Placement of Lead for NC Fellows in western NC aims to support Helene recovery

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By Andy Bradshaw

The School of Government is pleased to share the continued work of Lead for North Carolina Fellows. As the western region of the state continues to respond to the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, the School placed Lead for NC Fellows in each of the five western Councils of Government in North Carolina as well as 10 other fellows in the western region of the state.

The Fellows will be trained to support grant funding and project management related to disaster recovery, they will receive continuous support from School faculty and staff, and they are expected to foster regional collaboration for this recovery work.

The placement of Fellows out west is supported by a $309,000 grant from Dogwood Health Trust given to UNC-Chapel Hill in 2024. The School thanks Dogwood for its support of Lead for North Carolina—and, among other organizations, AmeriCorps and the SECU Foundation.

“We are so grateful for this support from the Dogwood Health Trust, particularly as it comes from an organization so aligned with the School in its dedication to strengthening our state’s communities,” said School of Government Dean Aimee Wall. “This additional funding enables our Fellows to support many smaller communities in the west during this critical time for recovery and rebuilding.”

As part of the School’s efforts to support recovery, Dean Aimee Wall accompanied UNC-Chapel Hill Chancellor Lee Roberts in July 2025 for part of his tour of western North Carolina to meet with area leaders and residents to discuss how the University can continue to support the area in disaster recovery efforts, economic development, and regional health care.

The School remains committed to serving as a resource to assist public officials on the front lines of disaster recovery. In summer 2025, the School is focusing on coordinating local government technical assistance, including supporting GROW NC, the NC Association of County Commissioners, the NC League of Municipalities, and western councils of government in scaling resources, communicating across the region, and boosting regional rebuilding and economic development efforts.

Lead for North Carolina trains and places recent college graduates in public service organizations across the state. Since its inception in 2019, the program has recruited, trained, and supported 147 young graduates placed in local government fellowships across the state. Learn more at lfnc.sog.unc.edu.

Dogwood Health Trust is a private foundation dedicated to improving the health and well-being of all people and communities across western North Carolina.

Published July 25, 2025