
2024 Forum On The Hill
Join 97.9 The Hill and Chapelboro.com for the annual the Forum On The Hill, presented by the Town of Chapel Hill, Town of Carrboro, UNC Health, and Wegmans, and airing live daily, Monday, December 9 through Friday, December 13, 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 with our immigrant community to renter-focused housing, local education, diversity in business, the aftermath of the 2024 election cycle and more.
The list of topics, and participants, are as follows:
MONDAY, DEC. 9
After The Election, 3 p.m.
Host: Aaron Keck
- George Griffin, Board chair, Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools
- Deborah Stroman, Faculty Member, UNC-Chapel Hill
- Rachel Valentine, Executive Director, Orange County Rape Crisis Center
Immigration, 4 p.m.
Host: Andrew Stuckey
- Chris Barnes, Immigration Attorney, Law Offices of Chris Barnes
- Emilia Ismael, Director of Development and Strategic Partnerships, El Centro Hispano
State of the Union for Local Media, 5 p.m.
Host: Brighton McConnell
- Bill Horner III, Former Editor, Chatham News + Record and CityView
- Jessica Mahone, Interim Director, Center for Innovation and Sustainability in Local Media
- Alex Carrasquillo, Media Relations Manager, Town of Chapel Hill
TUESDAY, DEC. 10
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, 3 p.m.
Host: Andrew Stuckey
- Anita Jones-McNair, Chief Race and Equity Officer, Town of Carrboro
- Paul Slack, Chief Equity and Inclusion Officer, Orange County
- Shenekia Weeks, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Officer, Town of Chapel Hill
Diversity in Business: What It Means for Our Community, 4 p.m.
Host: Brighton McConnell
- Beatrice Parker, Program Manager, BrightPath Solutions
- Taylor Gay, Business Success Navigator, Chamber for a Greater Chapel Hill-Carrboro
- Willie Barron, Operating Partner, The PITCH
- Abigail Holdsclaw, Lead Community-Based Researcher, ncIMPACT Initiative
Supporting The Arts, 5 p.m.
Host: Aaron Keck
- Katie Murray, Director, Orange County Arts Commission
- Jeri Lynn Schulke, Executive Director, Chapel Hill Downtown Partnership
- Tre. Charles, Artist & Musician
WEDNESDAY, DEC. 11
School Structures: Physical and Fiscal, 3 p.m.
Host: Andrew Stuckey
- Al Ciarochi, Deputy Superintendent of Operation, Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools
- Frederick Davis, Chief Operating Officer, Orange County Schools
- Travis Myren, County Manager, Orange County Government
STEM in Schools, 4 p.m.
Host: Brighton McConnell
- Valerie Sellars, District Science Coach, Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools
- Mariah Morris, Director of Strategic Initiatives, Orange County Schools
The State of Higher Education, 5 p.m.
Host: Aaron Keck
- Sue Estroff, Faculty Executive Committee, UNC-Chapel Hill
- Jaleah Taylor, Student Body President, UNC-Chapel Hill
- Meg Zomorodi, Faculty Executive Committee, UNC-Chapel Hill
THURSDAY, DEC. 12
The Crisis Within Childcare, 3 p.m.
Host: Andrew Stuckey
- Neil Harrington, Research Director, NC Child
- Anne Gray, Independent Nanny and Child Care Advocate
- Kaitlyn Boigner, Senior Youth Director, Chapel Hill-Carrboro YMCA
Innovation: On Campus and In Town, 4 p.m.
Host: Brighton McConnell
- Dedric Carter, Vice Chancellor for Innovation, UNC-Chapel Hill
- David Putnam, Economic Development Director, Town of Chapel Hill
Protecting Manufactured Home Communities, 5 p.m.
Host: Aaron Keck
- Graig Meyer, North Carolina Senator (District 23)
- Richard Turlington, Vice President of Construction, Orange Habitat for Humanity
- Julia Sendor, lead organizer, Orange County Justice United
FRIDAY, DEC. 13
Advancing The Humanities, 3 p.m.
Host: Aaron Keck
- Vivienne Benesch, Producing Artistic Director, PlayMakers Repertory Company
- Max Owre, Executive Director, Carolina Public Humanities
- Sarah Stroud, Director, UNC Parr Center for Ethics
- Inger Brodey, Professor of English & Comparative Literature, UNC-Chapel Hill
Renter-Focused Housing, 4 p.m.
Host: Andrew Stuckey
- Theodore Nollert, Town Council Member, Chapel Hill
- Adam Jones, Owner, Mill House Properties
- Jim Speath, Professor of the Practice of Finance, UNC Kenan-Flagler Business School
The Modern Student-Athlete Experience, 5 p.m.
Host: Brighton McConnell
- Riley Quartermain, Student-Athlete, UNC Women’s Golf
- Kevin Rice, CEO, Old Well Management
- Luke Stevenson, Student-Athlete, UNC Baseball