Writing

Works published by NAMI Wake County, UNC Chapel Hill, The Burlington Times-News, The Durham Voice, Chapel Hill Magazine, Chatham Magazine and more.

Annual Meeting 2025: Reflecting on this Year’s Work — Blog Post

NAMI Wake County hosted its 2025 Annual Membership Meeting on Nov. 13, 2025, bringing together members, volunteers and community partners to reflect on organizational growth, community impact and plans for the year ahead.

UNC-Chapel Hill’s New Student and Family Programs Receives Recognition for High Fives for Heels  — News Story

UNC-Chapel Hill’s New Student and Family Programs has received the 2025 Something Borrowed, Something New Award issued by the Association of Higher Education Parent/Family Program Professionals (AHEPPP): Family Engagement in Higher Education for its High Fives for Heels initiative.

Student Affairs Shares Winter Break Resources  — Resource Guide

Classes are over for the year, but Tar Heels staying on campus still have access to many services and activities. This resource guide details campus hours and offerings over winter break.

Published on unc.edu — December 11, 2025

Mighty Giveback 2025: Banding Together for Mental Health — Blog Post

Band Together’s 2025 Mighty Giveback raised over $1 million for mental health across the Triangle, helping NAMI Wake County expand its youth mental health initiatives through free, evidence-based programs.

Meet Peer-to-Peer Lead Brooke Chambers — Organizational Feature

NAMI Wake volunteer Brooke Chambers found hope and healing through NAMI’s Peer-to-Peer class. Now, she’s paying that hope forward as a peer support specialist and teacher.

Fall Into Care: A Free Self-Care Checklist — Resource Guide

This seasonal wellness checklist encourages readers to slow down and prioritize their mental health during the busy fall months. It introduces a resource designed to help community members slow down and care for their mind, body and spirit while fostering connection with their communities.

Student Affairs Shares Fall Break Resources — Resource Guide

Published on unc.edu in The Well — October 14, 2025

For Tar Heels who find themselves in the Chapel Hill area over fall break, there is still plenty to do. This resource guide shares information on wellness services, dining options and local activities to enjoy while classes are out.

Meet Ending the Silence Presenter Jeremy Fine — Organizational Feature

Through his work with NAMI Wake County, his dual MD–PhD studies and advocacy in mental health policy, Jeremy Fine is helping students, families and communities understand mental health while making care more accessible for all.

When School Pride Meets Purpose: Green Level High School Mental Health Awareness Week — Blog Post

With support from NAMI Wake County, Green Level High School hosted its second-annual Mental Health Awareness Game and a week of powerful initiatives — from assembling wellness kits to presenting Ending the Silence for Students. The result: more than 2,250 students, families and community members united for youth mental health awareness.

NAMI Wake County’s Open House: An Evening of Connection and Gratitude — Blog Post

On Sept. 3, NAMI Wake County welcomed community partners, donors, and mental health professionals into their downtown Raleigh office for an open house. It was an evening of connection and gratitude, with updates from leadership, stories from volunteers and meaningful conversations about how to continue building a more inclusive, stronger Wake County.

Breakfast and Birding at Lake Lynn Park — Blog Post

NAMI Wake County has partnered with the Wake Audubon Society to offer a unique opportunity to combine mental well-being with the simple joy of bird watching. 

Meet Yvonne Johnson, NAMI Wake County’s CIT Lead — Organizational Feature

NAMI Wake County Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) training leader Yvonne Johnson learned firsthand the challenges of the mental healthcare system. Now, she's using her lived experience to make a difference in the lives of caregivers of loved ones with mental illness.

Pet Shop — News Feature

When you step into some of Chatham County’s beloved businesses, you may be suprised to discover that you’re welcomed not only with a kind voice and friendly smile, but also with a wag instead of a wave, a bark instead of a “hello” and the soft pad of paws across the floor. Three Best of Chatham award-winning companies have gained recognition for their beloved pets who serve as “empawlees” by greeting customers, boosting morale and acting as unofficial mascots.

Fall Arts Guide — Resource Guide

This guide shares information on more than 80 arts-related events in Orange County happening in fall 2025. Experience on-of-a-kind art shows, museum exhibits, local concerts, plays, arts and craft classes and more.

About Town: Events Not to Miss — Resource Guide

This guide shares can’t miss events in Orange County happening in September and October 2025. Get ready for a season of community energy and good causes by joining your neighbors at several fundraiser events, catching fun and flavor local food festivals, challenging yourself in one of multiple races held in the area or exploring other events about town.

Meet Aretha Justice: NAMI volunteer, teacher, and mental health advocate— Organizational Feature

After navigating her own mental health challenges during the pandemic, Aretha Justice found healing and renewed purpose in helping others. Now a NAMI Wake County volunteer for Family-to-Family and Connection Support Group, she’s using her lived experience to support, uplift and educate her community.

Meet the Summer 2025 Staff — Blog Post

The past few months have brought exciting growth to NAMI Wake County. Meet the staff helping the organization provide support, education and public awareness so that those facing mental health challenges can live better lives.

Student Affairs Shares Spring Break Resources — Resource Guide

As Tar Heels prepare for spring break, this guide shares resources for undergraduate and graduate students who plan to stay on or near campus while school is out of session.

Aynsley Szczesniak, ‘27, starts initiative to benefit young women in STEM  — Organizational Feature

Aynsley Szczesniak, a second-year pre-medical student at UNC-Chapel Hill, founded Speak Out Sisterhood, a nonprofit empowering young women in STEM. Its flagship program, Generation YES, pairs students with companies to develop real-world solutions while building advocacy, leadership and problem-solving skills. Since its launch, the organization has engaged hundreds of students and aims to expand nationally and internationally, promoting gender equity and diverse voices in STEM fields.

Durham’s Scrap Exchange turns trash into treasure — News Feature

Published in the Durham VOICE — December 8, 2024

A trove of discarded treasures — paper, candles, fabric scraps and more — may seem like trash to some, but to Durham’s Scrap Exchange, it is the foundation of a thriving artistic community. Since its opening in 1991, the Scrap Exchange has become a haven for community members looking for a sustainable way to craft. 

The Children’s Museum of Alamance County — Long-Form Feature

In 2007, Phoebe Harman had an idea: a place where kids could play, learn, and explore all under one roof. Seventeen years later, the Children’s Museum of Alamance County continues to bring that vision to life, offering hands-on exhibits, imaginative play spaces and a welcoming community for children and families. The staff comprise a unique cast of characters who work tirelessly to keep the museum vibrant, accessible and full of learning-through-play opportunities.

Durham photographer wins third place in N.C. State Fair photography competition — News Feature

Published in the Durham VOICE — November 26, 2024

Durham landscape photographer Kate Kennedy earned third place in the 2024 N.C. State Fair professional photography competition for her photo of the Milky Way arching over a barn in Roxboro. Known for her evocative images of Durham landmarks, Kennedy spoke about her creative process, community ties and the joy of sharing her art with thousands of fairgoers.

Poetry Fox anticipates new role as Durham’s poet laureate — News Feature

Published in the Durham VOICE — November 19, 2024

Chris Vitiello, the Poetry Fox, was appointed Durham’s poet laureate in September 2024. His tenure, running through June 2027, focuses on the theme “Poems Everywhere” with the goal of bringing poetry into community spaces and daily life.

Pet’s memory inspired business owner — News Feature

When Megan Perry’s dog, Lily, died on the same day her dream storefront arrived, she named her new business — The Lily Barn — in her memory. What began with early struggles has grown into a thriving custom T-shirt shop and market space that honors Lily’s legacy and brings people together.

Transitional home requests donations in face of funding cuts — News Feature

Published in the Durham VOICE — October 29, 2024

After state funding cuts, Durham’s Straight Talk Support Group, founded by Bessie Elmore to support formerly incarcerated men, is relying on community donations to sustain its transitional home. Since 2018, the home has helped over 200 residents rebuild their lives through structured programs and mentorship.

Ex-teacher searches for purpose in new career — News Feature

After 14 years of teaching Spanish, Cristen Bullock left education to pursue a new career in customer service and business development . Her story captures the emotional toll of burnout, the challenges facing North Carolina teachers and the courage it takes to start over.

The Lily Barn — Long-Form Feature

On June 3, 2022, Megan Perry lost her beloved dog, Lily, the same day a lifelong dream came true — her tiny storefront arrived on her family farm. Perry named her new business the Lily Barn in rememberance of the dog that had been her family’s best friend for so many years. After early struggles, custom T-shirts and local vendor markets helped the business thrive, creating a community space that keeps Lily’s memory alive.

From Classroom to Conference Room — Long-Form Feature

Cristen Bullock spent 14 years shaping young minds as a Spanish teacher before making a life-altering career change in 2022. Now, as a business development manager at AFEX Fire Suppression Systems, she channels the same passion for teaching into helping coworkers and customers learn, proving that even in a completely different industry, her impact and purpose remain.

Carolina Recognized as a Voter-Friendly Campus— Blog Post

UNC-Chapel Hill has earned national recognition as a “voter-friendly campus” by the Voter Friendly Campus initiative. The University also received a Highly Established Action Plan Seal by the ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge for its action plan to increase nonpartisan democratic engagement among students. 

Women in Leadership Panel — Blog Post

The Carolina Veterans Alumni Network and Carolina Veterans Resource Center will host a Women in Government Leadership Panel featuring influential leaders from federal agencies, the U.S. Army and UNC-Chapel Hill. Moderated by Leyla Santiago of the Hussman School of Journalism and Media, the panel will explore career experiences, challenges, and insights in public service.

Celebrating Black History Month: Meet Kelsey Williams — Q&A

Kelsey Williams is the interim associate director for external relations and the assistant director for internships and experiential learning at University Career Services at UNC-Chapel Hill. Williams works to connect external employers with Carolina students.

Meet Summer Research Fellow Sarah Farkas — Q&A

Sarah Farkas, a Ph.D. candidate in art and art history at UNC-Chapel Hill, received the James L. Peacock III Summer Research Fellowship to advance her dissertation on Anne of Cleves, Sibylle of Cleves and the use of portraits and objects to construct identity.

Meet Summer Research Fellow Rosemary Gay — Q&A

Rosemary Gay, a Ph.D. student in anthropology at UNC-Chapel Hill, received the James L. Peacock III Summer Research Fellowship to support her dissertation on the politics of peanut science and its influence on agricultural development.

Meet Summer Research Fellow Sarah Blanton — Q&A

Sarah Blanton, a Ph.D. student in Romance Studies at UNC-Chapel Hill, received the Thomas E. Sox Summer Research Fellowship to support her work on transnational labor economies and farmworker narratives in rural communities.

Meet a MAPS graduate student — Jesse Hunt — Feature Story

Jesse Hunt, ’21, is completing the Master of Applied Professional Studies at UNC-Chapel Hill with concentrations in management, marketing and entrepreneurship while continuing as a student athlete on UNC’s Track & Field team. Originally from Perth, Western Australia, he previously earned degrees in accounting and business and has supplemented his MAPS studies with coursework in information science, journalism, leadership and communication.

Meet Summer Research Fellow Pasuth Thothaveesansuk — Q&A

Pasuth Thothaveesansuk, a Ph.D. candidate in history at UNC-Chapel Hill, received the James L. Peacock III Summer Research Fellowship to support his dissertation on liberal internationalism in East and Southeast Asia during the 20th century.

Meet Summer Research Fellow Taylor West — Q&A

Taylor West, a Ph.D. candidate in social psychology at UNC-Chapel Hill, received the Laura Mayer Summer Research Fellowship to support her dissertation on positive emotions arising from interactions between strangers in political and workplace settings.

The Graduate School Announces its 2023 Summer Research Fellowship Recipients— Blog Post

The UNC Graduate School awarded 33 doctoral students Summer Research Fellowships to support their dissertation work across disciplines ranging from public health to the humanities. Funded by donor contributions, the fellowships provide recipients with dedicated time to advance their research during the summer months.

Meaningful Mentorship at Carolina — Organizational Feature

UNC-Chapel Hill’s UCS Mentorship Program connects students with alumni for guidance, community and career support. Transfer student Keisha Frederick credits her mentor with helping her navigate college, rethink her career goals and stay motivated. She hopes the wisdom she gains will one day allow her to mentor others as she experienced.

2025 Executive Director Leadership Exchange Provides New Tools and Inspiration — Blog Post

NAMI Wake County’s executive director recently attended the Executive Director Leadership Exchange NAMI conference in Washington, D.C., gaining valuable insights and connections the nonprofit will use to strengthen its programs and support for the Wake County community. 

Meet NAMI Basics Teacher Amy Robertson — Organizational Feature

After an unexpected phone call changed how Amy Robertson’s family understood mental health, she turned her lived experience into meaningful support for caregivers navigating youth mental health challenges by becoming a mental health advocate and NAMI Basics teacher with NAMI Wake County.