April Newsletter
A Note from the Director:
Dear Friends,
For the past month, I have been sharing the 2010 Census data with groups across North Carolina as I talk about IEI’s work. Perhaps unsurprisingly, the best questions and observations about the new numbers have come from our young people. The implications of change will soon be theirs to grasp.
Below I share some thought-provoking data released by the Census Bureau and the corresponding questions asked by the really remarkable youth in our state. Over the next months, IEI will continue to monitor and share Census data. As new information is released, we will bring together insightful people from across the state, including groups of young people, to wrestle with the implications for our state and citizens. We won’t have perfect answers, but we can certainly tell future leaders of North Carolina how today’s leaders in education, economic development, health and our built and natural environments expect to adapt to:
Changed Landscapes. North Carolina’s overall population grew by 18% from 2000-2010, almost twice as fast as the national average. Now home to about 9.5 million people, we are the 10th most populous state.
Our five biggest cities, Charlotte, Raleigh, Greensboro, Winston-Salem and Durham, all grew by more than 20%, with Raleigh growing by an astounding 46.3%! Many small towns ballooned in size. Seven counties experienced population loss. We’re growing – unevenly.
Different Diversity. In almost two-thirds of the largest cities in the United States, whites are a minority. The trend is playing out in cities across North Carolina. Five of North Carolina’s six largest cities are majority-minority, with more blacks and Hispanics than whites. Charlotte, Winston-Salem and Greensboro became majority-minority in the last decade, joining Durham and Fayetteville. Charlotte’s non-Hispanic white population now accounts for 45 percent of city residents. The percentage was 55 percent just 10 years ago.
Both Richer and Poorer. Since 2000, those in the highest income brackets increased their earnings by 40%. In contrast, the number of individuals living in poverty increased by 32%.
Our young people are searching for answers. They have asked: Will getting good grades ensure a good quality of life? What kind of college degree will best hold value over time? Do I even need to go to college if I want to be an entrepreneur? Which communities will be places to live, work, and raise a family comfortably? Will I be able to afford healthcare? How will we have enough water to support our growing population? Will I be able to work from home for most jobs? Will I own that home? What does the American Dream mean for me?
In turn, I have a question for you: Are you willing to work with IEI to help our young people find answers to these questions?
Anita
At the 26th Annual Emerging Issues Forum in February, Rye Barcott, a UNC-Chapel Hill graduate and co-founder of Carolina for Kibera, shared his inspiring story about his journey to Kenya, the business he helped fund, and the people who changed his life. His first book, It Happened on the Way to War: A Marine’s Path to Peace, was released March 29 and details the stories of his incredible journey.
Listen to Rye’s presentation at the Emerging Issues Forum, or read the News and Observer’s article about Rye from the April 16 edition.
Over the last 20 years, portion sizes have gradually gotten larger. It is not unusual for today’s food portions in restaurants and other places to feed an entire family. Increased portion sizes and the associated increased caloric intake are having a direct effect on our health and wellness. The National Heart Lung and Blood Institute developed a Portion Distortion Quiz to test your knowledge on current portion sizes and the amount of physical activity required to burn off those extra calories. Take the quiz and see how long you’ll have to exercise to burn off that morning cup of joe!
At the Emerging Issues Forum in February, attendees emphasized the importance of innovating healthcare in North Carolina and growing a workforce capable of supporting these innovations. However, current healthcare workforce efforts are fragmented, with limited collaboration between policy makers, educators, employers and others who are responsible for planning and implementing workforce strategies at the state and local level.
In the coming months, IEI will host Community Forums across the state in order to identify and build support for policy initiatives that reduce barriers to growing the healthcare workforce and implementing healthcare innovations statewide.
Community Forums will be held in Haywood, Robeson, Mecklenburg and Wilson Counties. If you are interested in participating in a Community Forum in your area, please contact Sarah Langer, health policy manager, at (919) 513-2800 or sarah_langer@ncsu.edu.
Are you interested in learning about the latest news in health, education, environments and economic development in North Carolina? If so, follow @emergingnc on Twitter and help us reach our goal of 1,000 followers by June 1!
