Topics Related to Stories of Recovery and Resilience

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Grandfather Mountain experienced record visitation. People escaped to the nature park, famous for its Mile High Swinging Bridge, seeking fresh air, exercise, and unique experiences. Attendance increased by nearly 30% from 2019 to 2021.

Kennedy Johnson has always loved sports. She excelled as a student athlete in high school, playing soccer, volleyball, and basketball. Off the court, her dream was to become the first in her family to earn a college degree.

Madeleine Salazar’s first day as a third-grade teacher could not have come at a more critical time. In the fall of 2021, COVID-19 cases were back on the rise, masks and social distancing continued, and virtual learning had taken a toll. Teacher vacancies exploded.

Whether your car breaks down on the interstate, or you’re the victim of an impaired driver, there’s a state trooper ready to help across nearly 80,000 miles of North Carolina roadways. But first they need to reach you.

Even as the year winds down and the holidays approach, Davis Farms Sandy Creek in Warrenton is busy as ever harvesting frost-hardy greens like kale and bok choy, while planting cover crops to help prepare the soil for the next season.

Vega Construction in Pilot Mountain is a family business in every sense of the word. Owner and president Carlos Vega learned masonry from his father, an expert mason of 20 years, and after he earned an engineering degree, they started the company together in 2018.

The value of North Carolina’s public gardens was never more evident than during the COVID-19 pandemic. As the virus spread and threatened the safety of indoor activities, many people turned to the outdoors.

COVID-19 presented towns, cities, and counties with a historic challenge: continue to deliver vital government services while responding to an evolving public health crisis.

When North Carolinians urgently needed help with housing and utility bills, food assistance, or medical resources during the pandemic, they turned to NC 211 at a record rate.

While the Crosby Scholars program serves public school students in three counties – Forsyth, Rowan, and Iredell – you’ll also find its alumni in every corner of North Carolina succeeding academically, personally, and professionally.