2024 Forum On The Hill

 Join 97.9 The Hill and Chapelboro.com for the annual the Forum On The Hill, presented by Chapel Hill Downtown Partnership and UNC Health, airing live daily, January 29 – February 2, from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.

The 2024 Forum On The Hill will feature a wide range of conversations and constructive discourse from lawmakers, business owners, educators, health professionals and local leaders all sharing insight and expertise as we look to the year ahead. Live from the studios of 97.9 The Hill, the Forum On The Hill covers 15 topics over 15 hours – with conversations ranging from health and well-being to tourism, climate and sustainability, education, athletics and more.

The list of topics, and participants, are as follows:

MONDAY, JAN. 29

Housing: The Plan, 3 p.m.

  • Camille Berry, Chapel Hill Town Council
  • Catherine Fray, Carrboro Town Council
  • Blake Rosser, Orange County Housing Department
  • Rachel Waltz, Orange County Housing Department

 

Housing: The Market, 4 p.m.

  • Desiree Goldman, Bold Real Estate
  • Delores Bailey, EmPOWERment
  • Kyle Rank, Orange and Chatham Association of Realtors

 

Housing: The Future, 5 p.m.

  • Danielle Spurlock, UNC Department of City & Regional Planning
  • Ryan Stewart,Trinsic Residential Group
  • Amy Ryan, Chapel Hill Town Council
  • Erik Valera, Chapel Hill Planning Commission
  • Jennifer Player, Orange County Habitat for Humanity

TUESDAY, JAN. 30

Students and Their Futures, 3 p.m.

  • Mariah Morris, Orange County Schools
  • Kimberly Jones, Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools

 

Equity in Health, 4 p.m.

  • Victoria Hudson, Orange County Health Department
  • Audrea Caesar, UNC Health
  • Daniella Jaimes-Colina, Piedmont Health Services
  • Michelle Laws, Symbiotic Strategies

 

UNC Under Fire, 5 p.m.

  • Mimi Chapman, Coalition for Carolina
  • Chris Lundberg, University of North Carolina
  • Lauren Rhodes, University Editor, Daily Tar Heel

WEDNESDAY, JAN. 31

Small Businesses, Big Changes, 3 p.m.

  • Paula Gilland, The Purple Bowl
  • Joshua Goodsell, The Gathering Place
  • Natalie Knox, FRANK Art Gallery

 

The Southern Corridor: From Chapel Hill to Pittsboro, 4 p.m.

  • Aaron Nelson, The Chamber for a Greater Chapel Hill-Carrboro
  • Karen Howard, Chatham County Board of Commissioners
  • Randy Voller, VRC, Ltd.

 

The Pen and the Sword: Art, Skills and Education, 5 p.m.

  • David Long, Durham Technical Community College
  • Nora Spencer, Hope Renovations
  • Deb Stroman, Center of Sport Business & Analytics
  • Lloyd Kramer, Carolina Public Humanities

THURSDAY, FEB. 1

Growing in Orange: A Snapshot of Economic Development, 3 p.m.

  • Steve Brantley, Orange County Economic Development
  • Katie Bowden, Town of Chapel Hill Economic Development
  • Jon Hartman-Brown, Town of Carrboro Economic Development

 

Blame It On The Weather, 4 p.m.

  • Ashley Ward, Nicholas Institute for Energy, Environment & Sustainability
  • John Richardson, Town of Chapel Hill
  • Emily Sutton, Haw River Assembly

 

Nonprofits Today, 5 p.m.

  • Lisa Kaylie, Extraordinary Ventures
  • Rachel Valentine, OCRCC
  • Benay Hicks, Book Harvest
  • Harmony Chavis, TABLE
  • Wendy Smith, The ArtsCenter

FRIDAY, FEB. 2

The New Mayors Panel, 3 p.m.

  • Jess Anderson, Town of Chapel Hill
  • Mark Bell, Town of Hillsborough
  • Barbara Foushee, Town of Carrboro

 

Won’t You Be My Neighbor?, 4 p.m.

  • John Foley, Town of Pittsboro
  • Ed Hooks, City of Mebane

 

Hitting the Right Note, 5 p.m.

  • Justin Ellis, School of Rock Chapel Hill
  • Steven Raets, Sonark
  • Vivian Leva, Viv & Riley
  • Gabriel Anderson, Sleepy Cat Records
  • Keenan Jenkins, XOXOK
  • Hugh Swaso, Heat Preacher, Mix Tape Grab Bag

 

WCHL Forum Archive

More Local Stories on 97.9 The Hill and Chapelboro.com

Orange County Manager Bonnie Hammersley Set to Retire in July

Orange County government’s county manager Bonnie Hammersley is preparing to retire from her position this summer, ending her career of more than three decades in local government.

Governor’s Pandemic Rules for Bars Violated North Carolina Constitution, Appeals Court Says

North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper’s orders to bars to stay closed during the COVID-19 pandemic were “illogical,” an appeals court ruled Tuesday.

UNC Basketball’s Lynch, Crawford Among Triangle Athletes Denouncing Robinson’s Run for NC Governor

A group of former Black basketball players from UNC, Duke and N.C. State are sharing concerns over gubernatorial candidate Mark Robinson.

Hillsborough’s Hot Tin Roof Announces Plans to Close on April 30

The Hot Tin Roof bar shared Tuesday it’s planning to permanently close on Tuesday, April 30, shuttering its doors after 11 years in business.

East Rosemary Street Reopens to Traffic in Chapel Hill as Parking Deck Construction Progresses

East Rosemary Street in Chapel Hill reopened on Monday, which is the latest sign of the parking deck’s construction progressing.

What’s Happening at Union Grove Farm? A New Grape, A Distillery, and A Coffee Trailer

The former Maple View land is now Union Grove Farm, a major investment from a local venture capitalist who has a grand vision for the area.

Local High School Robotics Teams Advance to Global Competition

Local robotics teams, the Eastbots and Carrborobotics, qualified to compete in the FIRST Robotics Competition World Championship this week in Houston, Texas.

Great Harvest Bread Co. in Chapel Hill Set to Permanently Close on Friday

The Great Harvest Bread Co. location in Chapel Hill is permanently closing later this week after more than two decades of business in town. The 229 South Elliott Road franchise of the from-scratch bakery and café company shared a newsletter and social media post with...

Case Heard by NC Supreme Court May Affect How Partisan Officials File Voter Fraud Claims

The North Carolina Supreme Court heard oral arguments Thursday for a civil suit around four voters from Guilford and Brunswick County.

Local Government Meetings: April 15-19, 2024

This week features ongoing budget talks for the Chapel Hill and Carrboro Town Councils, Chatham County Commissioners, and the CHCCS board.