Lead for North Carolina prepares for futures in public service
The Lead for North Carolina program continues to support future public service leaders working towards careers focused on building up our communities and making change at the local level.
Established in 2019, the Lead for North Carolina (LFNC) program has now placed over 100 recent college graduates with nearly 90 different public service organizations around the state. Fellows have built capacity in municipal planning efforts, public arts projects, disaster relief management, and much more over the last four years. While serving in city and county governments, as well as various councils of governments throughout North Carolina, Fellows’ efforts have helped secure tens of millions of dollars in grant funding while advancing millions more in cost saving measures.
Moreover, the program integrates these work experiences with an academic and professional development curriculum that serves to prepare the Fellows for further careers in the public sector. Skills gained at the workplace are refined in the classroom and vice-versa, and the cohort-based structure of the program builds professional as well as personal relationships with other public service-oriented peers. Each cohort has built upon the successes and lessons of those before them, with Cohort Five having begun their service this past August.
Below, three LFNC alumni outline what brought them to become part of the program as well as anecdotes from their service experience. They also showcase some of how LFNC prepared them for their current career paths and offer words of advice to future public servants, Fellows or otherwise.
Skye Allan, Town of Spencer, Cohort Three
What brought you to LFNC, and what was your experience during the fellowship?
I have always closely followed local and national government operations and when I learned about the LFNC opportunity, I jumped at the chance to get involved. At my host site in the Town of Spencer, I have written policy, developed a public mural program, helped start a community garden, and been part of the committee that developed a massive winter festival that has since brought over onehundred thousand visitors annually to the Town. LFNC gave me a lot of opportunities to forge my own way.
How did LFNC prepare you for your current career/educational path?
UNC Chapel-Hill is my alma mater.I have a bachelor's in psychology and english and a minor in creative writing. After graduating I took several years to work and better understand my interests and goals. LFNC gave me a great perspective on local government operations and the ability to make positive impacts for my neighbors that really inspired me to take it to the next level and pursue a Masters of Public Administration degree at UNC- Chapel Hill.
What are some future goals you have in mind?
As part of the program, we are asked to do a summer internship to further explore the field and though I have primarily focused on downtown development projects, this summer I will broaden my horizons and explore the field of emergency management.
Do you have some words of advice for future public servants everywhere?
For aspiring public servants, I would recommend always keeping a blanket at your desk, make friends with the Town Clerk, and always keep in mind why you wanted to pursue this kind of work.
Hannah Elkins, Hyde County, Cohort Four
What brought you to LFNC, and what was your experience during the fellowship?
I was drawn to LFNC because of the organization's mission and dedication to service on a local level. Throughout the fellowship, I worked on bringing several grants up to date on reporting and reimbursement. One of my biggest successes was closing out a disaster recovery grant from Hurricane Dorian, totaling over $275,000 in reimbursable expenditures. I also served as a liaison between Hyde County mainland and Ocracoke Island and came to know and love both local communities.
How did LFNC prepare you for your current career/educational path?
I completed my LFNC fellowship in June of 2023, and since then, I have been hired full-time as Hyde County's Grant Administrator, continuing the work from my service year on a larger scale. The fellowship and my host site prepared me for this position through training, mentorship, and support throughout my time as a fellow.
What are some future goals you have in mind?
In the future, I hope to continue working in a position that allows me to give back to my community. I would like to pursue journalism or law in order to tell overlooked stories and support overlooked communities.
Do you have some words of advice for future public servants everywhere?
My advice to others is that kindness trumps all else. Public service can be an extremely difficult and taxing field, but when done with kindness, the rewards reaped are plenty.
Richard Livingston, Washington County, Cohort Three
What brought you to LFNC, and what was your experience during the fellowship?
I knew upon graduating from UNC that I wanted an opportunity to apply what I had learned in undergrad in communities that needed it. I was excited to return to Eastern North Carolina during my time in Washington County, where I had the ability to work on a broad range of projects and initiatives ranging from capital improvement planning to GIS service provision. Perhaps my favorite accomplishment was working on a multimillion water main expansion grant.
How did LFNC prepare you for your current career/educational path?
I am currently an MPA candidate and I am exploring careers in local government. LFNC was extremely influential in my career trajectory and solidifying my interest in local government.
What are some future goals you have in mind?
Upon graduating the MPA program I hope to return to working in local government here in North Carolina.
Do you have some words of advice for future public servants everywhere?
Be mindful that the work you do in public service is for the benefit of the community. In the case of local government it is typically for the benefit of the community that you call home. To be able to say that you go to work each day and serve others is a unique privilege.