“Now this is not the end. It is not even the beginning of the end. But it is, perhaps, the end of the beginning.” 

–Winston Churchill, 1942

Dear Friends:

None of us likes being in the middle. The beginning of a crisis, for all the fear it brings with it, keeps us busy. There are 100 emergency details to take care of, with little time to reflect. The end is exciting because, even though we are exhausted and beaten up, we can see clear light at the end of the tunnel.

The Institute for Emerging Issues (IEI) is pleased to announce the appointment of Tony Brown and Carol Mattocks to its National Advisory Board.

“Tony and Carol have long been recognized for their insights into how to improve our state’s economic and civic well-being – the same issues we work on at the Institute for Emerging Issues,” said Director Leslie Boney.

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Recognizing that internet connectivity is essential for everyday life during the COVID-19 pandemic, IEI is introducing a special focus on digital inclusion, the effort to make it possible for every North Carolina household to get online—for school, jobs, health care, and more. This new Digital Inclusion Information Exchange should be your go-to site for the latest in these efforts.

IEI is keeping a close eye on policies that have an impact on our state and North Carolinians. Follow along for updates on state, federal, and digital inclusion policies that may affect you.

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Communities across the state are figuring out how to address issues related to the COVID-19 pandemic. The organizations involved in our ReCONNECT to Technological Opportunity forum community cohort have suddenly found their work on broadband connectivity and digital inclusion at the forefront of local, state, and national conversations.

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Like the rest of IEI’s staff, our VISTAs are currently working from home while continuing to serve and further IEI’s mission. Trishell Moore and Molly Sheehan share how their experiences have changed since shifting to “teleservice.”

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In a time when the world seems more closed off than ever, IEI Associate Director Pat Cronin and his family opened their home to a friend in need.

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Subscribe and tune in for live episodes on Zoom and Facebook Live every Thursday at 9 a.m.! go.ncsu.edu/fif-live-zoom

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NC Rural Center presents Rural Talk: An Advocacy Speaker Series
Rural Talk: An Advocacy Speaker Series is a 5-part webinar series hosted by the NC Rural Center’s advocacy program, Rural Counts. Rural Talk brings together the voices, expertise, and perspectives from thought leaders at the national, state, and local levels, representing the public, nonprofit, private, and philanthropic sectors to discuss key issues affecting rural North Carolinian’s—broadband, entrepreneurship and small business development, health, housing and water and wastewater infrastructure.
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Broadband Infrastructure Office creates interactive map with offers from state internet service providers
In response to COVID-19, many North Carolinians are being asked to work and learn at home. To help ensure everyone has access to affordable, high speed internet, the Broadband Infrastructure Office at the North Carolina Department of Information Technology has created an interactive map with all low-cost and emergency offers from internet service providers in the state. North Carolinians can enter their address, and see which offers are available to them at their location. This map will be updated as new offers are put in place.
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NC.gov Disaster Assistance
Opportunities across the state to volunteer and donate amid the coronavirus pandemic.
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