November Update
Phyllis with Walter Faribault and his wife, Daisy Faribault; Walter is a Retired Physician Assistant and served in the Navy
A Season of Reflection and Gratitude
This season, I’m deeply grateful for the trust you all have put in me to lead. Over the past few weeks as I’ve visited local schools, attended community forums, and met with residents, I have seen firsthand how our community is stepping up in big ways to support one another. Each day, I am reminded how connected and interdependent we all are. I feel both humbled and proud of how we in Orange County work together, both through government agencies and civic engagement, to ensure every resident in Orange County can live with dignity, stability, and opportunity.
Each of these moments has reminded me that my leadership is about listening to and learning from you all as I work to understand how the policies we make impact real lives. Everyone — children, seniors, neighbors working hard to make ends meet — everyone carries both hope and trepidation about what’s ahead. I am committed to remaining your trusted partner as we navigate through these uncertain times.
Leading with Dignity
Each year, the Shelton Leadership Center at NC State University offers virtual professional development for ethical decision-making. An Orange County Viewing Party for this year’s event, "Ethical Leadership in an Interconnected World," was sponsored by State Farm and hosted by Cooperative Extension. One session titled The Dignity Approach to Leadership really struck me.
I believe that our county’s ongoing conversations around property tax revaluations and fairness and the work we’re doing through the Tax Assessment Workgroup are about centering Orange County residents’ dignity. The Workgroup held its first meeting earlier this month and will meet again on Friday, Nov 14th. Our charge is clear: to make sure Orange County’s property tax assessment system is equitable, transparent, and trusted.
These discussions aren’t just about numbers; they’re about people and whether they feel seen, respected, and heard. For me, leadership means listening with intention, creating space for people to speak their truth, and remembering that the choices we make affect not just policies, but how people feel throughout the process.
That same commitment to dignity and responsiveness guided our recent action around food access (details below). Even though it appears that the government shutdown will soon end, many families will continue to experience the ripple effects of disrupted food aid, recent lay-offs, and hikes in insurance premiums. Even though our local government cannot begin to completely make up for what the federal government is refusing to do, we can and will prioritize our most vulnerable neighbors.
Responding to Hunger with Compassion and Action
When federal delays disrupted SNAP benefits this month, we didn’t wait around. The Orange County Board of Commissioners approved $54,000 in emergency funding from our Social Justice Reserve to make sure families didn’t go hungry.
The Inter-Faith Council and Orange Congregations in Mission each received $15,000 for food purchases, and PORCH Chapel Hill and PORCH Hillsborough shared $24,000 for special food distributions. Together, those efforts helped feed more than five hundred families in Chapel Hill and Hillsborough. That’s what it looks like when the local government acts quickly and compassionately.
The WIC program, administered locally by Piedmont Health Services, is also funded through November 30. That means pregnant women, infants, and young children in our community will continue receiving nutritional support through the end of the month.
If you or someone you know needs help, the county has a full list of food pantries, meal programs, and emergency food resources! Please remember, food access is a matter of dignity and stability.
Here’s how you can help:
Support the organizations doing this important work every day:
Even small donations help keep shelves stocked and meals on tables for our neighbors.
Phyllis with former Congresswoman Eva Clayton and Congresswoman Valerie Foushee
Standing with Our Seniors
On November 6, I joined Congresswoman Valerie Foushee and former Congresswoman Eva Clayton at the Seymour Center to talk about the federal budget and meal programs. One woman shared, through tears, how much those meals and that fellowship mean to her. It was a powerful reminder that dignity means being able to eat, connect, and live with self-respect. I am proud of the services and opportunities our senior centers in Orange County provide.
Talking About the Big Beautiful Bill
On October 29th, I had the honor of moderating the “Big Beautiful Bill Forum” at the Whitted Building. The leadership of the Northern Orange Neighbor-to-Neighbor collaborative did an excellent job of gathering more than a hundred residents, business owners, and policy experts. The forum resulted in a real conversation about how statewide policy affects our local economy and families.
Panelists included Bob Conrad of Concerned Carolinians, Kamal Bell of Sankofa Farms, Daniel Ayers of The Hometown Holler, and Commissioner Sally Greene. The discussion was open and honest. What stood out most was that families and small businesses in rural Orange County want to be part of the opportunity, not an afterthought. Kamal Bell shared some hard truths about food access and reminded us that if we want to meet people’s needs, we have to meet them where they are. I left feeling even more committed to making sure rural Orange County is part of every economic conversation going forward.
No One Should Sleep Outside in the Cold
As a part of the leadership of the Orange County Partnership to End Homelessness, I’m proud of the progress we’ve made in expanding the Cold Weather Cots program. After nearly a year of planning, we now have a new rotating shelter location in Hillsborough — a big step forward in providing overnight shelter during freezing temperatures.
If you or someone you know needs help with finding shelter, call 919-245-2490 to confirm which Hillsborough location is open. The IFC shelters in Chapel Hill operate nightly through March. The Hillsborough sites are open on “White Flag Nights” when temperatures drop to 32 degrees or below. This expansion represents real collaboration and persistence. Access to safe shelter is the foundation of dignity — and I’m proud we made this new Hillsborough location a reality. We will continue working to fully meet the needs of our most vulnerable residents.
You can also help by donating blankets, coats, or funds. Learn more about how you can support the Orange County Partnership to End Homelessness. Every contribution helps ensure no one has to sleep outside in freezing weather.
Investing in Our Students and Strengthening Our Future
Commissioner Jean Hamilton, Commissioner Marilyn Carter, Phyllis, State Superintendent Mo Green, and Orange County School Board Member Bonnie Hauser in Chapel Hill on October 29, 2025
This month, Commissioner Carter and I visited several Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools to see how our county investments are helping children and preparing students for careers. As a Hunt Institute Fellow, I’m focused on how local and state systems can better support early learning and workforce development.
The district’s Pre-K program is full, with nearly ninety children on the waiting list. That’s not because of staffing shortages but lack of space. That tells me families want early education opportunities, and we need to keep working to expand access.
We also spoke with students in the Firefighter and Auto Mechanics programs who were genuinely excited about the skills they’re learning. Their confidence and pride reminded me that programs like these aren’t just about job training but they’re also about giving young people real options to build stable, fulfilling lives that will support their future families, whether or not they choose a university path.
I am looking forward to engaging in a similar tour of the Orange County Schools scheduled for this spring. Both school systems are cornerstones of our community and I am proud of the commitment to public education all my fellow commissioners continue to make.
Closing Thoughts: Leadership Is About People
This month reminded me why I do this work. Every visit, every forum, every hard conversation brings me back to one truth — leadership is about people. It’s about making sure every resident, from our youngest learners to our oldest neighbors, can live with dignity, stability, and opportunity. It’s about empathy, accountability, and action — because that’s how we build a stronger, more compassionate Orange County together.
Our community has always shown up for one another — that’s what makes this place special. Whether you give, volunteer, or simply share information with a neighbor, you’re part of what keeps Orange County strong.
In faith and service,
