Carolina Engagement Week Returns for a Second Year, Feb. 27 Through March 3

By Grant Borneman and Alexander Saunders

Carolina Engagement Week 2023 is organized by the Carolina Center for Public Service, Carolina Across 100, Innovate Carolina, UNC Rural, Carolina Engagement Council, ncIMPACT Initiative, Center for Health Equity Research and other partners.

What is Carolina Engagement Week?

Carolina Engagement Week is a celebration of UNC-Chapel Hill’s engagement with the state of North Carolina. Engagement Week 2023 will take place between Feb. 27 and March 3, 2023, with most events on campus, along with some online and one off-campus. Explore the many ways Carolina is involved in engaged teaching, research and service through community partnerships among state and community leaders and Carolina faculty, staff and students.

What to Look Forward to During Carolina Engagement Week 2023

Engagement Week returns for the second year with more than 20 presentations, workshops and other events from which to choose. All are free and open to the public, but registration is required. This year, organizers are offering more in-person events, along with some hybrid and virtual options. The wide-ranging topics offer something for everyone. For example:

The Marian Cheek Jackson Center, a local community-based nonprofit, is featured in three separate sessions focused on abundance-based community development, aging in community and involving students in oral history. Participants can choose to register and attend one, two or all three events. Engagement Week organizers are excited to feature the Jackson Center’s great work throughout the week!
On Friday, March 3, there are several opportunities to focus on engagement with children and youth, with events featuring youth leadership, art and the importance of play. Events include STEAM Play, Survive SHARE Overcome and Fairview Youth in Action.
Carolina Across 100 expands on last year’s inaugural Hackathon with the POV Challenge! Combine your skills and North Carolina data to offer your own Point of View (POV) on the challenges facing North Carolina’s Opportunity Youth, defined as young adults ages 16-24 who are not working and not in school. Although participation in the POV Challenge starts before Engagement Week, the results will be announced on Thursday, March 2.