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Hello, Wayne County! 

 In 2010, photographer Brandon Stanton initiated a project called Humans of New York, where he photographed and interviewed different members of his community. Its purpose was to promote peace and understanding throughout the community by spreading the stories of thousands of people.

 The Wayne County Public Library has partnered with Rohan Shreenath, a junior at Wayne Country Day School and resident of Wayne County since he was 11 months old. Together, we are launching a similar project called Humans of Wayne County (HoWC).

 This page will share information about the residents of Wayne County in written format, oral interview, and/or video interviews.

 If you would like to be included in this project, please email a little about yourself. See guidelines below. We will randomly post the received information about the residents of our County. All emails should be sent to: jessica.lozano@waynegov.com. Below is an example of information to send:

 

·         Name (First Name: required) (Last Name: optional)

·         Tell us anything you want to share about yourself

·         Tell us about your dreams and aspirations

·         How long have you lived in Wayne County?

·         What do you like about Wayne County?

·         What do you hope Wayne County will look like in 10 years from now?

·         Tell us about activities you’re involved in

·         Tell us about your hobbies

·         Please include a picture if you want your picture to be posted

 

We look forward to hearing from you!

Martha Bryan Photo

Humans of Wayne County #55 - Martha Bryan 3/25/22

Ms. Martha Bryan traces her roots back to Goldsboro, NC where she was born and raised. As a child, her dad owned a drug store on Ash Street. She fondly remembers riding bikes and walking through the rustic downtown area. Upon graduating from Goldsboro High School in 1965, Ms. Bryan matriculated at Guilford College in Greensboro with her husband, whom she has now been married to for 53 years.

After graduating, Ms. Bryan immediately immersed herself in teaching back in the Wayne County School System. She actively taught 1st grade for 26 years before becoming a reading specialist for another five. With her career, Ms. Bryan cherished the opportunity to assist young children. She saw the fruits of her labor especially over her last eight years, when she was able to aid underprivileged kids in the inner city schools. During this time, she taught one-on-one with 1st graders through the Reading Recovery program. Through this program and greater schooling of children in Kindergarten, she relished the chance to see the immense progress and growth these children produced. In fact, Ms. Bryan enjoyed making an impactful change on students so much that she still volunteers at Carver Heights, reading with children in need.

Having lived her entire life in Wayne County, Ms. Bryan personally understands and appreciates how progressive the county strives to be, especially in its downtown renovation. She also enjoys the people and close-knit community, largely due to the presence of Seymour Johnson Air Force Base. In the future, Ms. Bryan hopes to see the county follow the progressive trend it's currently on and bring young people back home after college. In fact, her family is doing her part to achieve this milestone, as her 45 year old son returned to Goldsboro.

Outside of work and especially since her retirement in 2001, Ms. Bryan dabbles in various community activities. Along with being involved in her husband’s business, Sportsman’s World, she has served two terms on the Arts Council, worked on the Downtown Goldsboro Development Corporation Board, served on the Chamber of Commerce Board, been a deacon for the First Baptist Church, and sang in the adult choir at church. Currently, two of her favorite involvements include serving Meals on Wheels with her brother and working with the Military Affairs Committee. She is particularly inclined towards these activities because Meals on Wheels provides her the chance to keep Wayne County’s older population (people as old as 102!) safe and at home amidst COVID, while the Military Affairs Committee allows her to meet a plethora of incoming people and officers.

With these various community involvements, Ms. Bryan hopes to emit the notion that she clearly loves to be involved. As a people person who has never met a stranger, she seeks to fulfill her part in making the community better. Whether it be participating in the Center Street Jam to see people enjoying themselves or answering questions from the wives of Seymour Johnson Air Force Base on Facebook, Ms. Bryan looks to help others in any way she can.

In her spare time, Ms. Bryan loves to work in her garden and yard, travel to her place in the mountains, and watch her grandson play baseball at UNC Chapel Hill. In general, she just enjoys being outside and making a difference any way she can in the community she has forever called home.

#marthabryan     #goldsborohighschool      #guilfordcollege   #waynecountypublicschools   #wcps     #teacher    #carverheights    #sportsmansworld    #artscouncilofwaynecounty    #dgdc    #waynecountychamberofcommerce    #firstbaptistchurchdeacon    #mealsonwheels   #militaryaffairscommittee   #gardener    #mother      #grandmother    #humansofwaynecounty      #howc    #waynecountypubliclibrary      #diversityinourcommunity     #rohanshreenath     #wcpl       #strenghtenourcommunity     #explorediscoverandconnect    #peaceandunderstanding      #community

Rick Sumner Photo

Humans of Wayne County #54 - Rick Sumner 3/11/22

Mr. Rick Sumner was born and raised in Winston-Salem, NC. He attended college at Washington and Lee University in Virginia. Before laying roots in Wayne County, he lived in various places including Chapel Hill and California. He permanently moved to Wayne County about 20 years ago to raise a family in the hometown of his wife Susie.

Mr. Sumner cherishes the opportunities Wayne County offers for a family. His older son Thomas is a freshman at UNC Chapel Hill, and his younger son Trotter is a freshman in high school. Mr. Sumner views Wayne County as the utopian place for raising his family and involving himself in the community. In the future, he hopes Wayne County builds on its current development trends of a renovated and vibrant downtown. Additionally, being actively involved with Seymour Johnson Air Force base, he would love to see the base flourish with a wider variety of missions, planes, and innovative technologies, as it is a critical part of the county.

Mr. Sumner works in commercial real estate for Wooten Development, where he partners with tenants to develop properties. Such tenants may be renting property from Wooten Development in order to attain their goals for their business. Mr. Sumner’s array of over 150 tenants range anywhere from small hair salons to large organizations like UNC Health Care.

Through his career, he relishes the opportunity to immerse himself with an eclectic group of businesses. Coming out of college, he dabbled with various endeavors, working in banking and internet fields. Now, he is able to apply those skills to collaborate with a plethora of businesses and help them achieve their goals.

Mr. Sumner’s gregarious personality is exemplified by his engagement with the community. His extensive list of titles include Chair of the Chamber of Commerce, Chair of the Military Affairs Committee, Chair of the Goldsboro Wayne County Tourism Council, President of the Board of Directors for the Boys & Girls Club, Director of the Wings over Wayne Air Show, board member of the Salvation Army, and involvement with the Downtown Goldsboro Development Corporation and Wayne Memorial Hospital Foundation. Through his substantial involvement, Mr. Sumner has appreciated the opportunity to make a local difference at the grassroots level. His indelible impression can be seen from the many awards he has received, which include but are not limited to Wayne County Chamber of Commerce Volunteer of the Year and Wayne County Leader of the Year.

In particular Mr. Sumner enjoys his current role as Chair of the Military Affairs Committee. This position offers him the means to learn about not only the base, but draw from its people and the experiences they have obtained from living all around the world. He has cherished the opportunity to meet such people and obtain a global perspective.

Outside of the community, Mr. Sumner also enjoys running, working out, fishing, and participating in Boy Scouts. He has loved every day living in Wayne County, growing his company and raising a family with his wife Susie.

#ricksumner     #wootendevelopment      #washingtonandleeuniversity   #militaryaffairscommittee   #chamberofcommerce     #salemnc    #volunteeroftheyear     #wcleaderoftheyear    #boysandgirlsclub    #goldsborowaynecountytourismcouncil    #wingsoverwayne    #salvationarmy    #waynememorialhospitalfoundation    #dgdc    #humansofwaynecounty      #howc    #waynecountypubliclibrary      #diversityinourcommunity     #rohanshreenath     #wcpl       #strenghtenourcommunity     #explorediscoverandconnect    #peaceandunderstanding      #community

Humans of Wayne County #53 - Ada Okeke 1/27/22

Ada Okeke Photo

Ms. Ada Okeke is a dedicated member of the Wayne County community who was born and raised in Nigeria. Her first taste of America came in Pittsburgh, where she moved in 2000. Spending five years here, she met and married her husband along with working tirelessly for the University of Pittsburgh. She then spent time living in Charlotte and working for US Airways before finally relocating to the place she currently calls home.

For her career, Ms. Okeke serves as the Senior HR Business Partner for Wayne UNC Health Care. Her day-to-day responsibilities—which allow her to meet a vast array of individuals—include resolving various employee relations issues. She also works with directors, assisting with strategic planning, training, mentorship, and coaching. After continuing to work at this fulfilling job, Ms. Okeke hopes to eventually retire in around eight years and move back to Africa.

Ms. Okeke has lived in Wayne County for eight years. Upon her first move to the county, she was slightly upset by the small town, especially considering the fact that she was moving from Charlotte. In fact, she even told her husband she wouldn’t move to the county until it had a Harris Teeter (which it eventually got). However, Wayne County quickly wormed its way into her heart when she saw it as an ideal place to raise a family. After meeting many other helpful and friendly citizens, the county quickly felt like her home. Her neighbors on her street became family to her, which allowed her to feel comfortable in her environment and find her niche.

In the future, Ms. Okeke hopes Wayne County extends its current path of growth and development. She views the Seymour Johnson Air Force Base as a key aspect in bringing this goal to fruition because it attracts a variety of individuals. She just hopes that more businesses come and plant themselves here after seeing the potential that Wayne County has to offer.

When not immersing herself in work, Ms. Okeke loves to travel. She has especially enjoyed trips to Europe and Africa in the past. In the coming years, she excitedly awaits to experience the Middle East and Asia, which she has yet to see much of. She also thoroughly enjoys the local YMCA because they offer an Olympic-size pool. Before COVID, she enjoyed going to the YMCA with her kids. Otherwise, she mainly likes to walk and hang out with her friends whenever she has the opportunity to.

In general, Ms. Okeke wants others to know about her laid back and jocose personality. She hasn’t met a stranger yet. Rather, she loves meeting new people and learning about both themselves and their culture. One of her most heralded traits is that she can strike up a conversation with anyone. She also wants others to know she loves dogs. She has a particular affection for one dog named Sparky, who she even has a picture of in her office. Other than that, Ms. Okeke is a people person who passionately does whatever she can to make the people around her happy.

  #adaokeke     #wayneunchealthcare      #nigeria   #humanresources   #nevermetastranger     #pittsburg    #charlotte        #humansofwaynecounty      #howc    #waynecountypubliclibrary      #diversityinourcommunity     #rohanshreenath     #wcpl       #strengthenourcommunity     #explorediscoverandconnect    #peaceandunderstanding      #community

Chuck Allen Photo
Chuck Allen Highway Sign

Humans of Wayne County #52 - Chuck Allen 1/10/22

Note from Rohan: I did not get a chance to interview Chuck Allen. When I started this project, Mr. Allen was the mayor of Goldsboro and suffering from cancer. He would have whole-heartedly supported this project and loved to be interviewed. Mr. Allen passed away on September 17, 2021 and I wanted to honor him and his service by representing him in the Humans of Wayne County book. Portions of his obituary as written by his family are below:

Mr. Allen graduated from Goldsboro High School in 1979 and NCSU in 1984. An entrepreneur from a young age, Mr. Allen moved back to Goldsboro immediately after graduation and started a lawn care business. Mr. Allen worked his entire professional life in Wayne County, founding Allen Grading Company. Giving back to his community was paramount to him and through his company he provided help to many local nonprofit groups such as 3-HC, Paramount Theater, Boys Scouts of America at Camp Tuscarora, and the Wayne County Chamber of Commerce.

Mr. Allen was equally dedicated to giving his time to non-profit organizations in Goldsboro.  He served on the boards of the Goldsboro Family YMCA, The Red Cross, and DGDC (Downtown Goldsboro Development Corporation), Boy Scouts, Wayne Country Day School, Wayne County Chamber of Commerce, and Wayne County Development Alliance. He has always been a champion of downtown Goldsboro and worked tirelessly to promote stabilization and revitalization. He was also the Chairman of the Transportation Advisory Committee.

Mr. Allen also served on the NC League of Municipalities Law & Finance Committee, the NC Military Affairs Commission, the Metro Mayors Committee, and the Friends of Seymour Johnson AFB.

Mr. Allen served on the Military Affairs Committee; he was instrumental in maintaining and improving our community’s relationship with Seymour Johnson Air Force Base and in promoting the importance of SJAFB to the Goldsboro community and our nation.

In 1999 Mr. Allen decided to run for political office and served continuously since that election. He joined as Councilman for District 5 and served there until 2015 when he was elected Mayor. He had served as Mayor pro tem for eight of his years as a councilman.

On June 4, 2021, a ceremony to unveil the Chuck Allen Highway was held to recognize his efforts in seeing this project to completion.

In May of 2021, Mr. Allen was awarded the Order of the Long Leaf Pine by Governor Roy Cooper.

Mr. Allen demonstrated a tireless passion for making our community better. He spent countless hours every week on either his city appointment or on charitable organizations.  Mr. Allen became a go-to person within our community to get things done because of his dedicated passion and desire to help others. He did all this without fanfare or recognition. He did this simply because he was very proud of our community and committed to making it better.

#chuckallen     #mayorofgoldsboro      #mayorallen   #allengrading   #goldsborohighschool     #ncstate    #ncmilitaryaffairs   #chuckallenhighway  #father  #grandfather    #gotoperson       #humansofwaynecounty      #howc    #waynecountypubliclibrary      #diversityinourcommunity     #rohanshreenath     #wcpl       #strenghtenourcommunity     #explorediscoverandconnect    #peaceandunderstanding      #community

Jim Parker Photo

Humans of Wayne County #51 - Jim Parker 12/16/21

Mr. Jim Parker was born and raised here in Goldsboro, North Carolina. He grew up in Wayne County back in the 1950s and 60s. During his time here, Mr. Parker graduated from Goldsboro High School in 1969 before attending UNC Chapel Hill as a prestigious Morehead-Cain Scholar. After finishing college, Mr. Parker proceeded to work in Raleigh for some time, before returning to his roots in Goldsboro to open his CPA firm Parker and Parker. Now, over forty years later, he has enjoyed every second of his work and looks forward to winding down his fulfilling career soon.

 Mr. Parker relishes his job because it allows him to work for himself. While some people enjoy the corporate world with a singular boss, he prefers having a hundred bosses, because no one boss would be able to fire him or control his work. He cherishes the independence of being self-employed.

 In Wayne County, Mr. Parker sees many positive qualities. He uses New York as an example of a keen place to visit, but not a place to live for him. Wayne County, on the other hand, is not a great place to visit, but an ideal place to live and raise a family. In addition to this, another advantage Mr. Parker sees in the county is living just four minutes away from work. His only traffic involves whether or not he will miss the stoplight. This can also be seen through a conversation with Mr. Parker’s brother in Raleigh one day, telling him it took three hours to complete just three errands. Mr. Parker appreciates the fact that he could have completed these errands in a third of the time in Wayne County.

 In the future, he hopes the county continues on its trend of improvement. Eastern NC is relatively poor compared to the rest of the state. Mr. Parker hopes for better education to aid in solving this problem. He sees our superb community college system and the presence of the University of Mount Olive as a great start to educating and training citizens of the county to stay and earn good-paying jobs. He understands it’s an uphill struggle overall, but is confident that it can improve.

 Having seen the county for over sixty years, Mr. Parker has noted major growth. Retail and shopping is an example of positive change he has witnessed within Wayne County. Moreover, he acknowledges how much more the county has to offer now than in the past. For instance, while growing up, there was just a drive-in movie theater. There was no mall, skate park, family YMCA, soccer fields, or Kiwanis Train like there is now, and the library existed in an old house. He appreciates seeing these commodities put in place to better the county.

 These commodities are the primary reason he joined with eight others to recapitalize Wilber’s Barbecue in the county. It’s an iconic name that helps in putting Goldsboro on the map. He views these small things as what differentiates us from other small towns nearby, who look up to us. He encourages us to recognize that other towns admire the things we have, just as we look up to a town like Raleigh.

 In his free time, Mr. Parker enjoys golfing, gardening, fishing, and hunting. He has immersed himself in golf since high school, and even though he doesn’t see himself as good, he thoroughly enjoys it. As far as gardening, he has grown a vegetable garden in his backyard for forty-five years, working manually to grow flowers, roses, and other plants. In general, Mr. Parker wants others to know that he is a humble guy who has loved his time living in Wayne County.

 #jimparker     #parkerandparker      #moreheadcainscholar   #cpa   #goldsborohighschool     #unc    #uncchapelhill   #wilbersbarbecue  #gardening  #fishing   #hunting     #golf       #humansofwaynecounty      #howc    #waynecountypubliclibrary      #diversityinourcommunity     #rohanshreenath     #wcplnc       #strengthenourcommunity     #explorediscoverandconnect    #peaceandunderstanding      #community 

Donna Phillips Photo

Humans of Wayne County #50 - Donna Phillips 12/3/21

Mrs. Donna Phillips, director of the Wayne County Public Library, has held a deep love for reading from a young age. Though it may seem cliché, the Wayne County Public Library represented one of her favorite places to visit growing up as a child. Mrs. Phillips recalls as a kid getting herself into trouble with her mother. She would discreetly read under her bedsheets with a flashlight after bedtime. So, even though she was fully unaware that she would mature to be a librarian, the connection was present from a young age. In fact, her dad even crafted a bookshelf in the house, where each of his children could borrow six books from the library to be stored on the shelf. Mrs. Phillips' weekly trips to the library constitute her fondest memories as a child. 

As can be expected, Mrs. Phillips truly abides by the saying, “If you love the work you do, then you never work a day in your life.” While trials and challenges naturally arise, she displays genuine enthusiasm for her work, making the day go by swiftly. Particularly, she finds the most joy in serving the people of the community. From meeting and listening to our community members, she strives to match the library’s resources with their interests. Of course, the final aspect that completes Mrs. Phillips’ job is the amazing staff she works with. The library’s employees are dedicated public servants who serve the community with alacrity. They seek to help connect others with the book or information they need.

Mrs. Phillips cherishes the friendliness of the citizens in Wayne County. She admires the fact that we are cultivating diversity, which enriches our lives. Additionally, Mrs. Philips views the military base as a tremendous asset for the county. As a matter of fact, many of the library’s employees are service member’s spouses. Lastly, she loves how the Wayne County Public Library offers her the opportunity to ascertain community needs and match the library’s services to meet those needs. She sees Humans of Wayne County as an example of this vision, seeking to meet the community’s needs and unite them through the library.

In the future, Mrs. Phillips expects Wayne County to boast a robust, thriving economy. She sees this happening through our youth. Mrs. Phillips hopes that the young people who leave for college return to the county to invest their talents into it. In the future, when the current Wayne County workforce transitions into retirement, it will be up to the next generation to assume responsibility and fill the void.

In her free time, Mrs. Phillips segments her time into two main hobbies. Obviously, her first interest is reading, particularly mystery novels. Even so, one of her favorite books she has read is The Grapes of Wrath. Reading it in high school, Mrs. Phillips quickly connected and identified with the hardships and determination of the characters in the novel. It allowed her to realize that although challenges will arrive in life, they can always be faced head on.

Her other favorite hobby is gardening. Mrs. Phillips owns a vegetable garden in her backyard, where she finds joy in growing her personal organic food. She also loves flower gardening, a trait she inherited from her mother and grandmother.

Mainly, Mrs. Phillips wants others to know that the Wayne County Public Library belongs to the community. It is for them. Supported by funding and tax dollars, these yearly investments are made to provide our citizens with quality resources. Whether it be searching for the perfect book, correct hobby, internet/resources, or even to just improve job skills, the library’s plethora of resources offers something for everyone. All you have to do is visit.

#donnaphillips     #waynecountypubliclibrarydirector      #lovestoread   #lovestowork   #vegetablegarden     #grapesofwrath    #servethecommunity       #humansofwaynecounty      #howc    #waynecountypubliclibrary      #diversityinourcommunity     #rohanshreenath     #wcpl       #strengthenourcommunity     #explorediscoverandconnect    #peaceandunderstanding      #community    #wcplnc 

Taylor Gray Photo

Humans of Wayne County #49 - Taylor Gray 11/18/21

Mr. Taylor Gray is a Biology instructor at Wayne Community College. He has held this teaching position for the last three years. To say he is knowledgeable in Biology would be a major understatement. Mr. Gray attended college at East Carolina University. Here, he completed a dual major in Biology and Chemistry. After that, he went on to attain his Master’s degree in Molecular Biology in Biotechnology. He clearly has a passion for Biology and hopes to spread this passion to others through teaching.

 

Mr. Gray particularly loves teaching because he enjoys creating that “spark” in others that he gets when talking about Biology. In fact, one thing he has learned from teaching is that it even helps the instructor become more educated in the field themselves. Through teaching, he has enjoyed being able to learn. Mr. Gray has no regrets about his chosen field as he wakes up excited to teach and learn about his passion every day.

 

Mr. Gray has lived in Wayne County his entire life. He is currently living in Fremont with his wife Heather, who he has been married to for the past two years. He specifically loves the close-knit community pervasive throughout Wayne County. He views it as a relaxed community where people will perform good deeds without expecting anything in return. In the future, Mr. Gray wants to see Wayne County continue to grow. He has seen major strides in infrastructure development, and wants that to continue. In addition, he wants to see the opening of more small businesses to further contribute to the community feel in Wayne County. Since the people are at the nexus of the county’s success, Mr. Gray knows Wayne County has a strong foundation to build on.

 

In his free time, Mr. Gray takes part in a wide variety of interests. He loves sports, particularly tennis and water skiing. Additionally, he participates in martial arts, arts, and music. To put in a biological perspective, his left brain is very active in his job, but his creative right brain is more apparent in his hobbies. Mr. Gray is a well-rounded individual who lives a pleasurable life in and out of the classroom.

 

#mrtaylorgray     #biologyteacher       #waynecommunitycollege    #eastcarolinauniversity  #lovessports     #excitedtoteach    #molecularbiology       #humansofwaynecounty      #howc    #waynecountypubliclibrary      #diversityinourcommunity     #rohanshreenath     #wcpl       #strengthenourcommunity     #explorediscoverandconnect    #peaceandunderstanding      #community 

Jim Stackhouse Photo

Humans of Wayne County #48 - Dr. Jim Stackhouse 11/4/21

Dr. Jim Stackhouse first came to Wayne County in an unintentional way. Born in Raleigh, the Air Force decided to send him here after medical school and residency training. Dr. Stackhouse was originally unaware of where Goldsboro was, and it wasn’t his first destination or offer choice. However, after arriving, his wife swiftly found a place to work, and Dr. Stackhouse found partners with whom to begin a private practice. He decided to permanently stay after his love for the community quickly expanded.

 

Dr. Stackhouse left the Air Force after three years, and cultivated a private practice with Dr. Sam McLamb, along with associates and partners. By the time he finally retired from private practice two years ago, they had cared for a colossal 30,000 beloved Wayne County citizens.

 

Currently, Dr. Stackhouse serves as a part time Medical Director at the Wayne County Health Department. Initially, he worked around twenty hours a month to aid with policies and procedures. Then, after retirement, he started to sink into his newfound life. However, COVID soon hit, and Dr. Stackhouse’s work has become much closer to a full-time job now. He enjoys working in public health because it differs from the norm of his private practice, where he was one-on-one oriented. He cherishes the opportunity to collaboratively work with amazing, dedicated people striving to achieve the Health Department’s goals.

 

Dr. Stackhouse lived in Atlanta for some time before moving to Wayne County. While Atlanta in the 1960s and 1970s was claimed to be the great open neighborhood of the South, Dr. Stackhouse recalls how this claim was largely false and neighborhoods were often separated by race. However, when he came to Wayne County, he immediately noticed a striking contrast. The military has created a heterogeneous influx of people allowing Wayne County to be thoroughly integrated with different backgrounds and cultures. In Goldsboro, Dr. Stackhouse worked in the Air Force with African-American NCOs and managers, a development he didn’t see in Atlanta. This pleasant surprise represented a tremendous identity for a town of this size.

 

In the future, Dr. Stackhouse anticipates that Wayne County will continue to experience growth as a bedroom community for Raleigh. He firmly believes that if Wayne County can obtain improved transportation systems and shorten the travel time to Raleigh, it can further solidify its status as a bedroom community. This issue has become increasingly exigent due to the lack of job opportunities that prevent the county from being able to retain young adults. Dr Stackhouse hopes that the county can become a bedroom community to offer more jobs.

 

In his spare time, Dr. Stackhouse’s interests have morphed over the years. First, he enjoyed working as an instrument rated pilot. Soon after, he took up diving and acquired several hundred hours of diving before being forced to stop 10 years ago from a devastating diving accident. Now, Dr. Stackhouse’s main hobby is reading; he reads everything from the Internet to books to whatever he can find. He is currently reading a book about Bayesian Mathematics and how, despite its age, can now apply to questions such as the probability of a nuclear bomb going off in the Air Force or other hypothetical situations. His reading interests span to just about anything. One day might find him reading a detective novel while the next he will be reading about mathematical theory.

 

Looking back, Dr. Stackhouse takes pride in the three boys he has raised, who are now all employed and have children of their own; he has six grandchildren. Dr. Stackhouse and his wife have been blessed with their health and family’s health. While they would certainly like to delve back into traveling whenever they can in the future, they currently appreciate their life of being a part of something more. They look forward to continuing to do whatever they can to benefit our amazing county.

 

 

#drjimstackhouse     #airforce       #waynecountyhealthdepartment    #physician   #lovestoread     #privatepractice     #publichealth       #humansofwaynecounty      #howc    #waynecountypubliclibrary      #diversityinourcommunity     #rohanshreenath     #wcpl       #strenghtenourcommunity     #explorediscoverandconnect    #peaceandunderstanding      #community 

Robin Thaxton Photo (2)

Humans of Wayne County #47 - Robin Thaxton 10/22/21

Ms. Robin Thaxton, who has lived her entire life in Wayne County, remains a strong presence within the community. She is married with three children, all of whom have graduated from college and live independently. Currently, Ms. Thaxton works as a nurse at the hospital. She values this job because it offers her the opportunity to care for other beloved members of our community.

Ms. Thaxton works in Pre-Admission Testing at Wayne UNC Health Care, where she prepares patients for their upcoming procedures. For this job, she most enjoys the ability to engage in one-on-one conversations with her patients. She gathers their medical history to ensure they obtain the best possible care during their procedure. Ms. Thaxton also makes sure to educate and reassure her patients to minimize the questions and doubts they may have after the procedure. She wants to verify they feel comfortable with the procedure being performed, and that they are knowledgeable on how to properly care for themselves.

Having lived in Wayne County her whole life, Ms. Thaxton has come to cherish the community-feel prevalent throughout the county. We always take care of one another. In addition, on top of Wayne County’s ideal location, she appreciates the multitude of resources available within the county. If one of her patients needs certain medications or even literacy training, she knows that programs exist in Wayne County to provide help in these areas. In fact, many people in the county may not even be aware of all the resources that are offered, and Ms. Thaxton strives to introduce them to these opportunities.

In the future, Ms. Thaxton hopes Wayne County will develop more programs to aid senior citizens. Along with such programs, she believes Wayne County should simultaneously develop some sort of wellness program. For example, Ms. Thaxton currently has a patient in their early fifties who was recently diagnosed with diabetes and unsure what to do. She would like more community resources that can help people from a mental health standpoint on a wellness level, for cases like this when someone has recently been diagnosed with an illness.

In her spare time, Ms. Thaxton relishes in what her family likes to call “experiences.” For instance, at Christmas time, they offer each other experiences like snow skiing. As mentioned previously, part of the benefit of living in Wayne County is the easy access to the mountains and the beach. So, this year, Ms. Thaxton and her family have gone tubing and snow skiing at the mountains, but have also spent a week at the beach. Locally, Ms. Thaxton and her family occasionally enjoy a hike at the Cliffs of the Neuse State Park or other local parks. One trail she especially takes a liking to is the one behind the hospital.

In general, Ms. Thaxton is a convivial member of the community who dedicates herself to serving the people within it.

#robinthaxton     #wayneunchealthcare       #nurse    #devotedmom   #experiences     #lovesthebeach     #skiier       #humansofwaynecounty      #howc    #waynecountypubliclibrary      #diversityinourcommunity     #rohanshreenath     #wcpl       #strengthenourcommunity     #explorediscoverandconnect    #peaceandunderstanding      #community 

 

Thurston Price

Humans of Wayne County #46 - Thurston Price 10/7/21

Mr. Thurston Price always strives to be the right person in any action he partakes in. Having lived in Wayne County his whole life, Mr. Price has come to know a lot of people, including County Commissioners, City Officials, etc. His peers commend him for the hard work he has done.

Mr. Price spent his career working at the Goldsboro Fire Department, where he retired in 1995. During his time working, Mr. Price most cherished having the power to save the lives of others. Every day, he was required to be prepared and ready to burst into action any second. No time existed for any momentary mistakes.

At the time of his retirement, Mr. Price worked as the fire engineer for the Fire Department. His role entailed driving and operating the pump. Thus, he was responsible for the lives of the people on the other end of the nozzle, as he had to maintain the pressure needed on the hose. In most cases, his job was always to uphold the truck and ensure everything remained in proper order for the men to have the right pressure necessary—a vital role to complete the task at hand.

In Wayne County, Mr. Price sees the people as a positive aspect of the county’s identity. Having held different jobs in Wayne County over the years, he has come to experience Wayne County from one side to another. His various jobs have given him the opportunity to travel plentifully within the county and meet new people. His work in the county began at a young age, as he quickly became part of the Volunteer Rescue Squad in 1960. In doing so, he swiftly got a taste of our community. Along with this original job and his work for the Fire Department, Mr. Price laid floor covering for 39 years on his days off. These numerous occupations have elevated him to a well-known member of the community.

In the future, Mr. Price hopes Wayne County will be able to offer its citizens more jobs. He recognizes that the county has faced many challenges in attempting to attract companies to set up shop here. He hopes to see more companies move into Wayne County in the future and employ its hard-working citizens.

In his free time, Mr. Price immerses himself in traveling and sightseeing. A couple of places he particularly enjoys to visit include the mountains and sometimes the beach.

In general, Mr. Price is an esteemed member of the community whose love for Wayne County is clear upon meeting him.

#thurstonprice     #goldsborofiredepartment       #firenegineer    #volunteerrescuesquad   #upholdthetruck     #floorcovering     #sightseeing  #lovestotravel    #humansofwaynecounty      #howc    #waynecountypubliclibrary      #diversityinourcommunity     #rohanshreenath     #wcpl       #strenghtenourcommunity     #explorediscoverandconnect    #peaceandunderstanding      #community

Julie Beck Photo

Humans of Wayne County #45 - Julie Beck 9/30/21

Ms. Julie Beck has dabbled in numerous different activities in Wayne County for the past 36 years after spending her early life living in Ohio. Currently, she holds her main job as president of the Mount Olive Area Chamber of Commerce, which she has plunged into for the past 7 or 8 years. In addition to this, Ms. Beck is an adjunct faculty member at the University of Mount Olive, where she teaches recreation courses. Along with these two jobs, she immerses herself in a variety of activities throughout the community.

Ms. Beck most enjoys interacting with other people for her job. Considering herself a people person, she values the ability to craft relationships, interact, and plan community events with others. She has been pleasantly surprised to find that her work allows her to interact with those not only in Mount Olive, but people in Wayne County as a whole. So, she works as a representative of her community for the county.

Ms. Beck loves the friendly people who genuinely care about others in Wayne County. When newcomers meander into her chamber office, she tells them that Wayne County is where they’ll find some of the nicest and friendliest people in the world. People serve as true neighbors and friends to others, celebrating others’ victories while consoling them in their losses.

In the future, Ms. Beck hopes that the county maintains its steady growth while retaining its foundational principles: we are here to improve the quality of life for citizens, enhance economic development within the community, and most importantly, take care of each other. Wayne County has grown a lot since Ms. Beck has come, adding new businesses, offering more entertainment, and expanding the military base. She hopes to see this growth continue to materialize in Wayne County while still hearkening back to its core values.

When not toiling away in the community, Ms. Beck is an avid world traveler. She has visited all 50 states, all 7 continents, and 89 countries. She is quickly approaching her goal to visit 100 countries. Ms. Beck began traveling when she was 17 as an exchange student in Europe and has never stopped. Some of her favorite places she has journeyed to include South Africa, Eastern Europe, and Australia. During these sojourns, she has gained the invaluable opportunity to meet new people and understand new cultures.

Along with traveling, Ms. Beck believes her second most well-known quality is her unique laughter. She states that regardless of where she is, people can always discern her laughter in a crowd because they never forget it.

In short, Ms. Beck wants others to know that she is heavily involved in the county, having worked with the Arts Council, Wayne Education Network, the military base, churches, and much more. Her main county work is serving as chairperson of the NC Pickle Festival for the past 25 years. She deeply cherishes the festival, which is the second largest event in the county, because it promotes agriculture and fun throughout the community.

As can be seen, Ms. Beck firmly believes in the value of giving back to one’s community to make it a better place. She constantly hops from board to board in the county, meeting new people and learning new things. Ms. Beck believes that we must all work to do our part and make a difference in the place that we call home.

 #juliebeck     #universityofmountolive       #mountolivechamberofcommerce    #wayneeducationnetwork   #ncpicklefestival     #artscouncil     #militarybase  #lovestotravel    #humansofwaynecounty      #howc    #waynecountypubliclibrary      #diversityinourcommunity     #rohanshreenath     #wcpl       #strenghtenourcommunity     #explorediscoverandconnect    #peaceandunderstanding      #community 

Jessica Lozano Photo

Humans of Wayne County #44 - Jessica Lozano 9/23/21

Ms. Jessica Lozano believes the most important thing for others to know about her is that she is an eclectic mix of cultures and peoples. Accordingly, she attempts to accept others as much as possible, and strives to let them understand they can be themselves around her.

Ms. Lozano currently works at the library for her career. In title, she holds the position of a library assistant, but she also presides over everything related to PR, handling videos, the website, Facebook, other social media, etc. Ms. Lozano appreciates that she has the opportunity to effuse her creative nature in this position. While she sometimes completes tasks like writing press releases, oftentimes she can exhibit her creativity in the artwork and graphics she designs. She is quite passionate about learning new knowledge every day, even if it is just a new technique for the website.

Ms. Lozano has resided throughout the world. Born overseas, she moved to America in the early 2000s, before moving back overseas, and finally returning to her current home in the United States. Since she originally moved, she has always lived in Wayne County aside from two years she spent in Japan. So, Ms. Lozano has lived an aggregate 19 years in Wayne County.

In the time she has seen the county, Ms. Lozano has come to love its esteemed citizens, where she has the ability to meet a variety of types of kindness. She appreciates how people seek to give food, knowledge, time or anything else they can offer to help. In addition, Ms. Lozano finds joy in a quiet, tranquil drive on the country roads of Goldsboro, looking out the window at houses and fields.

In the future, Ms. Lozano hopes Wayne County will grow more bookstores and cafés for people to relax or hang out. She appreciates the abundance of bars and other places to sit and have a drink, but prefers to snuggle up with a book at a local café or bookstore. Installing more places like these for teenagers and adults would be a positive development.

When not working, Ms. Lozano mainly diverts her time into caring for her animals. She has two German Shepherds, one of which she picked up at the Animal Shelter on Clingman Street, and a cat. Believing she owes them her time, she diverts ample time into walking, training, and playing with her animals.

Ultimately, Ms. Lozano aspires to expand on her existing work in the library. She seeks to improve her photography and video editing skills. Eventually, she would want to get into voice-overs, even in her spare time. She mainly seeks to improve her talents in any way to assist our loving community.

#jessicalozano     #libraryassistant       #publicrelations    #voiceovers   #lovesheranimals     #bookstores     #cafes   #passionateaboutlearning   #humansofwaynecounty      #howc    #waynecountypubliclibrary      #diversityinourcommunity     #rohanshreenath     #wcpl       #strenghtenourcommunity     #explorediscoverandconnect    #peaceandunderstanding      #community 

Kate Daniels Photo

Humans of Wayne County #43 - Kate Daniels 9/10/21

Ms. Kate Daniels passionately serves as the President of Wayne County Chamber of Commerce, making differences throughout the county with her work. Originally from Kinston, Ms. Daniels has now called Wayne County her home for the past 16 years. Every day, she looks forward to finding new things about the community to fall in love with.

Ms. Daniels cherishes any opportunity she has to connect with others for her job, working in the business of networking for the Chamber. She enjoys the ability to connect people, visions, missions, opportunities, etc. to create positive effects.

In Wayne County, Ms. Daniels constantly finds new things to reinforce her love for it. She loves its strategic location in North Carolina, the people in the county (specifically their entrepreneurial spirit), and the enriching, complex history and storytelling prevalent throughout the county. In the future, Ms. Daniels hopes Wayne County continues to build upon the strong, structural foundation it has inherited. Speaking from the perspective of the Chamber, she anticipates that we continue to celebrate long-standing milestones for our local businesses that have grown here from their nascent state. She expects Wayne County to continue to extend its wealth of different businesses and arts.

As far as positive changes she has noticed, Ms. Daniels has seen the spirit of collaboration flourish in Wayne County. Thankfully, we are past the days where communities work in isolation, and are now focused on partnering with other entities for mutual improvement. For instance, the Chamber of Commerce is celebrating its 30th year with the Leadership Wayne Program and 25th year with the Junior Leadership Program. She hopes to see these enriching opportunities expand further.

When not bogged down in work, Ms. Daniels loves to bike ride with her family, throughout the year. Additionally, she finds pleasure in decorating and anything related to organizing. She often organizers drawers, calendars, etc. for her friends whenever she gets the opportunity. As she continues to grow, she hopes to become the best mom, wife, and community member she possibly can.

In general, Ms. Daniels wants others to recognize her optimism and belief in a positive attitude. She hopes others notice this quality in her immediately. Rather than focusing on negatives, she strives to maintain a positive energy and focus on the good around her. While it may be impossible to alter what’s happening in other parts of the country or state, we can control how we respond to and improve our own communities. Ms. Daniels holds true that even just projecting a positive energy early in the day can heavily impact those around you, beginning a ripple effect to create significant, tangible differences.

#katedaniels     #chamberofcommerce       #leadershipwayneprogram    #juniorleadershipprogram   #bikeriding     #organizing     #optimism    #networking    #humansofwaynecounty      #howc    #waynecountypubliclibrary      #diversityinourcommunity     #rohanshreenath     #wcpl       #strengthenourcommunity     #explorediscoverandconnect    #peaceandunderstanding      #community 

Will Bland Photo

Humans of Wayne County #42 - Judge Will Bland 9/2/21

Judge Will Bland always passionately strives to do his best and duty for God and his country, as learned from the Boy Scouts Oath. Currently, Judge Bland serves as a Senior Resident Superior Court Judge in Wayne County, having practiced law since 1992. He executes his work in the Courthouse, where he has worked the majority of his legal career.

Judge Bland devotedly loves the jurisdictions he presides over. The superior court handles all felonies and misdemeanors, and in civil court, they take on matters for claims greater than $25,000. In addition to this work, Judge Bland appreciates the interesting and exciting people he encounters, making the Courthouse a thoroughly enjoyable place for him to go to work every day.

Judge Bland has spent the vast majority of his life living in Wayne County. He was born in the county, and has spent time away living in Kalamazoo, Michigan and working in Charlotte for around five years. Since that time, Judge Bland has returned to his roots in Wayne County.

In the county, he cherishes two major benefits. First, he loves the people and engaging in interactions by spotting familiar friendly faces every day. Second, he values its location. In fact, when there was a slogan contest for Wayne County, he always saw a great slogan as “Wayne County is close to a lot of nice places.” It’s perfectly ensconced between Raleigh, the beach, the mountains, etc. Whatever needs that arise can be met living in Wayne County.

In the future, Judge Bland sincerely hopes Wayne County continues to prosper. Wayne County resides on the outer edge of the Raleigh influence, allowing it to succeed reasonably well in comparison to other counties. He hopes in this sense, the county continues to flourish independently. Furthermore, Judge Bland hopes to see us transform into a better, more united community. He has recently grown greater respect and relationships with others across the county, who actively strive to make it a better place. He looks forward to seeing this development soar to greater heights.

In his spare time, Judge Bland enjoys bike riding—which he has taken multiple trips for—traveling to the beach, photography—of around town and other places that strike his interest—and meeting new people.

In general, Judge Bland just wants others to know that everyone in the Courthouse is toiling hard through the pandemic to try and make their systems work steadily, akin to everyone else in other industries. They have faced a highly interesting and tumultuous time, but Judge Bland believes the Courthouse has come through the last year and a half in good condition. Unfortunately, they are planning for new bumps with the novel COVID variant, but are prepared to tackle any challenges that may arise. He is confident in his coworkers and impressed by their diligent work as they attempt to ensure fair results for the citizens of Wayne County.

 

#judgewillbland     #seniorresidentsuperiorcourtjudge       #superiorcourt    #courthouse    #photography     #bikeriding     #lovesthepeople      #strivestodohisbest    #humansofwaynecounty      #howc    #waynecountypubliclibrary      #diversityinourcommunity     #rohanshreenath     #wcpl       #strenghtenourcommunity     #explorediscoverandconnect    #peaceandunderstanding      #community 

Cole Dinges Photo

Humans of Wayne County #41 - Cole Dinges 8/27/21

Mr. Cole Dinges has his roots firmly entrenched in Wayne County. Growing up, he was in a military family. His mother was from this area, and his father’s first base happened to be Seymour Johnson Air Force Base. As a kid, he constantly moved around different places. However, his grandparents and many other family members are from Wayne County, prompting him to move back in 2015. He graduated from Charles B. Aycock High School, matriculated to Wayne Community College for two years, and is currently at East Carolina University finishing his Business Administration Degree.

Mr. Dinges is a local realtor who has worked for RE/MAX Complete for the past two years. He appreciates his job and having the opportunity of finding homes. For his job, Mr. Dinges enjoys helping others, especially military families, who are constantly migrating in and out of the area. He also cherishes helping local Wayne County residents find their forever home. The ability to match families to their ideal homes drives the love for his job.

Mr. Dinges decided he wanted to enter the real estate field from a young age. Growing up in a military family, he constantly moved and always loved going to examine new houses and seeing his parents buy houses. By the time he was nearing the end of high school, Mr. Dinges had firmly decided he would go into real estate. He understood it was risky with no guarantees in the career field, but he knew it was what he wanted to do with his life.

As far as Wayne County, Mr. Dinges loves its ideal location. It is perfectly close to both Raleigh and the beach. He also sees the area as exponentially growing and increasingly providing more options for entertainment. The revitalization of downtown and increased presence of local restaurants has been amazing to see. For these reasons, Mr. Dinges believes that Wayne County is one of the best towns in the area in comparison to other towns around here. In the future, he hopes to see Wayne County continue its growth and provide more entertainment options. In particular, he pictures Wayne County further advancing its downtown area and is excited about the projects that have already commenced to make this happen. Mainly, he just wants to see the county continue to grow.

For the future, Mr. Dinges hopes to stay in real estate until he retires. He plans to stay local and retire in Goldsboro. Currently, he is hoping to marry and start a family in the next couple of years, viewing Goldsboro as the perfect place to do so. In his time here, he just hopes to help the area grow and continue to help others find their homes.

In his free time, Mr. Dinges enjoys traveling to the beach, playing golf, and fishing. In addition to this, he loves to work. It is truly one of his most passionate hobbies. He wants others to know that if they ever need helping in finding a home, he is always one call away to ensure they get their perfect match.

#coledinges     #realestate       #remaxcomplete  #seymourjohnsonairforcebase    #foreverhome     #charlesbaycockhighschool     #eastcarolinauniversity      #lovesthebeach      #enjoyshelpingothers    #humansofwaynecounty      #howc    #waynecountypubliclibrary      #diversityinourcommunity     #rohanshreenath     #wcpl       #strenghtenourcommunity     #explorediscoverandconnect    #peaceandunderstanding      #community 

Felecia Williams Photo

Humans of Wayne County #40 - Felicia Williams 8/19/21

Ms. Felecia Williams has passionately served individuals in her community for over twenty years. During her years of service, Ms. Williams has worked with a variety of individuals, including those with disabilities, public health issues, mental health issues, etc. She is genuinely passionate about helping others.

Ms. Williams wants others to know that her passion for helping others often leads her to go above and beyond. She will search out a variety of resources in order to achieve help for any individual coming to her with a complaint. In general, she is down to earth and humble in her works, and bases her dedication to her service on her Christian faith.

For her career, Ms. Williams dutifully serves a variety of positions. She investigates city complaints and works with administrations of HUD funded programs as Interim Community Relations Director for the City of Goldsboro. In addition to this, she actively works with three of the city’s boards and commissions: the Commission on Community Relations and Development, the Goldsboro Mayor’s Youth Council, and the Mayor’s Committee for Persons with Disabilities.

When it comes to her many jobs, Ms. Williams most enjoys the opportunity to help others through work with different people in a variety of areas. For example, the Commission on Community Relations allows her to handle human relations issues, such as race or social injustice issues present in the community, while the Mayor’s Committee strives to assist those with disabilities. Lastly, Ms. Williams appreciates the Mayor’s Youth Council because she has always cherished the chance to work with young adults and provide community service with them.

Ms. Williams has spent nearly her entire life in Wayne County, relocating here from Wilson as a baby. In her time here, she has grown to love the home feeling that the county offers and the fact that her family resides here. In addition, Ms. Williams cherishes Goldsboro High School, where she graduated from in 1994. She relishes in the saying, “Cougar pride never dies.” The close-knit community she has acquired from high school has perpetuated even so many years after graduating. In the future, Ms. Williams hopes the county continues to be open to diversity, everyone continues to respect each other, and we can live in harmony together.

For her own future, Ms. Williams looks forward to furthering her career. As she gets older, she plans to start thinking about retirement. Naturally, she wants to secure herself and her future, so that she can look forward to a happy retirement ten years from now.

In her free time, Ms. Williams enjoys traveling, attending sporting and music events for her three children, and dining at new restaurants with international foods. For her travels, she has visited out West, across the country, out of the country, and up and down I-95. She enjoys taking sporadic breaks to travel and visit new places, but firmly sees Wayne County as her permanent home.

#feleciawilliams     #commissiononcommunityrelationsanddevelopment

#interimcommunityrelationsdirector     #goldsboromayorsyouthcouncil    #mayorscommitteeforpersonswithdisabilities      #goldsborohighschool     #dedicatedtoservice      #lovestohelpothers    #humansofwaynecounty      #howc    #waynecountypubliclibrary      #diversityinourcommunity     #rohanshreenath     #wcpl       #strengthenourcommunity     #explorediscoverandconnect    #peaceandunderstanding      #community

Esteban Guzman photo

Humans of Wayne County #39 - Esteban Guzman 8/12/21

Mr. Esteban Guzman wants others to know that he does not like to specifically label himself as a certain race or ethnicity. He has been in the United States for around seven years, and prior to that, he never found a need to identify himself as a specific race or ethnicity. Due to this, he was intrigued by the title Humans of Wayne County. He is excited to take part in this project because he can just identify himself as a human.

 Mr. Guzman has lived in Wayne County for around seven years, when he immigrated to the United States from Mexico. He chose this place because he views it as a welcoming and complete place to live, and an embracing environment for kids to grow up in. Mr. Guzman has two children, 10 and 11 years old, and he has watched them mature in this county nearly their entire life. He sees Wayne County as a utopian place for them to grow up in. In the future, Mr. Guzman hopes Wayne County remains similar to its current state. He envisions it as a small town close to Raleigh.

 For his career, Mr. Guzman holds a second license as a foreign legal consultant in North Carolina, working together with another lady from Nicaragua. This means that Mr. Guzman is a Mexican attorney licensed to practice in North Carolina. He first decided he wanted to pursue law when he was around 18 or 19 years old. He chose the profession on account of his love for reading, history, and the interaction between people. He has found much of that interaction through his job. For his job, he heavily enjoys finding ways to keep others’ businesses and lives intact and helping them avoid future litigation and contact with other lawyers.

 In the future, Mr. Guzman hopes that his children and their friends grow up in a welcoming environment where they are free to evolve and have the friendships they want. He hopes they mature as human beings without having the need to adopt a label as a certain race or ethnicity.

 In his spare time, Mr. Guzman enjoys hiking and serving his positions of Scout Cubmaster, soccer coach, and a Knight of Columbus. He appreciates being with others and serving his community. Additionally, he has hiked in Wayne County on the trail running from Stoney Creek to Slocumb Street, on the Appalachian trails, and in the deserts of his old hometown Baja, California. Hiking allows him the opportunity to walk at peace with nature.

 Mr. Guzman wants others to know that he enjoys living in the United States. It has been strange, eventful, and exciting, and he has enjoyed every minute of his time in Wayne County.

 #estebanguzman     #attorneyatlaw      #appalachiantrails   #father   #loveshiking      #scoutcubmaster     #soccercoach      #knightofcolumbus    #humansofwaynecounty      #howc    #waynecountypubliclibrary      #diversityinourcommunity     #rohanshreenath     #wcpl       #strenghtenourcommunity     #explorediscoverandconnect    #peaceandunderstanding      #community 

Raymond Clark Photo

Humans of Wayne County #38 - Raymond Clark 8/5/21

Mr. Raymond Clark is a proud Native American living in Wayne County. Having such a unique and diverse background, one thing Mr. Clark wants others to know is that he firmly sees himself as an American first. So, in any situation, he will consistently treat people the same regardless of the color of their skin, and has raised his children accordingly.

For his career, Mr. Clark has been involved in a wide range of professions. He dabbled in the Army, hung drywall, went to East Carolina University to obtain a degree in Mathematics, taught at Southern Wayne for two years, and then returned to his beloved career of hanging drywall. As a disabled combat veteran, Mr. Clark is proud to have served his country. He cherishes his construction job as he is able to see the fruits of his labor. He loves to just drive somewhere and actually see tangible results of a building he helped construct. This love stimulated his return to his drywall career.

Most importantly, Mr. Clark believes his favorite job is being a father and a husband. In fact, his wife, who is a teacher herself, was actually his motivation for becoming a teacher. He was ecstatic at the thought of having the same schedule as her, so they could enjoy breaks and vacations together. However, he quickly realized that teaching was not his forte. A very difficult job, Mr. Clark soon decided that he didn’t possess the mindset and patience necessary to remain a teacher, so he returned to drywall.

Throughout all of his different careers, Mr. Clark has lived in Wayne County for the past 26 years. When he first moved here, Goldsboro was a miniscule city that has grown tremendously over time. He particularly enjoys how the people in the county are forthcoming and willing to talk and interact. Mr. Clark acknowledges that perhaps in a big city, when talking to a stranger you have to be wary of their intentions, but in Goldsboro, a stranger can just walk up to you and start a conversation. So, he loves the small community feel of the county.

In the future, Mr. Clark hopes that Wayne County doesn’t expand to the point of becoming a bustling metropolis. He sees Wayne County as ideal in size and allowing folks to develop many meaningful connections. While he would certainly welcome some growth, he firmly believes that too much growth would make the county too impersonal.

In his free time, Mr. Clark enjoys target shooting and fishing. Even though he may not be great at fishing, he heavily enjoys it. One piece of advice he would give to others is to be able to laugh at yourself the same way you laugh at everyone else. Mr. Clark truly believes that self deprecating humor would make the world a better place.

 

#raymondclark     #usarmy      #mathematics   #eastcarolinauniversity   #ecu      #teacher     #southernwaynehighschool      #construction     #fatherandhusband     #laughatyourself     #humansofwaynecounty      #howc    #waynecountypubliclibrary      #diversityinourcommunity     #rohanshreenath     #wcpl       #strenghtenourcommunity     #explorediscoverandconnect    #peaceandunderstanding      #community 

 

Blake Plummer Photo

Mr. Blake Plummer was born and raised in Wayne County where he attended school before matriculating to Wayne Community College. He has spent the entirety of his life in this beautiful area, and he considers it his home.

Mr. Plummer adores Wayne County as it offers a broad taste of everything to satisfy various interests. He admires how people have the choice to come into town and settle in more populated areas or deviate to the more unpopulated, rural areas on the edge of the county to get away from everything. In the future, Mr. Plummer hopes the county strives to move forward and continue on its current path. He sees the multiple projects in action throughout the county as a positive to keep it on its path of economic growth and development.

For his career, Mr. Plummer has spent the last ten years working for the city of Goldsboro Fire Department. In addition, he also owns and operates a business on the side. Working in the Fire Department, Mr. Plummer thoroughly enjoys waking up and going to work every day. Day-to-day activities are volatile, and he enjoys the excitement of not knowing what may happen each day. So, he cherishes the fact that his job constantly gives him the opportunity to do something different rather than just being left with the same daily routine all the time.

Mr. Plummer saw his interest in firefighting sparked from a young age. He got his first taste of the profession as a volunteer at Belfast Volunteer Fire Department, responding to calls and handling different situations. As a volunteer, Mr. Plummer quickly noticed the impact that his work had on the community. He in turn decided to make a career out of firefighting, and the city of Goldsboro was his primary place to do it since he has lived here all his life.

In the future, Mr. Plummer hopes to live a strong, long life where he can further enjoy Wayne County. He strives to raise his daughter to love the county as much as he does. When not working, Mr. Plummer likes to divert his time into hunting, fishing, riding four wheelers, and traveling. He often travels to the beach and has even planned an upcoming trip to Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. In general, he does not travel out of North Carolina often because he has found everything he loves in this beautiful state and sees no reason to leave it.

#blakeplummer #goldsborofiredepartment #belfastvolunteerfiredepartment #makeadifference #pigeonforge #waynecoummunitycollege #father #borninwaynecounty #humansofwaynecounty #howc #waynecountypubliclibrary #diversityinourcommunity #rohanshreenath #wcpl #strenghtenourcommunity #explorediscoverandconnect #peaceandunderstanding #community

Vivek Shah Photo

Humans of Wayne County #36 - Vivek Shah 7/23/21

Mr. Vivek Shah has served a fulfilling early career as a Wizzo pilot in the Air Force. Growing up, he was born in Kenya, Africa, before relocating to the United States at the age of seven. Mr. Shah recounts living a life as a child without much, and having no guidance on schooling or his future profession. However, even in the absence of any guidance, education was of primary concern for his family. So, his parents sacrificed their lives in Africa and emigrated to the United States to give their children an education.

When Mr. Shah first came to the United States, he was unaware of what he wanted to do and wasn’t even thinking about the military. However, enrollment in the military college, The Citadel, in Charleston, SC, sparked his interest in joining the military. From there, he had no idea he wanted to fly, but was eventually awarded the role of flying the F-15 out of Seymour Johnson Air Force Base.

In the military, Mr. Shah quickly found two things that continued to drive his love for his job. First, he enjoys flying. The missions, flying, and training completely enthrall and motivate him. Second, he loves the people that he has been able to collaborate with. Throughout his career, he has formed a strong, unbreakable bond with other military airmen. He plans to continue to build upon this brotherhood in the future.

After spending time in the military, Mr. Shah has recently returned to business school for further education. From a young age, his parents instilled in him the importance of education, motivating him to return to school to earn his MBA. He vows to instill the importance of education into his daughter as well. In addition, Mr. Shah has an affinity for real estate investing on the side. So, as he grows his investment portfolio in real estate, attending business school will allow him to better grasp the financing, marketing, and other skills required in this venture.

Mr. Shah has now lived in Wayne County for nearly six years. In this time, he has come to see the county as a serene place to raise a family in the absence of heavy traffic or congestion. The residents are humble, making it easy to strike up a conservation. It seems as if everyone knows everyone, so everyone will be taken care of collectively. He appreciates the fact that whenever he meets someone, he will probably see them again within a week or two and cherishes the close-knit ambiance of Wayne County.

Currently, Mr. Shah sees Wayne County as sometimes relying on Seymour Johnson Air Force Base to bring in new residents. In the future, he hopes that Wayne County stands alone and doesn’t rely on the base for this influx. He envisions the county bringing in the younger, non-military population through a modernized downtown, more restaurants, bars, etc.

In his free time, Mr. Shah enjoys playing soccer. He currently holds the title of captain of the Seymour Johnson Air Force Base soccer team. For this team, he plays soccer often, including a yearly trip to a tournament called the Defender’s Cup where he plays against other Air Force Bases in the nation. When not on the soccer field, he enjoys playing golf, a hobby cultivated at a young age from his dad. Apart from sports and work, Mr. Shah enjoys spending time with his wife Roopa and daughter Amani. He hopes to gain further knowledge and experiences in the future that he can continue to share with the people of Wayne County.

#vivekshah     #usairforce      #seymorejohnson    #realestateinvestment   #thecitadel    #husbandandfather     #wizzopilot     #mba     #borninkenya                 #captainofseymourjohnsonsoccerteam     #soccer     #golf     #educationisagoodthing       #humansofwaynecounty      #howc    #waynecountypubliclibrary      #diversityinourcommunity     #rohanshreenath     #wcplnc       #strengthenourcommunity     #explorediscoverandconnect    #peaceandunderstanding      #community

Brooke Freeman Photo

Humans of Wayne County #35 - Brooke Freeman 7/15/21

Mrs. Brooke Freeman is a small business owner of Brooke’s Fresh Cut Flower Farm in Wayne County. Prior to this job, she held the title of a full-time social worker at Waynesboro Family Clinic, and now works there part time. She completed high school at Wayne Country Day School, finished her undergraduate degree at Campbell University, and attended graduate school online. Aside from her time at Campbell, Mrs. Freeman has lived in Wayne County her entire life.

When working at Waynesboro Family Clinic, Mrs. Freeman sat in her office for twelve hours a day, a difficult task as a young adult. With the arrival of the pandemic, she was able to pivot to telehealth, which she enjoyed as she could work comfortably from home. Now, with her job, while she still sits in an office some, she appreciates the ability to do other things as well. Overall, she just wanted to try something different. She reasoned that she was young, and if she failed, she could always fall back on the education she worked hard to attain. So, she ventured in the field of entrepreneurship.

Mrs. Freeman cherishes the ability to work outside for her job. During the pandemic, she had the opportunity to continue working and would deliver flowers to peoples’ doors with small notes and cards. She undertook this kind deed as a way to help people remain connected, especially for the older generations, many of whom do not have social media.

In Wayne County, Mrs. Freeman loves the revitalization that has taken place downtown. In addition, everywhere she goes, she sees somebody she knows and can stop and take the time to converse with familiar faces. Wayne County has the small town feel where everybody is a family. For example, she sells flowers at Bicycle World, and the people working there have become a part of her family. In the future, Mrs. Freeman hopes to see the further revitalization of downtown and the continued influx of new businesses. She likes the direction that agriculture is headed, with less tobacco and the growth of hemp. She views agriculture as remaining a vital part of Wayne County and just hopes the county continues to grow.

In the future, Mrs. Freeman wants to see her flower farm flourish, which is currently small and sells flowers at EZ Bait & Tackle, Bicycle World, and Funky Fresh donuts. She has also branched out creating floral arrangements for funerals and weddings. While she has done a few funerals, she thoroughly enjoys doing weddings and hopes the flowers explode in that sense. To that end, she is currently constructing a small wedding venue in Rosewood, a chapel in the woods. She visualizes this as a stage for future weddings. As she expands her business, she plans to continue working as a therapist as well.

Mrs. Freeman considers herself a workaholic. She can always be found at the farm planting seeds, hanging string lights, or doing other tasks. She encourages everyone to follow her Instagram, @brookesfreshcutflowerfarm, and Facebook, @BrookesFreshCutFlowerFarm.

Overall, Mrs. Freeman just wants everyone to know that even if they have just a few flower pots in their yards, she views gardening as therapeutic for physical and mental health. Even with just a small garden or area, gardening can be a great coping strategy to just go outside and work with your hands. She encourages everyone, no matter how big or small, to garden when they can.

#brookefreeman    #brookesfreshcutflowerfarm      #sellsatbicycleworldezbaitandtackleandfunkyfreshdonuts   #lovesdoingweddings    #weddingvenueinrosewood    #therapist    #waynesborofamilyclinic   #gardeningistherapeutic    #workwithyourhands     #humansofwaynecounty    #howc    #waynecountypubliclibrary     #diversityinourcommunity     #rohanshreenath     #wcplnc       #strenghtenourcommunity     #explorediscoverandconnect    #peaceandunderstanding      #community

 

Jakaya and Amani Photo

Humans of Wayne County #34 - Jakaya and Amani 7/8/21

Jakaya and Amani are sisters ages 12 and 13 respectively. Amani particularly enjoys school because their daily routine is not highly congested, affording tangible time to help kids learn without having to balance a packed schedule. For Jakaya, it is the teachers that differentiates the school. If a student is struggling with a concept, the teacher will go out of their way to give a student extra assistance or extra time necessary to properly learn the material. Both Jakaya and Amani cherish the knowledge and experiences they have gained at their school as they look forward to the future.

The sisters have professional aspirations as Amani’s hopes are to become either a lawyer or a doctor. Jakaya, on the other hand, intends to finish school and attend college to become a nurse. Both feel confident that with their continued education, they will be well-equipped to succeed in their future endeavors.

Jakaya has lived in Wayne county since birth while Amani has lived here for the past five years. Both enjoy the plethora of family they have in the county and view this as a benefit to living here. So, it is convenient to visit their family and the people they love on a regular basis.

In their free time, the sisters enjoy walking around the neighborhood and even staying in the house. They want others to see that they are kind-hearted people, and not to judge them by their appearance.

We all wish Jakaya and Amani good luck as they continue their schooling and prepare for the future.

#jakaya     #amani        #amanihopestobecomedoctororlawyer    #jakayahopestobecomenurse    #waynecountyteenswithbrightfuture    #familyoriented     #kindhearted  #humansofwaynecounty    #howc    #waynecountypubliclibrary     #diversityinourcommunity     #rohanshreenath     #wcpl       #strenghtenourcommunity     #explorediscoverandconnect    #peaceandunderstanding      #community

Photo of Marissa Davis

Humans of Wayne County #33 - Marissa Davis 6/24/21

Ms. Marissa Davis is a police officer in Wayne County who has served her community for 28 years. She thoroughly enjoys working for the city of Goldsboro as a police officer because she loves the community. She wants others to know that she will always put forth her best effort to help others. She actively strives to let others get to know her so they can see how much she cares for them and everyone else in the community.

As a police officer, Ms. Davis’ favorite part of her job has undoubtedly been the people she has worked with. Working with community police services gives her the opportunity to work with the young all the way up to the old. She has spent time working at daycares, the senior center, etc., which allows her to see and interact with a wide range of people throughout the community. Specifically, she has enjoyed helping to fill in the gap for parents that were not there for their children. Her impetus for becoming an officer was to help other people and children like these. She has enjoyed guiding these children, whom she always has a soft spot for in her heart.

A native of Goldsboro, Ms. Davis has lived in Wayne County all her life, graduating from Goldsboro High School in 1990. In particular, Ms. Davis loves the community feel that the county provides. She enjoys the people in the county, the diversity, and the interaction the county has with Seymour Johnson Air Force Base. She cherishes the opportunity to see people at the base and then be able to travel to the other side of town and see entirely different people working with something like housing development, for example. Lastly, Ms. Davis always loves that during holidays like Memorial Day Weekend, people come back to Goldsboro to celebrate in the beautiful county.

In the future, Ms. Davis hopes that Wayne County continues to develop, particularly tailored towards helping our youth. She would like to possibly see a center that is accessible to all, can entertain, and can provide teaching to the children of this county in the afternoons.

In her free time, Ms. Davis enjoys attending church, supporting her sorority Alpha Kappa Alpha, and walking around areas of the county like downtown and different parks. Mainly, she just tries to relax and spend time enjoying the county she loves dearly.

#marissadavis     #goldsborocitypolice      #helpthechildren   #goldsborohighschool    #28yearsofservice     #ghsclassof1990   #alphakappaalpha   #humansofwaynecounty    #howc    #waynecountypubliclibrary     #diversityinourcommunity     #rohanshreenath     #wcplnc       #strenghtenourcommunity     #explorediscoverandconnect    #peaceandunderstanding      #community

Dr. Jessie Tucker Photo

Humans of Wayne County #32 - Dr. Jessie Tucker III - 6/17/21

Dr. Jessie Tucker, current CEO of Wayne UNC Health Care, has lived a fulfilling life. After graduating high school in 1985, Dr. Tucker joined the Army as a Private. He spent four years in the Reserves while completing his undergraduate degree at the University of South Carolina before going on to serve 20 years of active duty as a Medical Service Corps Officer working in healthcare administration. In the Army, he and his wife bounced around the world multiple times before he retired at Fort Bragg. Looking back, Dr. Tucker appreciates how his military service shaped him significantly and prepared him for his future life. It allowed him to become well-rounded and attain a better understanding and appreciation for the struggles that others go through. He kept the principles he gained in his military service with him as he became CEO of the hospital.

As CEO of the hospital, Dr. Tucker wants others to know that every decision he makes, he carefully considers what he would want for his own family. He has been married almost 32 years to his wife who he started dating as a pharmacy technician, and has a 16 year old daughter and 10 year old son. He believes that by making a decision that stems from what he thinks would benefit his loved ones the most, then he can’t go wrong with the decision.

During his tenure, Dr. Tucker has most enjoyed being able to work with phenomenal people with a wide range of expertise who always strive to achieve what is best for their patients. Seeing this stimulates him to work hard to ensure the physicians always have the resources they need to succeed.

Dr. Tucker has lived in Wayne County since December of last year, moving from Memphis. In his time here, he has especially enjoyed the noticeable absence of traffic in the county. Previously living in cities like Memphis and Houston with an abundance of traffic, Dr. Tucker appreciates not having to sit through an hour of traffic in Wayne County just to get to work. In addition, he loves that our small community offers a feeling of home with a personal touch. He realized that although he has worked in big cities before, he has always lived in small towns outside those cities. Now, he is ecstatic that he gets to work in the city that he calls home. Other benefits he always points out when talking to others is the perfect location of the county – close to Raleigh, the beach, I-95, and the mountains – and the low cost of living in the area. These are just a few of the numerous reasons he chose this county as his home.

In the future, Dr. Tucker would love to see economic development while the county still maintains its small-town feel and personal connections. He is encouraged by the economic growth he has seen since arriving, attending many ribbon cuttings of new businesses in the county. For the hospital, he would love to see it continue its budding relationship with UNC to use their expertise and technology for telemedicine. He envisions people having the ability to access specialty care that many small hospitals do not have.

In his free time, Dr. Tucker enjoys playing and tinkering with different instruments. He plays bass guitar, drums, and the keyboard, having played with some small bands before. Most recently, he was able to play with a small band pre-COVID at the House of Blues. Now, whenever he gets the urge, he can just pick up one of his old instruments and play for a couple of months. Along with this, his other most important hobby is to try to spend as much time as possible with his wife and kids. He has enjoyed seeing his kids grow over time, and his wife has been a key component in helping him get to where he is today. He thanks them for all the success they have helped him achieve and always vows to do what is best for them.

#drjessietucker     #wayneunchealthcare      #wayneunchealthcareceo   #army    #medicalservicescorpsofficer     #served20yearsofactiveduty   #houseofblues   #musical    #familyman   #dowhatsright   #humansofwaynecounty    #howc    #waynecountypubliclibrary     #diversityinourcommunity     #rohanshreenath     #wcplnc       #strenghtenourcommunity     #explorediscoverandconnect    #peaceandunderstanding      #community

Jagmohan Gupta Photo

Humans of Wayne County #31 - Dr. Jagmohan Gupta - 6/7/21

Dr. Jagmohan Gupta is a well-respected cardiologist in Goldsboro who has been practicing medicine since 1977. As the longest practicing physician in Wayne County, Dr. Gupta believes the most fulfilling aspect of his job has been giving hope to others by helping them eliminate medical problems. Even for the situations where he can’t totally eradicate the problem, he cherishes having the ability to assist others in how they handle them. If people are afraid of the future, Dr. Gupta can reassure them that he has experienced this situation before and offer a guiding light. Just giving people hope that the future is not as dire as they may think motivates Dr. Gupta to continue working.

Having practiced medicine in Wayne County since 1977, Dr. Gupta has seen many changes over time. He acknowledges how Wayne County was once much less cosmopolitan, but has grown over time in this regard. He sees Seymour Johnson Air Force Base as a key facet in making this happen. Many of those who live here leave the country and experience unique and different cultures. Upon return, they are more accepting and understanding of others. Due to this, Dr. Gupta believes that Wayne County is probably better suited than other counties to accept and welcome different cultures. His personal experiences definitely back this belief. Speaking as a minority from India himself, Dr. Gupta appreciates the fact that he has felt welcomed and supported since he first started practicing medicine in the county. He thanks the people of Wayne County for their gratitude.

In the future, Dr. Gupta hopes to see further integration and openness towards different cultures and groups of people. He envisions that the community continues to appreciate those who are hardworking, honest, and looking to contribute to the community. To make this happen, Dr. Gupta believes it is a two-way street. In order to be welcomed by others in a community, you must make an effort yourself to be a part of and contribute to the community. He hopes to see both of these things happen to help create a supportive environment in the county.

Outside of his work, Dr. Gupta has limited spare time being a physician. In the free time that he has, he always ensures to devote a portion of this time to family, which he believes is of utmost importance. When not spending time with his family. Dr. Gupta enjoys caring for his large garden. With all the stresses of work, horticulture provides a relaxing hobby away from everything else. Finally, Dr. Gupta enjoys traveling. Hearkening back to his earlier statement, traveling gives him the opportunity to experience and learn about different cultures. By doing this, he believes people can learn that the foundational core of all humans is the same. People think the same and want the same things in life, regardless of their outward appearance. Dr. Gupta sees this similarity in all his patients and strives to help them all to the best of his ability. He just wants others to know that he is a family and professional person who is devoted to his job and helping others.

#drjagmohangupta     #cardiologist      #acceptingdiversity   #newcultures  #familyman   #seymourjohnsonairforcebase     #horticulture    #lovestotravel  #opennesstowardsothers    #givepeoplehope          #humansofwaynecounty    #howc    #waynecountypubliclibrary     #diversityinourcommunity     #rohanshreenath     #wcplnc       #strenghtenourcommunity     #explorediscoverandconnect    #peaceandunderstanding      #community

Dr. Steven Taylor Photo (2)

Humans of Wayne County #30 - Dr. Steven Taylor 6/2/21

Dr. Steven Taylor has spent nearly the entirety of his life in Wayne County. Growing up, he was raised on a farm in the county and quickly came to appreciate the value of hard work. He further saw this value working at his dad’s convenience stores, and took it with him into his educational career. After high school, he left Wayne County for 3 years to attend Michigan State University. He then returned to the county and has been involved in education for about 36 years.

In the educational field, Dr. Taylor strives to be fair and consistent with everyone. This belief stems from his care for others and desire for everyone else to have success. Mainly, Dr. Taylor’s favorite part of his job is the ability to be a critical piece in shaping student success, and watch students grow and evolve as people.

Dr. Taylor has served numerous positions in education. Namely, he has spent time as a teacher, Transportation Director, Human Resources Director, Assistant Superintendent, Superintendent of Wayne County Public High Schools, and Principal of Wayne Country Day School. His versatility has given him the opportunity to move around and interact with different students and members of the community in each of the positions he has held, rather than just stay in one position. He has thoroughly enjoyed working with others to see the fruits of their labor.

In Wayne County, Dr. Taylor sees various benefits in what the county offers. First, he appreciates its mix of business and agriculture, along with a thriving hospital and many different educational opportunities throughout its school. Basically, all of a person’s needs can be met in Wayne County, so it attracts many diverse people to it. Additionally, the ability to live in small towns in the country or the city of Goldsboro provides people with different options as to where they want to live. Finally, Dr. Taylor loves Wayne County because of its ideal location. The county is perfectly located near both the beach and mountains, and close to many sites in the beautiful state of North Carolina. These express just some of Wayne County’s many advantages.

In the future, Dr. Taylor hopes to see Wayne County expand its economic development and continue to promote educational opportunities for people of all ages. His main wish is to attract more businesses and industries to the county. This is because he sees economic development as critical to keeping Wayne County prospering and growing.

As far as the educational field, Dr. Taylor hopes that every educational entity will promote a rigorous school curriculum in core classes and technology, which is what the future is clearly moving towards. He encourages that programs at school keep up with the time and needs of both the country and world. He firmly believes that Wayne County has the people, knowledge, and personnel to make this happen.

Outside of work, Dr. Taylor enjoys listening to music, which provides him with a different hobby from his normal lifestyle. He also likes to exercise, which he believes is key to maintaining his own health and well-being. Finally, Dr. Taylor loves to travel to the beach. He heavily enjoys the air, ocean, and people at the beach, and tries to go whenever he gets the chance.

Dr. Taylor has enjoyed every minute of his life in Wayne County. In addition to seeing other students grow and evolve, he is also thankful to Wayne County for providing a place for his own students to grow and evolve too. In all his years in the county, Dr. Taylor has loved his work, the people he has met, and his impending retirement. He is excited to explore new opportunities and hobbies in his retired life in Wayne County.

 

#steventaylor     #waynecountrydayschool      #headofschool 

#waynecountysuperintendent   #michiganstateuniversity   #rigorouscirriculum    #lovesthebeach    #economicdevelopment    #shapingstudentsuccess  #humansofwaynecounty    #howc    #waynecountypubliclibrary     #diversityinourcommunity     #rohanshreenath     #wcplnc       #strenghtenourcommunity     #explorediscoverandconnect    #peaceandunderstanding      #community 

milton whitfield

Humans of Wayne County #29 - Milton Whitfield 5/13/21

Mr. Milton D. Whitfield was born and raised in Wayne County, North Carolina. After first living in Mount Olive, he relocated to Goldsboro, where he graduated from Goldsboro High in 1978. Mr. Whitfield came from humble beginnings. His mother instilled in him the idea that he didn’t have to be a product of his environment. Mr. Whitfield has worked hard to succeed, and was able to do so because of his strong family filled with love and togetherness. Now, he has been married for 39 years to his wife Amanda, with two children and three grandchildren.

After graduating from high school, Mr. Whitfield enlisted in the Marine Corps. His brother spent time in both the Army and the Air Force. However, Mr. Whitfield was excited to tackle a new challenge with the Marine Corps. After arriving at Parris Island in 1978 to begin training, Mr. Whitfield struggled heavily, thinking he would not be able to succeed. Even so, he pushed through and served 21 years of active duty in the Marine Corps. His impetus to succeed came from the desire to set a positive example for his two younger sisters and fellow African-American men. In fact, his desire to set an example for others sparked him to become a Drill Instructor at Parris island. Holding the position of Drill Instructor is Mr. Whitfield’s most fond memory of his time in the military, as he was able to make a difference by shaping the new members of the Marine Corps. His book, African American Senior Marine Corps Leadership, centers around the fascinating people he came into contact with in the military.

Mr. Whitfield’s early success came from the mantra to work hard and receive a good education in the prime years. By doing this, you will have something to fall back on in the future. Through the help of mentors along the way, Mr. Whitfield has been able to achieve this. He has always sought to follow in the examples of others and become a leader in his community.

Mr. Whitfield believes his success directly derives from the choices he made. He firmly understands that the choices you make have consequences to shape your life because all actions have reactions. However, he acknowledges that sometimes you can make the right choice and still fail to succeed. Nevertheless, if you treat others with respect and strive to make the right choices, you will earn respect back. For example, after retiring from the military in 1999, Mr. Whitfield became a correction officer. Here he strived to treat the inmates with respect, and was often able to garner respect back from them.

Mr. Whitfield cherishes Wayne County because he sees this respect present throughout its people. Even though discrimination existed due to the era he lived in, respect and love were still extensive throughout the county. People were close with each other. In addition to the people, Mr. Whitfield found comfort in the “down-home” feel of the county. It had everything he needed, including a military base and world renowned pickle company. In addition, the agriculture in the county planted a strong work ethic within him. His work in the fields from a young age highlighted how he needed to work hard to succeed. Wayne County was able to provide him with this hard work and a home-style atmosphere.

In the future, Mr. Whitfield hopes Wayne County will continue to develop economically to improve employment and job opportunities. He hopes to see the minimum wage increase to provide benefits to the hardworking population in the county.

For Mr. Whitfield, one hobby he took a liking to at a young age is music. As he grew up, he became increasingly infatuated with music and gospel. He eventually played guitar for a gospel group, and has played guitar since 1974. Growing up in church, watching gospel groups like the Flying Sons further heightened his interest in music. Furthermore, his mother was very musically inclined and encouraged him to pursue music. Music has always provided Mr. Whitfield a way to decompress and remain calm, even in his time overseas. 

In general, Mr. Whitfield wants others to know that he centers his life around helping others. For instance, he assists people with disabilities, providing them with a much needed avenue to obtain disability benefits. Moreover, he provides spiritual enjoyment to the community with his music group. Much was given to Mr. Whitfield and he strives to give back much to his community. Through his music and passion for helping others, he hopes to achieve this goal.

#miltonwhitfield     #marinecorps      #goldsborohighschool    #ghsclassof78   #africanamericanseniormarinecorpsleadership   #guitar     #flyingsons    #gospel    #respecteachother    #giveback          #humansofwaynecounty    #howc    #waynecountypubliclibrary     #diversityinourcommunity     #rohanshreenath     #wcplnc       #strenghtenourcommunity     #explorediscoverandconnect    #peaceandunderstanding      #community 

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Humans of Wayne County #28 - Scott Satterfield 5/6/21

Mr. Scott Satterfield currently works in economic development for the city of Goldsboro’s downtown office. Originally from Harnett County in Erwin, North Carolina, Mr. Satterfield has lived in Wayne County for a little over 10 years. He has been heavily involved in many projects since moving, but now enjoys his current job of working to rebuild vacant historical buildings and stimulate business development and job creation in the county.

For his job, Mr. Satterfield enjoys regenerating rundown businesses and making the most of what we have. Revitalizing a building requires strenuous effort, and he enjoys the relationships and strategies involved in doing so. Throughout his job, Mr. Satterfield has seen much improvement since he came along. A downtown that used to be completely vacant, it has now grown much and come a long way. It is a busy area, bustling with people, restaurants, boutiques, small businesses, etc. The downtown in Goldsboro has provided new opportunities for many people.

Mr. Satterfield always hopes to grow and evolve as a person. His biggest passion is to take part in things that matter for his community, which he has certainly done through his job. Of course, everybody wants to improve financially, and Mr. Satterfield is no different in that regard. However, Mr. Satterfield believes that improving financially is secondary to him, as he strives to improve the lives of others and see a community that is thriving. The internal motivation to help others drives Mr. Satterfield to continue to do good for his community.

In Wayne County, Mr. Satterfield loves the relationship we have with the base, which is such a critical aspect of the county. Seymour Johnson Air Force Base has brought numerous people from all over the world to live in and contribute to our diverse county. He enjoys supporting our country by supporting Seymour Johnson Air Force Base. In addition, Mr. Satterfield cherishes Goldsboro’s deep-rooted agricultural history, which is intertwined with the community’s success. He appreciates how the community has thrived off of this way of life. Most importantly, Mr. Satterfield values the relationships he has crafted in Wayne County over his time here. The collaboration and friendships he builds on a regular basis drives his love for the community and his work to improve it.

In the future, Mr. Satterfield hopes that the development outside of Raleigh continues to push east into Wayne County. He envisions that the county will be situated ideally in the middle of this development, and become a hub in the eastern part of the state for people to live, visit, and raise a family.

In his limited free time, when he is not working or cheering on the Chicago Cubs, Mr. Satterfield loves to travel and camp with his wife and three kids. In addition, he is involved in his church and has even become an entrepreneur outside of work. As long as he lives in Wayne County, Mr. Satterfield hopes to help others in any way he can and continue to stimulate the county’s quickly growing economy.

#scottsatterfield     #economicdevelopment      #dgdc    #growanddevelop          #humansofwaynecounty    #howc    #waynecountypubliclibrary     #diversityinourcommunity     #rohanshreenath     #wcplnc       #strenghthenourcommunity     #explorediscoverandconnect    #peaceandunderstanding      #community 

Elizabeth Falk Photo

Humans of Wayne County #27 - Eizabeth Falk 4/22/21

Ms. Elizabeth Falk originally spent time as a child in western North Carolina before leaving to pursue her academic interests. She first finished her last two years of high school in Durham at the School of Science and Mathematics. She then attended college at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, a college that sparked her interest in law. So, after graduating from UNC, she matriculated to Regent University in Virginia for law school. Now, she is a practicing attorney in Kinston, North Carolina for White and Allen.

Ms. Falk cultivated a passion for law. Prior to taking a job as a receptionist at UNC, Ms. Falk thought an attorney only went to court and took part in trials, a life that she found largely uninteresting. However, as a receptionist at UNC, she found that she enjoyed the chance to work with clients and that there are numerous different branches in law. So, she opted to go into law, where she pursued a career in transactional law due to her love for writing. 

As a lawyer, Ms. Falk most enjoys the opportunity to meet new people and provide them with much needed assistance. For example, she cherishes memories of helping people purchase their first home, which is always an exciting and memorable experience. For any major life event, Ms. Falk relishes the chance to provide them with the proper foundational assistance necessary to succeed later in life. In the future, she hopes to continue to expand her knowledge and improve in her field so she can keep providing help to others.

Ms. Falk has lived in Wayne County since 2013. As stated above, she attended law school at Regent University, where she met her husband from eastern North Carolina. They married after law school and decided to move to this area. Now, her husband is also a practicing attorney, and they have a two year old son named Bradford. Both she and her husband have thoroughly enjoyed their time spent together in Wayne County.

In Wayne County, Ms. Falk loves all the diverse people she has met and has quickly forged lasting friendships with supporting and loving people. She has also enjoyed seeing the revitalization of downtown and continued growth of businesses. In the future, she hopes this promising trend will continue and attract more people to Wayne County, improving the economy and school system. In fact, Ms. Falk would love to see her family grow and remain close to home.

In her spare time, Ms. Falk loves to read, watch UNC sports, and spend time outside and with her friends in Wayne County. When reading, Ms. Falk is a big fan of historical fiction and WWII. She is pleased with her career choice and current life. Specifically, she loves the flexibility she has in her schedule, which gives her the opportunity to continue helping others with key decisions like buying and refinancing homes while still being able to spend quality time with her husband and son.

#elizabethfalk     #transactionallaw      #whiteandallen    #UNC   #UNCChapelHill    #regentuniversity     #loveshistoricalfiction   #ww2fiction   #lovestohelppeoplebuytheirfirsthome       #humansofwaynecounty    #howc    #waynecountypubliclibrary     #diversityinourcommunity     #rohanshreenath     #wcpl       #strenghtenourcommunity     #explorediscoverandconnect    #peaceandunderstanding      #community 

EleanorSpicerRice_creditRaymondGoodman
Dr eleanor's book of common spiders

Humans of Wayne County #26 - Eleanor Spicer Rice 4/16/21

Dr. Eleanor Spicer Rice loves the bugs and nature around us. Growing up in Wayne County, she became enamored by entomology due to the vast variety of insects present within the county. Her passion for bugs drove her to further study them in college. She earned her master’s degree studying native bees and honey bees. In particular, Dr. Spicer Rice focused her studies on bees and ants, two species found in abundance in North Carolina.

While studying insects is a passionate hobby for Dr. Spicer Rice, she also enjoys writing. As a writer, Dr. Spicer Rice loves to pose questions and discover the answers. For her job, she has had the opportunity to meet fascinating people who are experts in their given field. She has written for magazines, like “Our State Magazine,” but has also written books that relate back to her passion: bugs.

Two books Dr. Spicer Rice has written include "Dr. Eleanor’s Book of Common Ants" and "Dr. Eleanor’s Book of Common Spiders." She has also written about the city of Durham and has other books about ants in the works. In her books, she discusses bugs and what they do. Her motive is to aid others in noticing the common small occurrences around them. For instance, Dr. Spicer Rice is currently writing a book concerning bacterial microbes that influence the world around people and other living organisms. Through her writing, she strives to shine a light on these incredible occurrences happening daily that people fail to notice.

Given her undying passion for bugs, Dr. Spicer Rice loves nature in Wayne County, where an abundance of life is present. Specifically, it is part of a global biodiversity hotspot, meaning that it has more species than almost anywhere on Earth. Such hotspots are particularly rare, as only 36 exist in the world right now. In addition to the abundance of nature present, she enjoys how Wayne County actively protects these species through parks and nature areas.

Along with bugs, Dr. Spicer Rice loves the people in Wayne County. Similar to the nature present, she sees Wayne County as a diversity hotspot for different people from all walks of life. She enjoys how people actively seek to spread goodness and love to others. She has brought people from all over the world to Wayne County to meet its amazing people and nature. Her goal is to help others take notice of the natural world, form a relationship with it, and protect it.

In the future, Dr. Spicer Rice hopes that Wayne County will continue to lift each other up. Nearly 2 in 10 people in the county live below the poverty line, about double the national poverty level. Immense poverty numbers affect the entire community. So, with Wayne County having great need, Dr. Spicer Rice also sees it as a great opportunity to continue to provide essential help to others.

Furthermore, Dr. Spicer Rice hopes that the county will continue to appreciate and support its nature. Living day-to-day, it can be hard to look too far into the future. However, she argues that it is crucial to actively plan to maintain nature, health, and quality of life, which are all connected. For example, humans introduced the Emerald Ash Borer Beetle into the United States, which then proceeded to kill many trees. As a result, people began to die from heart attacks in the area at an alarming rate. So, this displays how important nature is to our health. Dr. Spicer Rice believes we must take all necessary measures to protect it, even if it is not convenient.

In her free time, Dr. Spicer Rice spends time with her sons and husband, reads, and searches for bugs and birds outside. However, the bulk of her time is spent on writing and bugs. In the future, she seeks to continue to fuse these two passions to bring proper attention to the nature around us, and give it the attention that it fully deserves.

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Dr. David Lewis

Humans of Wayne County #25 - Dr. David Lewis 4/8/21

Dr. David Lewis has spent nearly the entirety of his decorated life in Wayne County. As a kid, Dr. Lewis grew up in rural Wayne County, graduating from Rosewood High School. He left the county at the beginning of his career to spend 12 years with schools in Northeastern North Carolina. However, he then decided to return to his birthplace, seeking to build his family and make a difference.

 

Within the county, Dr. Lewis has served in numerous positions throughout the school system. His first job came as an assistant principal at Goldsboro High School. Subsequently, he began to methodically work his way up the chain of command. Dr. Lewis spent time as Elementary Director, County Athletic Director, and Assistant Superintendent for Accountability and Information Technology Services. After gaining invaluable experience throughout these positions, Dr. Lewis’s qualifications lead him to his current position of Interim Superintendent for Wayne County Public Schools.

In the school system, Dr. Lewis enjoys being immersed in the diversity of the student body. Regardless of an individual’s background or home dynamics, the school system strives to meet them where they are and provide an avenue for them to reach their full potential through education.

The recent onset of a global pandemic has wreaked havoc on schools throughout the nation. Wayne County is no exception to this unfortunate trend. Dr. Lewis acknowledges this issue and is concerned with helping students recover from learning time lost due to the pandemic. While some steps have been taken, no substitute exists for the paramount personal interactions between students and qualified teachers. So, interacting just a few times a week, is academically, socially, and emotionally challenging for kids. Losing academics and common school traditions like prom has created hardships for all students.

 

Dr. Lewis’ other main concern involves the school facilities. Progress has been made, but there is still much left to be desired. Some school buildings are between 80 to 100 years old. These aging facilities will be a substantial problem to combat within the county.

 

In Wayne County, Dr. Lewis cherishes the cultural diversity and community feel. The numerous positions he has served in throughout the county have allowed him to experience this diversity. Furthermore, even though Wayne County has grown much since he first lived here, it still maintains its community feel. One particular growth he has enjoyed is the revitalization of downtown, an area that was much different when he originally lived here. In addition, Wayne County also holds an ideal location given its proximity to many different areas without having to deal with the congested traffic in those areas.

 

In the future, Dr. Lewis hopes the positive revitalization of downtown continues on its current trend, and the county continues to prosper and develop economically. Projects have already been started to further the economic success of Wayne County. He hopes doing this will continue to attract new businesses and people to the county.

 

In his free time, Dr. Lewis enjoys taking road trips to see his kids and spending time with his family. However much of his time is consumed working with the public schools. He thoroughly enjoys his career and hopes that he continues to contribute to the success of the school district. One thing he wants others to know is that Wayne County has a lot to offer to anyone looking to build a family and make a difference in their community. Look no further than Dr. Lewis himself to see this is true.

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Senator Jim Perry Photo

Humans of Wayne County #24 - Senator Jim Perry 3/25/21

Senator Jim Perry has small town roots, born and raised in eastern North Carolina. He has spent his entire life in the area, barring a few years when he was younger and moved away for military obligations. As a child, he was raised by a single mother with two older brothers. His epitomical life of a Wayne County resident made him the perfect candidate to be one of its political leaders in the future.

Senator Perry’s interest in politics came about adventitiously. As a child, politics never intrigued him. Even as he grew older, he only had a casual interest in politics, much like many of the people around him. However, a striking legislative bill proposed by the General Assembly sparked his interest in politics. Prior to his political career, Senator Perry worked for a business in which he had invested his life savings. One day, a piece of legislation was introduced in the General Assembly that could have suddenly shattered the business overnight. This thought instilled fear within him, as he wondered how he would care for his three daughters. So, he earned a behind-the-scenes tour of legislation when he walked the halls of the General Assembly and talked to various lawmakers about the bill. After being able to overcome such a detrimental situation, Senator Perry knew he never wanted to play “catch-up” again and vowed to become more involved in the political process.

As a politician, Senator Perry has most enjoyed his ability to help others through his work. He particularly likes constituent services, which he believes are something that can produce immediate feedback and results. When he provides help to someone struggling, frustrated, and clinging to hope, he believes he is fulfilling his duty. So, he enjoys crafting legislation that can specifically make an impact on the common person in eastern North Carolina, an area that has largely been neglected. For example, he has collaborated with other politicians like Representative Bell to pass legislation that would bring prosperity to small towns in eastern North Carolina, augmenting much needed infrastructure and water lines. Senator Perry loves to serve the people he represents.

Earlier in his life, Senator Perry would spend an inordinate amount of time traveling. He traveled as a Chief Operating Officer for a large organization and with dentists to Mexico, where they would receive surgical training. His time away from home has extended his appreciation for aspects of Wayne County that are not offered in larger cities. For instance, he loves the common themes shared between Wayne County’s people, who enjoy small town life, sports, the outdoors, their family, etc. In addition, there is also an enviable amount of congestion in comparison to big cities, where shorter distances can take much larger times to reach due to traffic. Specifically, within the county, he appreciates our amazing military base and hardworking farmers, both essential to the success of the town. Finally, he loves the homegrown barbecue from Wayne County. Senator Perry’s love for the county fuels his desire to continue serving it.

In the future, Senator Perry hopes to continue to see economic growth within Wayne County to prevent the community from floundering. He is excited to see our roadway system continue to improve, and possibly shape Wayne County into a bedroom community for people looking to work in Raleigh. Mainly, Senator Perry just wants to see continued economic growth and thinks that we as a county are headed in the right direction.

When he is not working, Senator Perry enjoys duck hunting, fishing, and spending time on his boat. As a general rule, he loves the outdoors. He also wants others to know that he does not like formality. Even though the general assembly is not in session full time, he has a full-time legislative assistant to assist citizens with questions/concerns. So, he wants people to understand that the system is designed such that a person will be able to obtain help if they need it, and he will always continue to be someone  who provides guidance for others as they navigate this process.

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Rep Raymond Smith Photo

Humans of Wayne County #23 - Representative Raymond Smith 3/18/21

Representative Raymond Smith has deep roots in Wayne County dating back many generations. Born and raised in Wayne County, Representative Smith comes from a long line of educators. His great grandmother was a respected educator in her community during the times of segregation. Though she had only studied through the eighth grade, she made educating others in her community her mission. She bore twelve children, and over half of them became educators. Representative Smith’s mother, Ms. Thelma Smith, taught in Wayne County schools for thirty-eight years before serving on the Wayne County Board of Education. Given the strong lineage of education, Representative Smith always knew it would play a vital role in his life too.

Growing up, Representative Smith’s family placed high values and expectations for him. Obtaining a college education was implicit in his path to success. Representative Smith started school in the times of segregation. He did not attend an integrated school until he was in the 4th grade. His father, who enlisted in the Marine Corps upon graduating from high school, would tell him stories about being the only African American Marine on the entire base. So, Representative Smith gleaned a keen understanding of how life differs for people based on background and ethnicity.

While attending Goldsboro High School, he immersed himself in football, baseball, and wrestling. Representative Smith matriculated to North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, where he continued to play football. In college, he struggled academically, resulting in academic probation for a semester. During this time, he enlisted in the military, which he considers a watershed moment. He served in the US Army and is a combat veteran from Operation Desert Storm. Representative Smith understands the Army was crucial to his success, as it instilled the self-discipline needed to return to complete his college education. When he returned to college, he finished on the Dean’s List and progressed further to earn a master’s degree. Recently, he received a doctorate in education leadership. Even though his parents did not live to see him achieve this pinnacle of educational success, he credits them for planting the foundational seeds. His life is a direct result of his parent’s care, values, and expectations and they continue to live vicariously through him.

Now, Representative Smith is a father of five children, three boys and two girls. His wife Cortrina is a coordinator for the media personnel for the school systems. His oldest son Christopher currently serves in the United States Army. Overall, Representative Smith is content with his decisions, even the bad ones, because he has been able to learn from them and grow.

Growing up in times of segregation, Representative Smith knows the country has only recently started its strides towards justice. As a country, we are still working with race relations and social justice issues. With this in mind, he wants others to know that he is eclectic, multi-faceted, and understands how to incorporate different points of view. 

Representative Smith strongly believes in the power of education but understands that college is not for everyone and not the sole route to success. He does not believe in the adage that “one size fits all.” Many people without college degrees lead successful lives. However, he believes a foundational education is critical for everyone to obtain in order to achieve success in life.

In some ways, Representative Smith has always been a “politician.” Growing up as an only child, he sharpened his negotiation skills on his parents. He first got involved in politics when he ran for the At-large seat for the Board of Education. He became the first ever African American to win an At-large seat in Wayne County. Some people discouraged him from running, arguing that it could not be done, but Representative Smith is a believer in what can be done, not what cannot.

Representative Smith views politics as a vehicle to help others and his community, not himself. He uses politics as a platform to benefit others as he deeply cares for the people of Wayne County. Wayne County has molded him into who he is today. His former friends, teachers, and coaches all played a part in shaping him and he believes his roots are firmly entrenched in this community. In the future, Representative Smith hopes that this town continues to show others love and respect for each other. He also encourages everyone to continue to learn about others. Once, he was talking to a friend from a different political party and asked, “Can you tell me one thing that a Republican wants for his family that a Democrat does not want for his?” His friend was silent, highlighting how everyone has similar goals and aspirations. He hopes the community comes together and understands that we have more similarities than differences.

Representative Smith is fully committed to securing fair and equitable education for all. He is also committed to ensuring that we take care of and look out for each other. He hopes to have a positive impact on his community during his tenure and plans to continue to serve the community long after he leaves this position.

 

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Rep John Bell Photo

Humans of Wayne County #22 - Representative John Bell 3/11/21

Representative John Bell hails from a family that has long been active in Wayne County. His grandparents were energetic members of North Duplin County, his mother provided many services to the community (like working with the Acme United Corporation and directing the Red Cross), and his father was an esteemed highway maintenance engineer in Wayne County. Even before becoming involved in politics, Representative Bell’s long history of family members serving the community was ingrained into his daily life.

Born in Wilson, NC, Representative Bell attended Wayne County Schools and Goldsboro City Schools before graduating from North Duplin High School. After matriculating to UNCW, he went on to work with the Boy Scouts serving the Tuscarora Council and Gulf Coast Council (Florida) for five and a half years. Representative Bell then continued to explore the country and immerse himself in banking before returning home. At home, he continued to develop his banking career, working for North Carolina Community Federal Credit Union. He now works for a private equity firm called Rise Capital, dedicated to building and growing businesses in rural North Carolina.

Representative Bell’s interest in politics materialized at a young age. Growing up, he knew many respected NC politicians through his father and family. As he matured, he continued to be enamored by the workings of government. He became an active campaigner in the county before his involvement in his political career. Winning his first election by such a slim margin, Representative Bell wants others to know that every vote counts and can alter the outcome of an election.

2012 marks the ascension of Representative Bell’s political career when he was elected to the General Assembly where he has represented Craven, Greene, Lenoir, Johnston, and Wayne Counties. His dedicated service spurred his reelection in 2015, and he was even elected Majority Whip by his colleagues, the chief vote counter in the caucus for any major legislation. Continuing this impressive trend, in 2016, he was elected to serve as the Majority Leader in the House of Representatives in just his second term – a significant feat for such a young politician. As he prepares to enter his 5th term of the General Assembly, he aims to improve our community by providing a voice at the state legislature.

During his political career, Representative Bell has made personal sacrifices by spending time away from his home and family. But his career has also given him the opportunity to explore our beautiful state. As he travels, he enjoys seeing projects he envisions come to fruition. Especially in Wayne County, there is a long-standing tradition of collaboration. So, Representative Bell often casts aside partisan politics and works with his counterparts to bring significant changes to the community. For example, he helped bring about key projects such as the Maxwell Center and Multi-Sports Complex. Seeing these projects grow and bring prosperity to the community has further fueled his passion for politics.

Politics is not always glamorous, and Representative Bell acknowledges the tough lives citizens affected by natural disasters and other calamities have endured. So, he hopes to provide a voice for the destitute in order to represent them to the best of his ability. Raised by the mantra that you should leave your community better than you found it, Representative Bell continues to bring about meaningful change.

In the future, Representative Bell hopes that small communities in Wayne County thrive with economic development and growth. He has witnessed progress in small towns like Mount Olive – with the Pickle Factory and the University of Mount Olive – and hopes this ripple effect will continue to spread. In Wayne County, he encourages us to continue to support our local businesses, agriculture, and military to create a thriving community for everyone to live and work in.

In his limited spare time, Representative Bell hunts, fishes, and enjoys being a family man, especially spending time with his daughter. He wants others in Wayne County to know that he feels blessed by what the community has offered him and understands that he is accountable to the electorate when making decisions. He is honored to serve and take on the responsibility bestowed upon him. As long as he serves, Representative Bell will continue to work hard to ensure proper representation for all.

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billedgerton2

Humans of Wayne County #21 - Bill Edgerton 3/4/21

Mr. Bill Edgerton has actively served the Wayne County community since moving here in 1994. Prior to living in Wayne County, he spent thirty-seven years working for a telephone company. He originally worked with Carolina Telephone, but changed jobs often due to his thirst for variety. In doing so, he moved frequently, switching towns about every four years. In his time working, he and his wife lived throughout eastern North Carolina, but never in Goldsboro until he retired.

After moving to Wayne County, Mr. Edgerton was quick to leave an indelible mark on his community. Since he retired upon coming to Wayne County, he was able to immerse himself in volunteerism. His substantial volunteer work stemmed from the idea that if you live in a community, it is your job to support it.

Initially, Mr. Edgerton helped launch Habitat for Humanity in Goldsboro. Every Thursday morning, his church and seven other churches work together to construct wheelchair ramps at people’s houses who find themselves in sudden need of them. For the past several years, they have had three crews building ramps every Thursday, filling a glaring need in the county. Now in their 13th year building ramps, Habitat for Humanity and the ramp building project have grown into a monumental success, as they were able to complete about 150 ramps last year.

Mr. Edgerton appreciates volunteerism because he receives as much benefit building the ramps as do the people he builds them for. Every volunteer he was worked with enjoys the time they spend because they understand the great need they are filling within the county. It takes just one morning’s work for them to positively alter the life of someone else forever.

In Wayne County, Mr. Edgerton had the unique experience of coming by choice, rather than being born into the county or relocating because of work. Along with the relatives he has in the area, he chose Wayne County because he viewed it as an ideal place to settle down for the rest of his life. Now, having been here for over twenty-five years, he has enjoyed seeing the county grow. Specifically, Mr. Edgerton sees that downtown Goldsboro has been as essential to the county than any place he has ever lived. He hopes to see it continue to flourish and bring prosperity to the county.

In his spare time, Mr. Edgerton heavily enjoys volunteering, traveling, and bird feeding. His passion for traveling was sparked after he left Habitat for Humanity, when his wife told him, “I’ve always heard Rome wasn’t built in a day. Let’s go find out why.” So, he first toured Italy, before traveling to different European countries for the next six years. In addition, he has been in all 50 states and every Canadian province except Newfoundland. All said and done, Mr. Edgerton has savored his time spent traveling, and is now content to stay home and enjoy the beautiful town of Goldsboro when he is not volunteering. He is blessed that he can still be so active at his age and plans to continue to serve his community as long as he is able to.

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Lisa Buchtmann photo

Humans of Wayne County #20 - Lisa Buchtmann 2/25/21

Mrs. Lisa Buchtmann spent her early life in a small town on the southern tip of Illinois, near the Ohio and Mississippi rivers. She graduated from Eastern Illinois with a degree in history. She now lives in Goldsboro with her husband to whom she has been married for forty years.

Mrs. Buchtmann has lived in Goldsboro for nearly 25 years, but has spent time in numerous places throughout the country before that. She moved around with her husband, a metallurgical engineer and corporate administrator. After eloping, she and her husband have lived in Washington state, southern California, South Carolina, Wisconsin, New York, and now Goldsboro. They have three children and four grandchildren. All of Mrs. Buchtmann's children have followed her footsteps into educational career paths.

Mrs. Buchtmann lives and breathes history. After moving to Goldsboro in 1998, she taught American history at Spring Creek High School for eighteen years. She particularly enjoyed providing a spark for other students in history because she is so passionate about the subject herself. She has found through her teaching that almost everybody has an interest in some area of history, and she enjoys unlocking that interest in others. Currently retired, Mrs. Buchtmann most misses her interactions with her students as a teacher.

In addition to teaching history, Mrs. Buchtmann is an active and contributing member to the Daughters of the American Revolution. She views it as a great patriotic organization that helps members of the military, local service providers, and minorities. She heavily encourages any woman who is the descendant of a person in the American Revolution to join. 

In Goldsboro, Mrs. Buchtmann admires its ideal size. It’s big enough to have many activities, restaurants, and programs to be involved in, but small enough to be able to bypass the dreaded traffic or congestion. Additionally, she sees Seymour Johnson Air Force Base as a vital aspect of the county. From a history standpoint, Mrs. Buchtmann appreciates the history sites near Wayne County, like the Bentonville Battlefield. In fact, Goldsboro has a very interesting history itself, such as it being General Sherman’s headquarters in the Civil War. For a relatively small town, Goldsboro has an abundance of interesting history sites to explore.

 

Mrs. Buchtmann hopes Wayne County will continue to thrive and the school system will strengthen in the future. She acknowledges the great job that Wayne Community College does with the occupational education it provides, and hopes to see this proliferate. The one other change she would like to see materialize is for more people to become involved in the county and its amazing activities.

 

Now retired, Mrs. Buchtmann invests her time into horses. She and her husband own a horse boarding facility, where she enjoys riding and caring for the horses. Her passion for riding transpired as a kid, when she would ride horses any chance she got. Now, she has even ridden horses for Civil War reenactment. Mrs. Buchtmann’s other main hobby is genealogy. She is currently heavily exploring her family’s background in order to write a familial history book for her children and siblings. In her genealogical search, she has found that her mother’s side originates from Maryland and Virginia in the 1600s, and her father’s family immigrated from Germany in the 1850s. Along with riding and sifting through genealogy, she enjoys reading fiction and historical nonfiction, and listening to audio books.

Mrs. Buchtmann wants others to know that in addition to her active passion for American history, she is a caring and considerate person. On top of the community work she has participated in with the Daughters of the American Revolution, she is also the president of a local philanthropic sisterhood that provides educational scholarships on a national, state, and local level. This year, they have offered over $3,000 in scholarships. Now that she is retired, Mrs. Buchtmann hopes to continue to influence her community by helping others.

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Yacouba Niandou Photo2

Humans of Wayne County #19 - Yacuoba Niandou 2/19/21

Mr. Yacouba Ide Niandou spent the early years of his life in a small sub-Saharan country in Africa called Niger. There, he majored in law and earned a master’s degree in human resource management. He now works as a billing specialist for a utility company in Goldsboro.

Mr. Niandou is most distinguished for what he does outside of work. Specifically, he delves into volunteering during his free time. In Goldsboro, he has volunteered for essential organizations like Habitat for Humanity and Red Cross. During the time he has devoted to volunteering, Mr. Niandou has been a key factor in igniting a passion in others to volunteer. He does this by helping others realize that they don’t need much to give back. One person can’t move mountains on their own, but collectively, we can work together to make changes materialize. Mr. Niandou aspires to continue to be a model for others in Wayne County to highlight the rewards of giving back.

While volunteering, Mr. Niandou most enjoys witnessing the crucial help he provides to others. He acknowledges that small actions that might seem trivial to you can alter the lives of others. He knows he made a difference when someone comes up to him and thanks him for help he has offered in the past. The heartwarming feeling this provides him drives his passion for volunteering.

Mr. Niandou has now lived in Wayne County for about 13 years. He originally came to the United States with his wife, who immigrated as a Returned Peace Corps Volunteer. In the time he has lived in Wayne County, Mr. Niandou has always cherished its community feel. Wherever he travels in Wayne County, he always runs into the same people. Compound this with Wayne County’s central location to both the beach and big cities, and he views it as the ideal location to raise a family.

In the future, Mr. Niandou hopes to see more of Wayne County’s youth engaged in the community. He sees this happening in three critical steps: dialogue, engagement, and change. Dialogue is a pivotal foundational step. As a community, we can come from different backgrounds and utilize our diversity to succeed, but we must ensure that we listen and talk to one other. Then comes engagement. This involves actually embarking into the community and working to create change. The change that we create will mold Wayne County in the future.

In his free time, Mr. Niandou likes to read, spend time with his son, watch a variety of competitive sports (football, basketball, tennis, swimming, etc.), and coach soccer. He coaches both recreational soccer at the Y and travel soccer in Wayne County. In fact, he is even the founder of the Goldsboro Strike Eagles, the first semi-pro soccer team in the county.

Mr. Niandou wants others to understand that appearances can be deceiving. So, if anyone wants to converse with him about anything, he would be more than happy to have a discussion with them. Regardless of the situation, if someone reaches out to Mr. Niandou, he will be there for them, just like he always has been in the past.

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Mary Susan Heath Photograph
Legs Astride the World Book Cover

Humans of Wayne County #18 - Mary Susan Heath 2/11/21

Growing up in Kenly, NC, Ms. Heath attended North Johnston High School. Her graduating class was particularly monumental because it was a year of firsts. Her class was the first to attend the consolidated high school and the first to experience integration. As she grew up, she witnessed the racially segregating Jim Crow laws and lived through the rippling impacts of the assassinations of JFK and MLK.

After graduating from high school, Ms. Heath decided to pursue a career in teaching. She earned her Master’s degree in English at NC State University, and was nationally board certified twice. Her concentration of study was in Drama Reader’s Theatre to help develop literacy in kids.  Part of what encouraged Ms. Heath to become a teacher was because of her early proclivity as a writer. She has written a plethora of works, especially since she retired in 2011. Much of her writing involves collaboration with former students. In addition to this, she has participated in Passionate for Poetry, a county wide effort to promote poetry. She has also written numerous plays. These include plays for Traveling Trunks, like Lady Liberty and Home Grown Dorothy Cotton, and biblical plays for churches, such as The Vine and The Fig Tree and Sensational Shows. However, perhaps her greatest work is the one she has just completed during the pandemic: Legs Astride the World, a memoir she completed with her uncle that details his life in the WW2 depression era. As you can see, writing has always been a robust passion for Ms. Heath.

Wayne County is where Ms. Heath’s teaching career has flourished. She spent time teaching at Eastern Wayne High School and Eastern Wayne Middle School, primarily delving into journalism, English, and language arts. As a result of the political turmoil she experienced growing up, Ms. Heath has been very politically active throughout her career. She has strongly advocated for better working conditions for teachers, smaller class sizes, teaching assistants in lower grades, and better salaries for teachers. Like any campaign, she has seen her fair share of successes and failures in her efforts.

During her time as teacher, Ms. Heath most cherished the indelible interactions with her students. She taught at a time where the teacher was supposed to stand at the front of the room and lecture, and the student was supposed to sit at their desk and take notes. However, she progressively used drama and poetry to branch out. For example, she once taught a creative writing class where students wrote poetry based on Beatles songs and other music. Having the ability to let students “think outside-the-box” and make writing fun is why Ms. Heath cherishes teaching.

Having lived in Wayne County since 1991, Ms. Heath considers it her permanent home. Ever since she first came here, she has always loved the people. Everyone is open and genuine about them. In the future, Ms. Heath hopes Wayne County continues to make strides in addressing social issues such as poverty, homelesness, race relations, drug addictions, food insecurity, etc. By addressing these problems, she envisions us joining together and becoming less segregated as a community.

In her free time, Ms. Heath enjoys swimming, cooking, and reading. Coming from a long line of cooks, she reverts to the kitchen as her “safe space.” But, as can be clearly deduced from above, writing is her dominant passion. One unique thing about writing is that it gives people the opportunity to tell their own story. She challenges people to jump on this chance, especially at a time like now. We are currently going through a stressful and unprecedented pandemic that will most likely leave a lasting effect. So, she continues to stress the importance of people branching out to share their various stories as we all adjust to the constantly evolving and new normal.

#marysusanheath     #writer      #legsastridetheworld    #easternwaynehigh    #easternwaynemiddle   #cooking    #teacher   #playwright    #teachoutsidethebox          #humansofwaynecounty    #howc    #waynecountypubliclibrary     #diversityinourcommunity     #rohanshreenath     #wcpl       #strenghtenourcommunity     #explorediscoverandconnect    #peaceandunderstanding      #community 

luis caraballo

Humans of Wayne County #17 - Luis Caraballo 2/5/21

Luis Caraballo, a senior at Goldsboro High School, puts others' needs above his own and hopes to pursue a career where he can continue to help others. After high school, he aspires to become a psychologist for the military. Learning the art of psychology will provide the necessary tools to aid people with mental health and other existential problems.

Luis has lived in Wayne County for about 6 years. In the time he has spent here, he has particularly taken a keen interest in the proximity of everything, whether it be strolling through downtown, or walking to friends’ houses. In the future, Luis hopes Wayne County will have more to offer younger kids and teenagers. While it already has an imperishable community feel, he hopes to see unique places designated for kids and teen enjoyment.

One particular reason Luis enjoys walking everywhere because it provides him with the perfect opportunity to think. As a future psychologist, he places utmost importance in allowing inner thoughts and feelings to truly develop. This free thinking allows ideas to materialize, which he sometimes expresses in his sketches. In addition to dabbling in psychology, Luis enjoys reading comic books, Greek Mythology, and books about the military. He is currently reading The Art of War by Sun Tzu, an ancient text that delves into various military tactics. This illustrates his interest in the military, and further excites him in becoming a psychologist for the military.

We all wish Luis the best of luck in his future endeavors as he tackles life after high school!

#luiscaraballo     #goldsborohighschool      #military    #futurepsychologist   #putothersneedsbeforehisown    #theartofwar   #classof2021    #goldsborohighclassof2021          #humansofwaynecounty    #howc    #waynecountypubliclibrary     #diversityinourcommunity     #rohanshreenath     #wcpl       #strenghtenourcommunity     #explorediscoverandconnect    #peaceandunderstanding      #community 

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Lindsey Ham Book

Humans of Wayne County #16 - Lindsey Ham 1/29/21

As the son of an Air Force veteran, Lindsey Ham constantly found himself briefly living somewhere before packing up and moving again. This finally changed in 1975, as Wayne County offered him a permanent home to live when his dad retired from the Air Force. In Wayne County, Mr. Ham graduated from Goldsboro High School in the Class of 1982 before spending a decorated 27 years serving in the US army.

His whole life, Mr. Ham has adhered to one mantra: always try to do the right thing. During his aforementioned 27 years in the Army, he developed young boys into men by helping them understand their responsibilities in shaping their own future.  By instilling confidence in these young men, Mr. Ham has enthusiastically seen them grow into respectable members of their communities.

Having lived in Wayne County since 1975, Mr. Ham witnessed tremendous growth in the county. Despite the growth, he notes that Wayne County remains a helpful and close-knit community. Mr. Ham often compares Goldsboro to Greenville. Back in the late 70s, Greenville was much smaller than Goldsboro. Then, all of a sudden, its population spiked, and today’s Greenville is nothing like what it used to be. Mr. Ham has seen Goldsboro grow steadily over the past 10 years. One thing that distinguishes Goldsboro from other places is that as it continues to grow and reach its full potential, it still maintains its character.

Throughout his life, Mr. Ham believes he has accomplished many of his dreams, despite the obstacles he has faced. His achieved goals include becoming a published author, as he wrote a book called Mankind; God’s Most Awesome Creation: (The True Origin of Man). This book examines the belief of creation. Having relished the time he spent writing his first book, Mr. Ham is currently in the process of writing another book and would love to see it become a best-seller.

Along with writing, in his free time, Mr. Ham enjoys science, music (singing, playing instruments, and recording songs), writing books and poetry, and coaching and playing football, basketball and baseball. In fact, Mr. Ham pursued football and baseball at East Carolina University. In college, he eventually gave up baseball to focus solely on football. He was en route to play football professionally for the Atlanta Falcons, but suffered a devastating leg injury in a car accident, effectively ending his football career. Mr. Ham, always seeing the positive in everything, has no regrets. Before the accident, he was prepared to go to the NFL, but it all slipped away with one injury. However, given the fulfilling life he has lived, he has reveled in the opportunities he would have never been able to experience had he gone to the NFL. He wants others to understand that there is good in every situation. He will always try to find the positive in everything and challenges others to do the same.


#lindseyham     #publishedauthor      #author    #usarmy   #alwaysdotherightthing #mankindgodsmostawesomecreation   #airforcebrat    #veteran    #atlantafalcons    #nfl     #eastcarolinauniversity    #ecufootball         #humansofwaynecounty    #howc    #waynecountypubliclibrary     #diversityinourcommunity     #rohanshreenath     #wcpl       #strenghtenourcommunity     #explorediscoverandconnect    #peaceandunderstanding      #community 

casey mozingo

Humans of Wayne County #15 - Casey Mozingo 1/21/21

Ms. Casey Mozingo is a photographer who took a keen interest in photojournalism from a young age. Coming from a family of artists, Ms. Mozingo has always possessed a creative sense. A couple times in her life she has strayed from it, needing a more dependable job to pay the bills, but she has always returned to it, highlighting how photojournalism is her passion. Ms. Mozingo enjoys her photography because it allows her to help others see the same things in different ways. She utilizes her art to give people a different perspective on something they may not have otherwise taken a second glance at.

One key trait of Ms. Mozingo is that she loves to help people, both in and out of work. In her previous job where she spent 6 years at the Goldsboro News-Argus, she helped people stay informed on crucial events in the community. Now, at Wayne Community College, she makes use of photos and videos as a marketing tool to attract new students to Wayne Community, shaping their future success.

Outside of work is where Ms. Mozingo’s love for helping others radiates. She organizes fundraisers, and uses a portion of money she earns from portrait photography to donate to local charities and causes. She donates to people in need of coats, clothes, food, etc. For example, one of the many charities she donates to is the North Carolina Troopers Association. Along with this, she further volunteers her time at local charities. While something like this may appear small to her, she knows it is monumental to these organizations where every little thing counts.

Ms. Mozingo particularly appreciates the diversity and community feel of Wayne County. While she has only technically lived in Wayne County for one year, she has worked in Wayne County in the past, making her a member of the community for about 10 years. Working at the paper, she met a lot of new people who she still keeps in contact with today. As far as the people themselves, Ms. Mozingo sees passionate people in the county who take part in good causes expecting nothing in return, just hoping to better other peoples’ lives. In the future Ms. Mozingo hopes Wayne County continues to progress in its love and unity. She sees a successful path that Wayne County is on, and hopes that it continues to unify by following it.

In her free time, Ms. Mozingo enjoys cooking, gardening, and exploring. She explores unique and interesting places for her photography. One way she accomplishes this is by zooming in on a map of different places around the country just to see the interesting places it contains. Along with these new places, her photography has allowed her to see parts of Wayne County that other people don’t get to see in their lifetime. She wants people to know that if they have any questions about photography, cameras, etc., they can contact her on social media and ask her any questions, illustrating her wish to continue helping others.

#caseymozingo     #photojournalism      #goldsboronewsargus    #lovestohelppeople    #explorenewplaces   #northcarolinatroopersassociation    #givepeopleadifferentperspective         #humansofwaynecounty    #howc    #waynecountypubliclibrary     #diversityinourcommunity     #rohanshreenath     #wcpl       #strenghtenourcommunity     #explorediscoverandconnect    #peaceandunderstanding      #community 

Heather Gray Photo

Humans of Wayne County #12 - Heather Gray 1/8/21

Mrs. Heather Gray, who has lived in Wayne County for 24 years, works in the insurance industry. She originally started her career as a teacher, but then decided to work in the insurance industry when she realized teaching was not her calling. She owns Gray Insurance Services and is happy to have made the switch, and she loves every part of her job.
In general, Mrs. Gray is quiet. Some people might consider her reticent, but she considers herself observant. She wants others to know that even though she might be quiet, she deeply cares for and loves the people of Wayne County. She is excited to be a part of its growth over the next several years. She likes that Wayne County, even through growth, has managed to maintain a close-knit community feel. Mrs. Gray likes that when you go to a local coffee shop, people remember your name or that when you go to see a play, you might see some of your friends in that play. Wherever you go, you are likely to find others that you know. This intangible sense of community is what makes Wayne County feel like home. While she has already done much work with her insurance company to give back to its people, she hopes to continue interacting as a leader in the community.
Mrs. Gray’s insurance company niche is health insurance, specifically focusing on Medicare and Medicaid. She wants to grow as an entrepreneur. One reason she is deeply invested in her job is because it gives her the opportunity to help her fellow citizens. As a former teacher, she noticed that many of her struggling students dealt with paltry resources at home. Now, she works with caregivers and families to provide much needed health resources for these families, which sometimes even gives them grocery money that is critical for subsistence. Through her job, Mrs. Gray has been able to provide a safety net for those who have fallen through the cracks.
Through her work, Mrs. Gray has strived to address a problem she views critical in Wayne County: high poverty rates, especially during the pandemic. She wants to continue to see progress in Wayne County by having local businesses partnering together to create change.
In her free time, Mrs. Gray enjoys reading nonfiction books, spending time with her family, getting books at the local library, trying new foods and endeavors. In fact, once the pandemic subsides, she and her husband plan to go to a different restaurant every week for a month to experience the culinary diversity in Goldsboro. She is thankful to be a part of Wayne County, and hopes to reciprocate by giving back to a community that has given much to her.
Sahil Hogarty Picture

Humans of Wayne County #13 - Sahil Hogarty 12/31/20

Sahil Hogarty, a senior at Wayne Country Day School, has lived in Wayne County for the past 15 years. He loves the close-knit and family-like feel to Wayne County where people know each other and care about each other. Sahil has deep roots in this community. His grandparents are the longest practicing physicians in Wayne County. Both his parents are also physicians who serve the people of Wayne County. Helping people, getting to know them better, and taking care of people is second nature to him.
 
Sahil loves nature and hopes that in the future, there will be more natural spaces and crosswalks in Wayne County so people can enjoy the outdoors and our beautiful county. A dedicated Boy Scout, Sahil earned his Eagle by building and placing benches on the trail behind Wayne UNC and the Wayne County Community College. He hopes people will use the trail and the benches will provide a way for them to rest and enjoy the nature around them.
 
At Wayne Country Day School, Sahil is a devoted member of Key Club, where he has participated in many projects to serve the community. He is also the President of Diversity Club, where they learn about different cultures and celebrate differences. He would like to see an increase in programming highlighting the diversity throughout the county.
 
In his free time, Sahil enjoys the outdoors. He trained for almost a year for an 11-day trek on the Appalachian Trail, which he enjoyed immensely. Through Boy Scouts of America, he went on several camping trips and biked on the 17-mile Virginia Creeper Trail. Sahil also enjoys playing basketball, spending time with friends and family, and exercising. In addition to all of this, Sahil devotes much of his time volunteering and helping others in any way that he can. Throughout his time volunteering, he has enjoyed being able to work for something bigger than himself and impact the lives of others. He wants people to know that if they just put themselves out there to help others, then they are doing good for their community.
 
 Sahil will attend Davidson College in Fall 2021 and we wish him the best of luck in all his future endeavors!
 
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Dr. Krishna Prasad

Humans of Wayne County #12 - Dr. Krishna Prasad 12/17/20

Dr. Krishna Prasad has lived in Wayne County for over 40 years and practiced medicine for over 35 years. As a General Surgeon, he had a chance to meet and help numerous people and become an important part of the community. 

Dr. Prasad loves living in Wayne County; he especially enjoys the sense of community and the “small town” feel. Wayne County is in a perfect location; ideally nestled between the ocean and the mountains. An avid camper and beach goer, he tremendously appreciates the ease of traveling from one to the other. After living in big cities, he prefers the pace of Wayne County with few traffic lights and little traffic.

In addition to the ideal location, Dr. Prasad enjoys the people of Wayne County and appreciates listening to their stories. Dr. Prasad said, “Anywhere you go in Wayne County, you have the opportunity to run into people you know and have a conversation with them.” Dr. Prasad recounts that Wayne County has drastically changed in the last 40 years, and he sees more changes coming that will be for the good of the people.

Dr. Prasad finds pleasure in helping others. In his twenties, his father said to him on a walk, “Be kind always. Be kind to the people whose paths you cross.” Dr. Prasad tries to abide by this principle and be there to help people in any shape or form. As a physician, he was able to assist people throughout his career and make their lives better. Even outside of his career, he continues to make a difference with small and large acts.

Dr. Prasad loved every moment of his job. When he first told his father that he planned to pursue medicine, his dad was happy with his decision. The only drawback was that he was an engineer himself, so he did not have the knowledge to guide his son through that career path. However, he was happy with his son’s decision because he believed the two greatest professions were to become a teacher or a physician. Once Dr. Prasad got into medicine, he knew he wanted to become a surgeon. He is grateful to the people of Wayne County for trusting him as a surgeon and allowing his practice to flourish through the years.

Wayne County is a great place to live. Dr. Prasad notes that we are now experiencing exceedingly difficult times and people are suffering. People are losing their jobs and are barely able to live. Continuing his mantra of helping people in any way that he can, Dr. Prasad avidly volunteers with the Red Cross and the Habitat for Humanity. He is a passionate bridge player, reader, and a Panthers fan. In his free time, he likes to spend time with his grandsons, go camping, walk on the beach, and help anyone who needs it. Family is especially important to him and he took an active part our activities, introduced my generation to sci-fi books/shows, Bridge, and made several of us Panthers fans too.

Dr. Prasad encourages people to think past themselves and do things like wear a mask as a way to protect the lives of others.

#drkrishnaprasad     #generalsurgeon      #redcross    #habitatforhumanity     #panthersfan    #bridgeplayer      #lovestohelppeople    #lovesthemountainsandbeaches   #wearamask    #grandfather        #humansofwaynecounty    #howc    #waynecountypubliclibrary     #diversityinourcommunity     #rohanshreenath     #wcpl       #strenghtenourcommunity     #explorediscoverandconnect    #peaceandunderstanding      #community    

Tommy Jarrett

Humans of Wayne County #11 - Tommy Jarrett 12/10/20

Mr. Tommy Jarrett grew up on a farm in the mountains of southwestern North Carolina, which he and his sister still own. It is a part of their family history that they want to hold on to. During his childhood, Mr. Jarrett was involved in many organizations, including the 4-H Club, Boy Scouts, and MYF. When he was 11 years old, he contracted polio and almost died two times. He was able to overcome this, and he eventually went on to high school where he played football.

After graduating from high school, Mr. Jarrett attended the University of North Carolina. He decided he wanted to be a lawyer and a Marine Corps Officer. The Marines had a program called PLC (Platoon Leaders Course), which he enrolled in. Here, he also got a deferment to go to law school, since the Marines needed some people to be lawyers. In the Marines, even the pilots and aviators are considered infantry officers, and everyone has to undergo the same strenuous training. In 1967, Mr. Jarrett graduated from law school and enrolled in the Marines.

While in the Marines, Mr. Jarrett went to Vietnam in 1969. In 1970, he came to Goldsboro and has been here ever since. He is now married with three children and five grandchildren.

While in Goldsboro, Mr. Jarrett spent four years as a County Commissioner, four years as the Chairman of Wayne County Board of Elections, sixteen years on the Board of Trustees at Wayne Community College, and is now on the board of the Veterans Memorial downtown. He has also spent time on the Board of JCs and the Board of Old Waynesborough Park.

In Wayne County, Mr. Jarrett likes the people and believes they are genuinely good people. In the future, he hopes Wayne County retains Seymour Johnson Air Force Base and gets more clean and relatively high-paying industries. He also hopes that farm lands can be preserved in the future rather than taken over by residential subdivisions. In addition, Mr. Jarrett is looking for Wayne County to become attractive to young people, so they will be eager to come back to the community and keep it going.

In his free time, Mr. Jarrett loves to support the North Carolina Tar Heels and play golf with his grandson. Mr. Jarrett hopes this county, state, nation, and world will be a good place for his grandchildren to grow up and live in.

Kriquette Davis

Humans of Wayne County #10 - Kriquette Davis 12/3/20

Ms. Kriquette Davis has lived in Wayne County for over 33 years. She wants people to know that she always fights for the underappreciated people. She believes that people can easily get lost with everything going on in their life, and others don’t always recognize when they are struggling. Ms. Davis always tries to be there for someone who is struggling.

Ms. Davis’s dreams are to continue to work with the underappreciated and protect children against abuse. She was sexually abused as a child, and this experience caused her to speak out against child abuse, giving a voice to the voiceless. She hopes to eventually see our nation free of abuse.

In Wayne County, Ms. Davis likes that even in the rural areas, everyone is still united. Whenever there have been unfortunate incidents such as natural disasters, our community has always rallied together in the face of adversity. In the future, Ms. Davis hopes that along with physical growth, Wayne County continues to grow as a society and be more caring for each other. Every person is different, so every person has their own unique aspect to bring to the table. She hopes that people in Wayne County will always be looking for the treasures and strengths in other people, because that will make our community stronger.

In her free time, Ms. Davis loves to go to the beach, read fiction and nonfiction books, and serve others. She tries to help others in any way that she can. For example, she created a program about 20 years ago at the YMCA called Y’s Men, and she was able to continue the program even after she left the Y through a program called Kriquette’s Kidz. Kriquette’s Kidz helps families that sometimes tend to fall through the cracks and struggle. Ms. Davis’s biggest hobby is helping others, and she hopes to continue to do this in the future in any way she can.

 

#kriquettedavis     #goldsboroY      #kriquetteskidz    #helptheunderdog       #lovestoserveothers    #givebacktocommunity    #Ysmen    #givevoicetothevoiceless     #humansofwaynecounty    #howc    #waynecountypubliclibrary     #diversityinourcommunity     #rohanshreenath     #wcpl       #strenghtenourcommunity     #explorediscoverandconnect    #peaceandunderstanding      #community

Cornelia Grundmeier Picture

Humans of Wayne County #9 - Cornelia Grundmeier - 11/26/20

Mrs. Cornelia Grundmeier was born in the Netherlands. There, she met an American service member in 1979, who would later become her husband. Next year will be their 40th anniversary. She and her husband originally lived in Washington state for 4 years, and then moved to Germany before coming to Goldsboro in 1993. Her husband is now retired, and they enjoy living in Goldsboro because it is in the middle of her husband’s family in Montana, and her family in the Netherlands.

Mrs. Grundmeier loves the friendly people and businesses in Wayne County. She does a lot of volunteer work, and appreciates how the community and local businesses always step up to participate in non profit events. In the future, Mrs. Grundmeier hopes that Wayne County keeps growing and improving, along with there being more recreational activities tailored towards youths in particular. She recognizes how a lot of positive changes have come to Wayne County, and hopes it continues to move in that direction.

When Mrs. Grundmeier first came to the US, she worked full time and started volunteering around the holidays, mainly at the soup kitchen. Her love for helping others encouraged her to move to part time volunteering, and eventually she became a full time volunteer. She loves how rewarding volunteering is, and does a lot of volunteering for the soup kitchen and Meals on Wheels. In particular, she enjoys volunteering to help the older population, because a lot of times they don’t get to see other people and go out as often. So, not only does she provide a meal for them, but she also gets to give them much needed social company.

Along with volunteering, in her free time Mrs. Grundmeier enjoys traveling, crafting, gardening, cooking, and attending theatre shows. Now that she is retired and has more free time, volunteering has become Mrs. Grundmeier’s biggest hobby.

Mrs. Grundmeier’s plans in the future are to continue volunteering, and to become involved in more things. For example, she hopes to become involved in volunteering on an international level. Also, both she and her husband would like to be Care-A-Vanners as part of the Habitat for Humanity program. In addition to the soup kitchen and Meals on Wheels, Mrs. Grundmeier has also volunteered ringing the bells for the Salvation Army and at Samaritan’s Purse. She has also helped make items for the pregnancy center and the hospital, and participated in many food drives. As you can see, Mrs. Grundmeier has been involved in a range of volunteer activities throughout her life, and she hopes to continue this in the future.

 #corneliagrundmeier   #militarywife   #fromthenetherlands      #avidvolunteer    #soupkitchen     #mealsonwheels    #careavanners   #makeadifference         #humansofwaynecounty    #howc    #waynecountypubliclibrary     #diversityinourcommunity     #rohanshreenath     #wcpl       #strenghtenourcommunity     #explorediscoverandconnect    #peaceandunderstanding      #community    

Rohan

Humans of Wayne County #8 - Rohan Shreenath 11/12/20

Rohan has lived in Wayne County almost all his life. He was born in New York and lived there for eleven months, and then moved to Wayne County. He’s been here for almost fifteen years.

Rohan wants people to know he loves helping people and he wants to give back as much as he can.

Rohan hopes to go to college for a degree, though he’s not sure exactly where yet. He knows he’ll be happy in whatever he does and he wants to continue to help people. He volunteers a lot at local organizations around the county and he hopes to continue to volunteer when he’s older.

Rohan likes how friendly everyone is in Wayne County and how everyone is always willing to help here.

Rohan hopes that Wayne County will grow and have more activities and places for young teens to go for recreation, such as expanding the mall. He also hopes Wayne County will also increase the number of high school graduates.

Rohan is involved in Humans of Wayne County and Netlitz, a podcast book club program for young teens. He hopes this will be a fun, easy way to discuss books and movies. ( www.wcpl.org/netlitz ) He also goes to Wayne Country Day school. He’s involved in Mayor’s Youth Council which is an organization in Goldsboro which specializes in community service around Goldsboro.

Rohan’s hobbies are hanging out with his friends and watching TV, as well as playing sports such as basketball and tennis.

Rohan says even though the Coronavirus has disrupted life so much, he wants people to feel connected even though we can’t be face to face anymore. He hopes that Humans of Wayne County will continue to help people connect during these times. Rohan was surprised by so many stories he never even imagined he would be able to collect, and he thinks it’s wonderful to see how great and how diverse Wayne County is.

Rohan said he’s had very positive reactions to Humans of Wayne County. He said many people enjoy it and are surprised to discover different stories from people they wouldn’t normally meet who still live here in Wayne County.

#rohanshreenath  #entrepreneur  #podcast  #youngcreator  #humansofwaynecounty    #howc    #waynecountypubliclibrary     #diversityinourcommunity     #rohanshreenath     #wcpl       #strenghtenourcommunity     #explorediscoverandconnect    #peaceandunderstanding      #community

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What children Remember

Humans of Wayne County #7 - Tasha Hunter 11/5/20

Ms. Tasha Hunter is a US Air Force Veteran. She was born in the “wilderness,” and faced a hard life early on. Her mother was 18 years old when she was born, and never told her that she loved her. Instead, her mother said things like she wished Tasha had been aborted.

By the time she was six, Ms. Hunter had already lived in a variety of places away from her mother. By the time she was eight, she had experienced sexual, physical, and verbal abuse. By age ten, she asked God to take her life and bring her to heaven. Then, when she was 21, she tried to take her own life while she was in the Air Force.
She survived the attempted suicide, and realized that she wanted to live and experience life. She wanted to prove her mother wrong, who always told her that she wouldn’t grow up to be anyone or anything, which Tasha knew wasn’t true. So, after being in the Air Force, she decided to become a mental health therapist and a social worker. She became the person that offered the type of help she needed when she was growing up.

Today, Ms. Hunter is an author, who published a memoir in April of this year. It is called What Children Remember, and describes her trauma while also bringing to light the signs and symptoms of PTSD. She describes what her PTSD looked like at six years old, eight years old, ten years old, and into her adulthood. Ms. Hunter’s accomplishments include being an Air Force veteran with two masters degrees, a wife, mother, business owner, LGBTQIA advocate, child abuse critic, and author. She has successfully proven her mother wrong. Ms. Hunter hopes and dreams are to continue to spread awareness of childhood trauma, because oftentimes the signs and symptoms of it are ignored.

Ms. Hunter has lived in Wayne County since 2002. In the future, she hopes Wayne County will continue to grow and be diverse and inclusive of all cultures. She hopes the various cultures, races, sexualities, etc. will be successfully represented throughout schools, administration, hospitals, courtroom, and businesses. She wants everyone to feel included in the town.

In her free time, Ms. Hunter enjoys writing, creating, reading, shopping, and talking about child abuse and mental health. She loves to eat sushi and drink lemonade. She wants everyone to know that wherever they are in their life, no matter what the troubles, they can get through it. If all they have is hope and someone by their side, they can make it through anything that life throws at them.

Her book, What Children Remember, may be borrowed from the library or purchased through Amazon:

#tashahunter   #published   #author     #usairforce   #whatchildrenremember      #veteran   #survivor     #havehope    #childhoodtrauma       #makeadifference         #humansofwaynecounty    #howc    #waynecountypubliclibrary     #diversityinourcommunity     #rohanshreenath     #wcpl       #strenghtenourcommunity     #explorediscoverandconnect    #peaceandunderstanding      #community

P. Pfeiffer Portrait

Humans of Wayne County #6 - Dr. Patricia Pfeiffer 10/29/20

Dr. Patricia Pfeiffer is the Vice-President of Academic and Student Services at Wayne Community College. She is originally from Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, which is the place of origin for the groundhog that predicts the weather every year. She has been involved with Wayne Community college for about 27 years, and has been a citizen of Wayne County since 1985. She spent time in the US Army, where her last duty station was Taegu, Korea. Her husband was in the Air Force. After Dr. Pfeiffer left Korea, she came to Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, and has lived here ever since.

Dr. Pfeiffer believes that regardless of a person’s background or previous life experiences, they can make a difference in the world. Dr. Pfeiffer grew up in a poor family to a single mother with three children. She persevered and went off to college, where she struggled at first. What she loves about Wayne Community is that there are advisors to help people every step of the way, which she struggled to find at her big school. Her story helps her connect with her students, and she tells them that one failure does not define who a person is. 

Dr. Pfeiffer is happy to have worked in Wayne Community College for so long, and has helped pave the path to success for many students. She hopes to continue to make a difference. Even though she is nearing retirement, she hopes to still stay involved and help the community college system. For fun, Dr. Pfeiffer enjoys camping, spending time with her grandchildren, reading, and listening to audio books. 

In particular, Dr. Pfeiffer enjoys how friendly and welcoming people in Wayne County are to each other. She likes the many different opportunities and programs in Wayne County. In fact, when her husband originally finished his military service, they moved to the Garner-Raleigh area. But eventually they returned to Wayne County because they believe it is a good place to live and raise a family. In the future, Dr. Pfeiffer hopes that Wayne County will be able to produce more graduates, and have more job opportunities, especially in technical programs. She anticipates that Wayne County will continue to grow in the future.

Dr. Pfeiffer wants people to know that she is passionate about student success and helping as many people as she can. She wants people to know that there is a committed and great education system in Wayne County, and people in the Community College are always willing to help people succeed in any way they can.

#drpatriciapfeiffer     #waynecommunitycollege      #vpstudentservices     #vpacademicservices    #usarmy       #makeadifference    #givebacktocommunity     #humansofwaynecounty    #howc    #waynecountypubliclibrary     #diversityinourcommunity     #rohanshreenath     #wcpl       #strenghtenourcommunity     #explorediscoverandconnect    #peaceandunderstanding      #community    

Jason Sullivan

Humans of Wayne County #5 - Jason Sullivan 10/22/20

Mr. Jason Sullivan is a math teacher and Interact Club staff advisor at Goldsboro High School. He is from Jamaica, and he moved to Wayne County about 2 years ago. He enjoys travelling. In fact, when he was in college he travelled through many states. Then he went back to Jamaica, but decided to move back to the US because he liked the diversity and the culture in the US. He enjoyed meeting new people and loves that in the US you can meet people from all over the world.

Mr. Sullivan likes to help others, and he decided to accomplish this through teaching. In his early years, Mr. Sullivan struggled in academics and reading. However, as he slowly progressed through high school, he was able to succeed academically. His early struggles helped him realize that he wanted to help others who are like him and struggled academically. In general, Mr. Sullivan likes to help people in any way he can.

Specifically, Mr. Sullivan likes the nature and wildlife in Wayne County. He also enjoys meeting and building friendships with the culturally diverse people of Wayne County. Just by interacting with these people, he is able to get an idea of what it is like to live in different areas of the world. He especially enjoys getting to know people in the Airforce because they have lived all over the world and the US.

In the future, he hopes Wayne County will maintain its beautiful parks and activities. He likes the different activities and programming that the library offers. However, as far as activities, he hopes to see in the future more clubs and organizations that will involve young people in the community and help them grow into confident leaders. He enjoys the many different activities and people in Wayne County, and encourages people to appreciate how lucky they are to be able to experience this.

In his free time, Mr. Sullivan likes to volunteer. He volunteers through the interact club with his school as well as with his church youth group. He is always excited to see new places and meet new people. He loves to just drive and enjoys being surrounded by nature. Mr. Sullivan also makes sure to take time for himself. He reads a lot, and makes sure to find time to recuperate. 

When Mr. Sullivan was younger, he didn’t have much confidence in himself. This was partly due to the fact that others didn’t have much confidence in him. But, Mr. Sullivan was able to gain confidence and go after his aspirations, no matter what others thought. By doing this, he has been able to find new talents and hobbies. He wants others to know that they are capable of achieving or doing whatever they want to. His advice is to try new things and don’t be afraid of failure. He says there are many things within a person that they don’t know about themselves, and it is impossible to say you can’t do something if you have never tried it. Mr. Sullivan uses a quote from Marcus Garvey, a Jamaican national hero, as a principle for his life. The quote says, “If you have no confidence in self, you are twice defeated in the race of life.” Mr. Sullivan makes sure to have confidence in everything he does so he is not already defeated in the race he is about to take on.

#jasonsullivan     #goldsborohighschool      #mathteacher    #interactclubadvisor       #lovestovolunteer    #givebacktocommunity  #trynewthings    #haveconfidenceinyourself    #meetnewpeople     #humansofwaynecounty    #howc    #waynecountypubliclibrary     #diversityinourcommunity     #rohanshreenath     #wcpl       #strenghtenourcommunity     #explorediscoverandconnect    #peaceandunderstanding      #community    
Michael-Broxton-225x300

Humans of Wayne County #4 - Michael Broxton 10/15/20

Michael Broxton is a nineteen year old citizen of Wayne County who recently graduated from Goldsboro High School. Michael was born in Atlantic City, New Jersey, and later moved to Alabama, Clayton, and Smithfield, before coming to Goldsboro. He has lived in Wayne County for about five years. Michael has twelve biological siblings and was adopted with his brother. During his time at Goldsboro High School, Michael was the president of the Interact Club and FALA as well as the president for his class during his junior and senior years.

The Interact Club is an organization at Goldsboro High whose motto is “service above self.” Through the Interact Club, Micahel has volunteered in events such as the Walk Out of Darkness, the March for Polo, suicide awareness, and the Guatemalan Water Project. Their club also worked on projects with FALA, where he participated in the Special Olympics, which allowed kids with autism to play different sports.

Michael will be enrolling at UNC-Chapel Hill where he plans to major in psychology and minor in business. He hopes to have his own practice in the future. Michael wants people to know that he is somebody that is always there to help the people around him, so he can make an impact on the world.

He likes how ambitious the people of Wayne County are, and he hopes that people will be provided with opportunities to act on those ambitions. In the future, Michael hopes Wayne County will grow into more of a teen friendly community, with more activities for teenagers to do. He also wants people to know that he is very motivated and ambitious, as well as very driven to succeed. In his free time, Michael enjoys gardening, drawing, cooking, baking, and walking trails and hiking. When Michael became president of the Interact Club, it was a daunting task at first. However, as time progressed, he grew more accustomed to his job and understanding what he and everyone else had to do. Through his volunteering, Michael learned that even though all people are different, they have underlying similarities in their happiness and love. He encourages people to step out of their comfort zones and make their own opportunities. Michael enjoys helping others just to see a smile on their face, and he hopes to continue to help others with his volunteering in the future.

#michaelbroxton     #goldsborohighschool      #classof2020  #interactclub    #fala    #lovestovolunteer    #givebacktocommunity  #stepoutofyourcomfortzone     #humansofwaynecounty    #howc    #waynecountypubliclibrary     #diversityinourcommunity     #rohanshreenath     #wcpl       #strenghtenourcommunity     #explorediscoverandconnect    #peaceandunderstanding      #community

Lovens Paul smiles in his cap and gown from Interact.

Humans of Wayne County #3 - Lovens Paul 10/8/20

Lovens Paul is a current Wayne County resident, who is originally from Haiti. He graduated from Goldsboro High School in the Class of 2020. He first started volunteering for the National Honors Society in his sophomore year of high school. He acted as a translator for people who did not speak English. Lovens first started volunteering because it was required by the school, but he then realized he had found his passion in helping others. So, he continued to volunteer past his required hours and help people in any way he could. Lovens is currently enlisted in the army as an E-3, so he will go to boot camp before he attends college. When he returns, he will enroll at East Carolina University to study biochemistry. Lovens admires how enthusiastic and welcoming the people of Wayne County are to everyone. He sees Wayne County as the perfect place to build a future. Lovens has lived in Wayne County for about three years. He lived in Haiti before that. 

 In the future, Lovens hopes to be happy with his life, career, and family. He also hopes to see Wayne County grow to be much bigger in time, and he feels confident that can happen due to the caring and diverse people in our County. Lovens wants people to know that he loves to help people in any way possible, a trait he got from his mom. In his spare time, he enjoys watching Netflix, reading, researching about his future career, and playing with his two year old sister. Moving from Haiti to the United States was a big change for Lovens, as he did not know how to speak English when he first arrived. Lovens is grateful that Wayne County gave him the opportunity to grow as a person and learn English to become a passionate and dedicated member of our community.

#lovenspaul     #goldsborohighschool #classof2020    #haitian   #lovestovolunteer    #givebacktocommunity     #humansofwaynecounty    #howc    #waynecountypubliclibrary   #diversityinourcommunity     #rohanshreenath     #wcpl #strenghtenourcommunity #explorediscoverandconnect    #peaceandunderstanding #community   

Hiwot Shaw Picture

Humans of Wayne County #2 - Hiwot Shaw - 9/29/20

Hiwot Shaw is a senior at Wayne Country Day School. She was adopted from Hosaena, Ethiopia when she was three years old along with her older brother. She has four brothers. She enjoys participating in dance and cross country. Hiwot likes to challenge herself in every aspect of her life. She also loves exploring new things, especially different cultures and foods.

Hiwot became heavily involved in volunteer work during her sophomore year of high school. When she was watching home videos with her family, she was very emotional upon seeing different pictures and clips, and she thought about her biological family. She realized how lucky she was to have a stable life and a good education, and she wished to provide this help to others too. So, she did research and decided to work with H2 Empower, a nonprofit organization where 100% of proceeds go towards improving education in Hosaena, Ethiopia. As her project has grown, Hiwot has become extremely passionate and happy to be able to give back to a cause that is personal to her, and help others in need.

To raise money for her project, Hiwot started fundraisers. She made t-shirts and cookie grams (which brought her close to her grandmother). She sold her t-shirts and cookie grams at her school, along with hosting a pizza fundraiser. At her dance studio, she developed a kid's holiday party. Altogether, Hiwot raised over $3,000, all of which went directly to building a Kindergarten classroom in Hosaena.  She was ecstatic and touched to see pictures of the construction sent by H2 Empower. It made her happy to see that she had made a positive impact on the world. She encourages others to find something they are passionate about and use it to give back to their community. She also wants everyone to remember how lucky they are and appreciate what they have in their life.

In the future, the one thing Hiwot knows for sure is that she always wants to find a way to help and give back to others. Hiwot’s three passions are dance, education, and helping others, and she hopes to build a successful future that ties all three of these things together. While she does not know what college she wants to attend yet, she knows she wants to enroll in a school that will help her to continue to make a difference.

Small or big, Hiwot encourages everyone to make a difference in whatever they are passionate about. Hiwot is extremely thankful to have been adopted and have everything that she does, and she will continue to live her life with an open mind and open heart.

Guillermo Estrada

Humans of Wayne County #1 - Guillermo Estrada 9/15/20

Guillermo Estrada is a sophomore at Wayne School of Engineering, where he is also dual enrolled at Wayne Community College. He is the 2020-2021 Southeast District President of 4H. 4H is an organization that was created in 1902, and it provides children ages 5-18 with the opportunity to do good for their community and help them grow. Guillermo enjoys the unity and support he feels from his fellow citizens in Wayne County, as he loves seeing the numerous people with passions for volunteering. Guillermo is very ambitious and always gives his best and expects the best from everyone.

For example, in his first week as district officer for 4H, he has already hit the ground running and dedicated a lot of time to it. An interesting fact about Guillermo is that he participates in a dance called Baile Folklorico, which is a traditional Mexican dance.   

After high school, Guillermo hopes to graduate with his Associates and Arts from Wayne Community College and go to NC State University where he can pursue a career in business or political science. He wants to stay active in politics and he encourages all eligible citizens of Wayne County to go out and vote in the upcoming election. 

Guillermo has lived in Wayne County his entire life, and he found his passion for 4H through Cooperative Extension, which is where his mom works. He hopes that Wayne County can strengthen its unity and progress to a more diverse community in the future, while continuing to show love and support. Through volunteering, Guillermo has been pleased to see the impact that volunteerism has allowed him to make on other people, especially those who are less fortunate. Because of this, he encourages everyone to volunteer when they get the opportunity. Volunteering has allowed Guillermo to see the needs of others in his community, and it motivates him to continue helping others in any way he can. For the past few months, Guillermo has been involved in a food distribution. This is where the USDA buys unsold food from farmers and sends them to North Carolina, where Guillermo and others help redistribute them to people in need. He encourages people to volunteer their time in any way they can, so they can help make an impact, and he hopes to continue to grow his community and himself through his passion for volunteering.