Community Rising

Join us in this episode as we interview Wallayce Todd of Community CPR to explore the vital role of community connections in the rural areas of Columbus County after storms. Learn how her organizing, Community CPR, and neighborly bonds transform lives, foster resilience, and strengthen the social fabric of our region's rural communities. Ten Things to Do to Prepare for a Storm and Flooding: Create an Emergency Plan:Assemble an Emergency Kit:Stay Informed:Protect Your Home:Prepare for Power Outages:Elevate Important Items:Check Insurance Coverage:Plan for Pets:Know How to Turn Off Utilities:Stay Connected with Neighbors:Never drive into flood water, as it can be deceptively deep and dangerous, risking your safety and the safety of others. Hosted & Produced by Akshay Gokul

When it rains in coastal North Carolina stormwater pours off our plethora of parking lots into the neighborhoods, parks and eventually the Cape Fear River, and with the stream of water pollutants with it. Our increasing number of surfaces don’t allow the water to soak into the ground. Local groups are advancing public education which acknowledge the big public policy issues at play, but also offer solutions we can all take. The episode features staff from Heal Our Waterways and the Cape Fear River Watch. Here are ten things you can do about stormwater in Wilmington, North Carolina, New Hanover County, along with helpful links: Install Rain BarrelsNew Hanover County Rain Barrel ProgramCreate a Rain GardenNC State Extension on Rain GardensUse Permeable PavementsEPA on Permeable PavementPlant Native VegetationNC Native Plant SocietyReduce Lawn Fertilizer UseNC State Extension on Fertilizer ManagementProperly Dispose of Hazardous WasteNew Hanover County Household Hazardous Waste ProgramClean Up Pet WasteEPA on Pet Waste ManagementInstall Green RoofsNC State Extension on Green RoofsParticipate in Community Clean-UpsCape Fear River WatchEducate Your CommunityNC Coastal FederationImplementing these actions can help manage stormwater and protect the environment in Wilmington and New Hanover County. Hosted & Produced by Akshay Gokul

In this episode of Community Rising, we spotlight the vital work of Seeds of Healing, Inc. Join us as we speak with Bonetta Spratley, Christopher Marville, and Dr. LeShonda Wallace to learn how they are advancing HIV testing and awareness in coastal North Carolina. Discover the innovative approaches they use to combat stigma, provide support, and empower individuals living with HIV. Listen in to hear inspiring stories and learn how you can contribute to this essential cause. Learn more about the resources provided by visiting Seeds of Healing website.

“We were just sitting on the porch like normal on a beautiful Saturday. And then we heard this tractor, and then all of a sudden this animal waste was coming everywhere and it was stinking like nothing we had ever experienced,” says Elsie Herring of Wallace, North Carolina. Herring is one of many eastern North Carolinians who have had negative health impacts and financial burdens as a result of nearby concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFO’s) over the last several decades. In this episode of CAFO’s & Communities, we explore how the hog industry’s hazardous waste redistribution has harmed neighboring communities and what they’re doing about it. Produced by Dedan Waciuri, Kayla Guilliams, and Laura Bratton in collaboration with Sherri White-Williamson, Elsie Herring, Jeff Currie, Larry Baldwin, and Naeema Muhammad. Special thanks to Larry Baldwin of Coastal Carolina Riverwatch. To learn more and get involved, visit North Carolina Environmental Justice Network, North Carolina Conservation Network, and Coastal Carolina Riverwatch‘s websites. Music: Pure Water by Medyn, Thoughts by ANBR, Aquarius by Spearfisher. Sounds by Badlands Sound via Artist and YouTube Audio Library. Photos by Laura Bratton. Bottom right photo by Jeremy Lange, taken from ProPublica. References: Environmental Working Group, “EXPOSING FIELDS OF FILTH: Locations of Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations in North Caroling by County,” EWG and Waterkeeper Alliance, https://www.ewg.org/interactive-maps/2016_north_carolina_animal_feeding_operations_bycounty.php. Kravchenko, J., “The Coming Storm 2019: Hog CAFOs, Human Health & Hurricanes in N.C,” Duke’s Nicholas School of the Environment (2019), https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xHf22c_uwzc. Kravchenko et al., “Mortality and Health Outcomes in North Carolina Communities Located in Close Proximity to Hog Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations,” North Carolina MedicalJournal, 79 (5):278-288 (2018). Marks, R., “CESSPOOLS OF SHAME: How Factory Farm Lagoons and Sprayfields ThreatenEnvironmental and Public Health,” Natural Resources Defense Council and the Clean WaterNetwork (2001). Schiffman et al., “Potential Health Effects of Odor From Animal Operations, WastewaterTreatment, and Recycling of Byproducts,” Journal of Agromedicine, 7(1): 7-81 (2000); PolicyStatement Adopted by the House of Delegates, North Carolina Council of Churches (2000). Sobsey, M., McBride Health Conference, UNC Chapel Hill (1990), https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BoTcCooC7AE. Thu, et al., “A Control Study of the Physical and Mental Health of Residents Living Near aLarge-Scale Swine Operation,” Journal of Agricultural Safety and Health 3(1): 13-26 (1997). Wing, S., “Community Health Impacts of Factory Farms,” TEDxTalks Manhattan (2013),https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ZW8-LQftnY.

Coming soon on Community Rising. Climate change is reshaping coastal North Carolina in a myriad of ways, and one of the most striking is the emergence of ghost forests. As our climate warms, sea levels rise, and saltwater intrusion advances inland, the delicate balance of coastal ecosystems is disrupted. The result is the eerie transformation of lush, vibrant forests into skeletal remnants of their former selves, populated by dead and dying trees. Ghost forests serve as a stark testament to the urgency of addressing climate change, highlighting the pressing need for global action to mitigate its devastating effects and protect the fragile ecosystems that are falling victim to its relentless advance.

Want to vote early in coastal North Carolina? Here's how. ¿Quieres votar temprano en la costa de Carolina del Norte? Escucha este anuncio.

Honey bees not only produce one of the most popular sweeteners used within food and drink products - they also play a huge role in our agricultural system. Onslow County Master Beekeepers David and Lynn Sanbeg, along with Eric Talley of the Onslow County Beekeepers Association, have made it their goal to provide high-quality honey for their communities. These dedicated beekeepers encourage residents of Coastal North Carolina to learn the importance of honey bees, and how they are a crucial component of one-third of the produce that comes from our agriculture systems. Music used: Mind Stream by Chris Haugen, May 2020, 2:24, from the YouTube Audio Library Oceanside Bonfire by The Great North Sound Society, May 2020, 2:53, from the YouTube Audio Library Now I Know by TrackTribe, Oct. 2019, 3:17, from the YouTube Audio Library Back To Portland by TrackTribe, Oct. 20219, 2:05, from the YouTube Audio Library Rainy Sundays by The 126ers, Aug. 2019, 3:24, from the YouTube Audio Library Peace Creek by Ashley Shadow, June 2019, 2:45, from the YouTube Audio Library Swoop by The Mini Vandals, Mar. 2019, 1:43, from the YouTube Audio Library High Wire by The 126ers, Dec. 2018, 3:18, from the YouTube Audio Library Sounds used: “Park ambience - mostly birds” by Mafon2 of Freesound.org, May 15th, 2015, 1:02, https://freesound.org/people/Mafon2/sounds/274175/ “Bees.wav” by Benboncan of Freesound.org, May 31st, 2009, 4:36, https://freesound.org/people/Benboncan/sounds/73370/ “Bees.wav” by peachmaster of Freesound.org, Sep. 27th, 2013, 0:17, https://freesound.org/people/peachmaster/sounds/201613/ “Wind in trees.WAV” by nickydunne of Freesound.org, Mar. 14th, 2019, 1:30, https://freesound.org/people/nickydunne/sounds/463551/ “Skylarks at ROC.wav” by genghis attenborough of Freesound.org, Feb. 29th, 2008, 2:58, https://freesound.org/people/genghis%20attenborough/sounds/49006/ Image used: Creative Commons, "200907011 Honey Bee 021" by cygnus921 is licensed under CC BY 2.0

Look to the coast of North Carolina and you may find something a bit unexpected - artificial reefs. These manmade reefs mimic the characteristics of real reefs in order to provide a home to ocean life. In this episode, Jordan Byrum, an artificial reef coordinator with the NC Division of Marine Fisheries, discusses the history, creation and importance of artificial reefs in North Carolina.

Hog farms have been polluting the environment of Eastern NC for decades. And over the past few years, owners of these operations have started touting biogas as a way to make hog farms more sustainable. In this episode, Kemp Burdette, the Cape Fear Riverkeeper, explains why biogas isn't the sustainable solution that it's being made out to be.

Low-income communities of color are disproportionately impacted by environmental issues in NC, and face higher rates of disease because of it. When COVID-19 hit, Sherri White-Williamson, the Environmental Justice Policy Director at NC Conservation Network, says it became clear that these were the communities that were going to be unduly vulnerable to the virus. In this episode, White-Williamson discusses why environmental justice communities are so at-risk and what policymakers should do about it.

Christian Legner is the Public Informations Officer of Duck, NC. She speaks about what her town prioritizes when hurricane season is in full effect, and how this changes with COVID-19. Hurricane Isaias hit Coastal Carolina a few days ago. Christian speaks about how her town dealt with the damages and evacuations.

NC is predicted to have a high-intensity hurricane season this year. The state is launching a new tool – outlined zones – to help coastal residents understand which areas will be most vulnerable to impacts and organizes evacuations by predicted zone impact. In this episode, Katie Webster, Assistant Director of Planning for NC Emergency Management, talks about the state's new "Know Your Zone" program that hopes to streamline these evacuation orders amidst COVID-19. To find out your zone go to: knowyourzone.nc.gov Produced by Kayla Guilliams. Music by Meydän. Broadcast from the Working Narratives studio, this series examines environmental news in the coastal Carolina region.

North Carolina's low-income communities of color already face higher rates of chronic diseases like heart disease. And with the threat of increasing temperatures due to climate change, these disparities will only worsen. In this episode, Marian Johnson-Thompson, a virologist and environmental justice advocate, talks about how climate change will worsen health disparities, and why these disparities exist in the first place. Produced by Kayla Guilliams. Music by Meydän. Broadcast from the Working Narratives studio, this series examines environmental news in the coastal Carolina region.

From hog lagoons to sewage sludge to wood pellet plants, low-income communities of color in Eastern North Carolina experience a wide array of environmental injustices. Naeema Muhammad, an organizer and activist with the North Carolina Environmental Justice Network, has been fighting against these injustices for over 20 years and has experienced the emotional toll that comes with such activism. In this episode, Muhammad describes the current battle she's fighting - advocating for communities living near hog lagoons whose lives and health are put at risk on a daily basis. Produced by Kayla Guilliams. Music by Meydän. Broadcast from the Working Narratives studio, this series examines environmental news in the coastal Carolina region.

Ana Zimmerman is a biology professor at the College of Charleston. She's also a flood survivor. Over the course of a few years, her home was repeatedly flooded after major storms. The effect of repeated floods caused major damage to her home, and left her with struggles that weigh on her both personally and professionally as a scientist. Produced by Ben Abrams. Music by Meydän. Photo by Wade Spees. Broadcast from the Working Narratives studio, this series examines environmental news in the coastal Carolina region.

On July 22nd, the Chemours facility in Fayetteville, North Carolina notified Cape Fear Public Utilities Authority that sediment highly contaminated with PFAS chemicals leaked into the Cape Fear River. In this episode, Emily Donovan, co-founder of Clean Cape Fear, tells us what Brunswick, New Hanover and Pender county residents that rely on the river for drinking water need to know. For more information, go to www.cleancapefear.org/dailyfilter/ or https://www.cfpua.org/CivicAlerts.aspx Produced by Kayla Guilliams. Music by Meydän. Broadcast from the Working Narratives studio, this series examines environmental news in the coastal Carolina region.

Larry Baldwin is the Crystal Coast Waterkeeper and the Advocacy Director of the White Oak New River Keeper Alliance. He's an advocate for improving the health and quality of water systems throughout coastal North Carolina. Baldwin has experienced a number of hurricane and says they can actually be a good thing for river systems. But they cause a number of other issues - they destroy communities' infrastructure and create issues with water quality, among others. Produced by Caroline Bailey. Music by Meydän. Broadcast from the Working Narratives studio, this series examines environmental news in the coastal Carolina region.

North Carolina's Albemarle-Pamlico Estuary is the second-largest estuary in the United States and serves as a vital resource for several industries and communities. Bill Crowell, Director of the Albemarle-Pamlico National Estuary Partnership, says that as climate change continues to threaten this resource, taking steps to protect it is more important than ever. Produced by Kayla Guilliams. Music by Meydän. Broadcast from the Working Narratives studio, this series examines environmental news in the coastal Carolina region.

Peter Groenendyk is the Director of Housing at the University of North Carolina at Wilmington (UNCW) and has experienced countless hurricanes. Groenendyk discusses the process of evacuating students during hurricanes and finding housing for students with nowhere to go. He says his experience relocating students during hurricanes prepared him to deal with student housing issues that resulted from COVID-19 - but only to an extent. Produced by Caroline Bailey. Music by Meydän. Broadcast from the Working Narratives studio, this series examines environmental news in the coastal Carolina region.

As a seventh generation commercial fisherman, David “Clammerhead” Cessna, of Smyrna, NC, speaks about how his family's tradition led him to sustainable shellfish harvesting. At age 59, he is the co-founder of the Sandbar Oyster Company, producing job opportunities, environmental solutions and green gill oysters for Coastal NC and beyond. Produced by Chris Moncrief. Music by Meydän. Broadcast from the Working Narratives studio, this series examines environmental news in the coastal Carolina region.