15 Lead for NC fellows will aid Helene recovery

The School of Government is placing 15 Lead for North Carolina fellows in western North Carolina to respond to the aftermath of Hurricane Helene. Fellows will serve in each of the state’s five western councils of government, with 10 others placed in other public service organizations.

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.

The 15 fellows placed in western North Carolina will be trained to support grant funding and project management related to disaster recovery. With continuous support from school faculty and staff, 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, a private foundation dedicated to improving the health and well-being of all people and communities across western North Carolina. The program also received support from AmeriCorps and the State Employees Credit Union 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 Aimee Wall, School of Government dean. “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 the 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, scaling resources, communicating across the region and boosting regional rebuilding and economic development efforts. This work includes supporting the Governor’s Recovery Office for Western North Carolina, the N.C. Association of County Commissioners, the N.C. League of Municipalities and the western councils of government.