133 acres. Planning for the first project, the Collaborative Science Building is under way. The early development at Carolina North will be accessed from Estes Drive Extension and a re-aligned Airport Drive.

The agreement also contains guidelines for the rest of the property that will not be developed in the near future.

The development agreement requires that the Town and University do a periodic assessment of the overall effectiveness of the development agreement. This first assessment must be completed within three years of the agreement, which is June 30, 2012. Town and University staff have prepared the assessment, and it is available at www.townofchapelhill.org/carolinanorth. 

Town Manager Roger L. Stancil will review the assessment and public input before reporting to the Town Council on his review of the development agreement and its requirements.

Public input is welcome. Comments also may be made at the May 22 meeting or emailed to carolinanorth@townofchapelhill.org. Detailed information is available online at http://www.townofchapelhill.org/index.aspx?page=900 and http://carolinanorth.unc.edu/. To be added to a mailing list to receive regular updates about the Carolina North development agreement, please contact info@townofchapelhill.org.