The stage is set at DSI Comedy Theater in Chapel Hill for a community event that will focus less on laughs and more on coping with recent catastrophes.

According to Chapel Hill Police Chief Chris Blue, the event is being planned by a committee formed over two years ago in the wake of three local murders.

“We started out being called the Muslim Inclusion Committee,” he recalled. “[There are] a number of community stakeholders there — there’s town staff, there’s some local religious leaders, there’s some disaster and crisis specialists, all of whom are community members who felt a need to come together and do something, and that group has evolved its focus a little bit over time to really focus on just general inclusivity.”

Blue explained that the purpose of the event is to promote the type of inclusivity that is often elusive in the aftermath of terrorist attacks and criminal atrocities.

“Given the world we’re in right now and the tension around so much division — and that’s not limited to our country as we know — it just feels right to be in a room together and to talk about how that feels, what can we do as a community to help people have an opportunity to be heard, and to hear others, and to do that in a way that’s safe and keeping with our community values,” he offered.

Principles to be discussed and conveyed in vignettes at the event include making connections, doing no harm, practicing self-care and endorsing empathy.

“All of that’s really conceptual kind of stuff, but we recognize and acknowledge that sometimes it’s helpful just to get in a room and talk with your neighbors and your fellow community members about how you’re feeling around those matters,” Blue relayed.

Blue also noted that police officers in town are prepared to protect residents and coordinate with federal agencies in the event of a local terrorist attack.

“We’ve actually had an incident in this community where someone drove a car into a crowd of people — happened on campus a few years ago,” he stated. “Local, state and federal authorities all responded to that matter, and I think that any incident that ultimately rises to meet the definition of terrorism will mean that we will have lots of resources here to help us address it.”

DSI Comedy Theater is located at 462 West Franklin Street and will open its doors to all residents for the event, which commences tonight at 6:30 PM.

Photo from visitnc.com.

Related Stories
‹
Pair of W. Franklin Street Restaurants Permanently Shutter in May
The Central American restaurant The Latin Effect closed on May 28, while Rams Corner closed to Franklin Street customers earlier in the month.
Crumbl Cookies Closes Chapel Hill Location After 3 Years In Business
The store, located in Suite 150 at 133 West Franklin St., first opened its doors in February of 2023. It was open for just over three years.
Al's Burger Shack Hailed as 'Best Cheeseburger in North Carolina'
The website Fast Food Club named Al’s Burger Shack in Chapel Hill as the best cheeseburger in North Carolina in a new list, which sought the best cheeseburger in every state. “The beef is locally sourced, the toppings are creative and seasonally inspired, and every burger is cooked with the kind of attention usually reserved […]
On Air Today: Supporting West Chapel Hill Businesses Through Street Construction
Lapin Blue owner Mike Benson, Baxter Bar and Arcade owner Nick Stroude, and Franklin Real Estate's Sammy Martin spoke with 97.9 The Hill's Andrew Stuckey on Tuesday, February 24. They discussed some of the challenges facing Midway area businesses with recent construction on Rosemary St. They highlighted the appeal of the Midway district's locally owned businesses and "old Chapel Hill" vibe, and more.
Chapel Hill: UNC Visitors Center Evacuated Due to Gas Leak
The UNC Visitors Center, located at 134 East Franklin Street in downtown Chapel Hill, was evacuated Wednesday afternoon due to a gas leak. The Chapel Hill Fire Department initially responded to a report of the leak at 2:54 p.m., then began evacuating the building upon its arrival. A spokesperson for Enbridge Gas, which provides natural […]
News Around Town: Halloween on Franklin Street in 2025
Read a conversation between Chapel Hill mayor Jess Anderson and 97.9 The Hill's Andrew Stuckey about Halloween on Franklin Street.
Shooting Near W. Franklin Street Injures 1; Chapel Hill Police Arrest Suspect
The Chapel Hill Police Department is investigating a shooting along West Franklin Street Thursday evening which sent one person to the hospital.
Chapel Hill's He's Not Here Among The Athletic's 'Top 10 College Bars' for 2025
A downtown Chapel Hill staple long known for its appeal to both UNC students, Tar Heel fans and visitors recently landed on a national list. The college football staff for The Athletic — a sports journalism magazine under the New York Times’ umbrella — named the 112 1/2 West Franklin Street bar He’s Not Here […]
Honduran, Latin American Food Truck Prepares to Open W. Franklin Street Restaurant on Sep. 5
Chapel Hill is about to feature a new addition to its restaurant lineup: The Latin Effect, which is expanding from its food truck operations.
Chapel Hill Police: Body of Deceased Male Discovered Inside Siena Hotel; Franklin Street Reopened
A block of E. Franklin Street is shut down as authorities communicate with an individual who's barricaded themselves inside the Siena Hotel.
›