UNC Rural visits Jones County for community conversation
TRENTON — Community leaders, elected officials and residents gathered Wednesday at the Sen. Harry Brown Center at Jones Senior High School for a discussion focused on Jones County’s needs, strengths and future partnerships.
The conversation was led by Adam Sotak, associate director of UNC Rural, as part of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill’s Rural Community Conversations initiative.
The event brought together a diverse group of participants from across the county, including local officials and community stakeholders. Among those attending was Jones Senior High School senior Justin Mustachia, who plans to attend Lenoir Community College this fall.
The meeting was one of the first 20 conversations being held in rural counties across North Carolina. The goal is to help UNC Rural better understand the communities it serves and identify ways UNC-Chapel Hill can connect university resources with local needs.
Organizers described the visit as a fact-finding step meant to open the door for future partnerships between Jones County and UNC-Chapel Hill’s Rural Community-Campus Partners.
UNC Rural’s broader mission is to extend the university’s resources beyond Chapel Hill and into rural communities across the state, with the aim of supporting meaningful change and strengthening local connections.
More information about the program is available through UNC Rural’s Community Conversations initiative.
