Gov. Cooper Declares an American Indian Heritage Month
Community, News November 2, 2021
Governor Roy Cooper has declared November as American Indian Heritage Month, an observance that celebrates the history and heritage of our nation’s first inhabitants. North Carolina is home to eight state recognized tribes including the Coharie, Eastern Band of Cherokee, Haliwa-Saponi, Lumbee, Meherrin, Occaneechi Band of the Saponi Nation, Sappony and Waccamaw-Siouan. The state also has four urban Indian associations including the Cumberland County Association for Indian People, Guilford Native American Association, Metrolina Native American Association and the Triangle Native American Association.
“We are grateful for North Carolina’s American Indians and all of the contributions they’ve made to our state,” said Governor Roy Cooper. “The rich history and traditions of our tribes make our state a more vibrant place for all.”
“As a native of both the Coharie and Lumbee Tribes, this month is particularly dear to me, as we not only celebrate family, culture and traditions but also educate North Carolinians on the rich diversity of our state,” said NC Department of Administration Secretary Pamela Brewington Cashwell. “We’ve lost many tribal members throughout the pandemic, but our roots are strong and so are the American Indian people.”
In April 2021, Secretary Cashwell made history as the first American Indian woman to head a state cabinet department in the state’s history. According to the 2020 U.S. Census Bureau, more than 130,000 American Indians reside in North Carolina, making our state the second largest American Indian population east of the Mississippi River and the seventh largest American Indian population in the nation.
This year marks another milestone as the department celebrates the 50th anniversary of the creation of the North Carolina Commission of Indian Affairs . Established by the NC General Assembly, the Commission was formed to focus local, state and federal resources to support and advocate for the state’s American Indian population. For the past half century, the Commission and its staff have aided tribal communities by serving as a hub for information on housing assistance, educational resources, scholarships, healthcare, workforce development and more. The Commission and staff also have worked to promote the culture and traditions of North Carolinian’s American Indians.
The theme for this year’s American Indian Heritage Month is, “Strong Roots in Changing Times,” reflecting the resilience of American Indians throughout the pandemic and the continued preservation of their rich culture and traditions.
To celebrate American Indian Heritage Month, the Commission is again partnering with the NC Museum of History, North Carolina’s American Indian tribes and urban Indian organization to coordinate a weekend of special events. The 26th annual celebration will be virtual and is free and open to the public. This year, students and teachers can view live dancing and music during the celebration’s Education Day on November 19 from 9:30 am – 3:30pm. The main celebration will be held Saturday, November 20 from 11 am – 4pm and will feature live panel discussions and presentations.
To learn more about the upcoming American Indian Heritage Month Celebration visit the North Carolina Museum of History website for details. Read the proclamation here.
Governor Cooper Announces Formation of North Carolina Juvenile Sentence Review Board
News, Press Release April 12, 2021
RALEIGH: Governor Roy Cooper announced the formation of the North Carolina Juvenile Sentence Review Board (“Review Board”). The four-person advisory board, established by Executive Order 208, will review certain sentences imposed in North Carolina on individuals who were tried and sentenced in adult criminal court for acts committed before turning 18. The Review Board will make recommendations to the Governor concerning clemency and commutation of such sentences when appropriate.
“Developments in science continue to show fundamental differences between juvenile and adult minds,” said Governor Cooper. “For those who have taken significant steps to reform and rehabilitate themselves, this process can provide a meaningful opportunity for release and a life outside of prison.”
Prior to recommending clemency, commutation, or other action to the Governor, members of the Review Board will conduct a thorough and individualized review based on criteria outlined in the Executive Order, including rehabilitation and maturity demonstrated by the individual. This review will be available to qualifying individuals who have served at least 20 years of their sentence, or at least 15 years in certain instances of consecutive or “stacked” sentences.
In 2017, Governor Cooper signed Senate Bill 445 into law, reducing the wait time for criminal record expungement for first-time, non-violent offenders. Following the passage of Raise the Age legislation, the Governor also signed a proclamation recognizing the expansion of juvenile jurisdiction in North Carolina.
The North Carolina Juvenile Sentence Review Board is a recommendation of the Governor’s Task Force for Racial Equity in Criminal Justice which found that the group of people included in this Executive Order are disproportionately Black. The full report of the Task Force is available here.
The Governor appointed the following individuals to the North Carolina Juvenile Sentence Review Board:
- Marcia Morey of Durham as Chair. Morey is the Representative for House District 30. She previously served and worked as a District Court Judge, and as an Assistant District Attorney in Durham. As both a judge and district attorney, she has been a champion of diversionary programs for young people charged with crime. In 1998, Governor Jim Hunt appointed Morey as the Executive Director of the Governor’s Commission on Juvenile Crime and Justice to reform North Carolina’s juvenile justice system. Morey is also a current member of the Governor’s Task Force for Racial Equity in Criminal Justice.
- Henry McKinley “Mickey” Michaux Jr. of Durham is a civil rights activist and former member of the North Carolina General Assembly. He represented the state’s 31st House District from 1983 to 2019 and previously served from 1973 through 1977. Upon his retirement, Michaux was the longest-serving member of the North Carolina General Assembly. He is an attorney and partner at Michaux and Michaux, P.A., which was established in 1970.
- Thomas G. Walker of Charlotte is a Partner at Alston & Bird and former U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina. In that position, he oversaw all federal criminal and civil matters in the eastern portion of the state. He has also served as Special Counsel to North Carolina Attorney General Roy Cooper.
- Allyson K. Duncan of Raleigh is a former judge on the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit and the North Carolina Court of Appeals. Prior to her appointment to the bench, Judge Duncan was a partner at Kilpatrick Stockton. Duncan became the first African American woman to serve as judge on the North Carolina Court of Appeals, the first African American president of the North Carolina Bar Association and the first African American woman to sit on the Fourth Circuit bench.
Read Executive Order 208.
Governor Cooper Will Extend Evictions Moratorium
News, Press Release December 28, 2020
RALEIGH: Governor Roy Cooper announced that he plans to extend the state’s evictions moratorium on residential evictions for non-payment of rent through at least January 31, 2021.
“This holiday season, too many families are struggling to pay rent as the pandemic surges,” said Governor Cooper. “As the first of the month approaches and rent becomes due, I wanted people to know that we plan to extend the moratorium on evictions.”
The details and language of the moratorium are forthcoming and will be based on how or whether Congress extends the federal moratorium. More information on the state’s extension will be shared as soon as possible.
Governor Cooper Wishes North Carolinians a Safe and Happy Thanksgiving
News, Press Release November 25, 2020
RALEIGH: Governor Roy Cooper shared wishes for a safe and happy Thanksgiving holiday as the third-annual turkey pardoning went virtual. Governor Cooper pardoned two turkeys, Cranberry and Drumstick. The pardon was held virtually, with Governor Cooper in Raleigh and Cranberry and Drumstick at home in Mount Olive at Foy III Farm. Governor Cooper highlighted the importance of celebrating Thanksgiving safely by wearing a mask and social distancing with anyone from another household.
“I’m grateful to the many North Carolinians who are looking out for each other’s safety by wearing a mask and practicing social distancing,” said Governor Cooper. “I know many of us are tired of being cooped up at home, but any time you go out – remember to wear a mask and practice social distancing. These are our berry best tools to slowing the spread of this virus. And I know we cran do it.”
Butterball partnered with the State for the third year in a row to donate 500 turkeys, which will be donated to the Food Bank of Central and Eastern North Carolina. Butterball has helped to donate 1500 turkeys as part of this event over the last three years.
“Butterball is thankful for the opportunity to present two turkeys for pardoning by Governor Cooper on behalf of the state of North Carolina. Thanksgiving is our favorite holiday at Butterball, and I know celebrations will look different for many this year, but I’m hopeful North Carolinians will find creative ways to celebrate safely. This Thanksgiving, I’d like to give thanks to our teams and other food producers for their dedication to keeping food on tables during a challenging time,” Jay Jandrain, President and Chief Executive Officer of Butterball, said. “We are pleased to donate 500 Butterball turkeys on behalf of Governor Cooper to the Food Bank of Central and Eastern North Carolina to help fight hunger this holiday season.”
Cooper comments on Confederate monuments on State Capitol Grounds
Press Release, State & National June 22, 2020
RALEIGH: Governor Roy Cooper shared the following statement about Confederate monuments on Capitol grounds:
“I have ordered the Confederate monuments on the Capitol grounds be moved to protect public safety. I am concerned about the dangerous efforts to pull down and carry off large, heavy statues and the strong potential for violent clashes at the site. If the legislature had repealed their 2015 law that puts up legal roadblocks to removal we could have avoided the dangerous incidents of last night.
“Monuments to white supremacy don’t belong in places of allegiance, and it’s past time that these painful memorials be moved in a legal, safe way.”
The monuments being removed from the Capitol grounds include: the remainder of the North Carolina Confederate monument, the monument to the Women of the Confederacy, and the figure of Henry Lawson Wyatt.
In 2017, Governor Cooper called for Confederate monuments on State Capitol grounds to be relocated to museums or related historical sites where they can be viewed in context. Read the Governor’s Medium post on the monuments.
A North Carolina law passed in 2015 after the Charleston Emanuel AME Church killings prevents removal or relocation of objects of remembrance that are on public property. Governor Cooper has called on the legislature to repeal that law, which it has not done. The law includes an exemption if the monument is determined to pose a threat to public safety.
Feature image taken from Cooper’s medium post.
Cooper requests equitable funding for minority-owned businesses in COVID-19 aid
Business, Press Release May 19, 2020
RALEIGH: Governor Roy Cooper sent a letter to the leaders of the Golden L.E.A.F. Foundation encouraging them to ensure women and minority-owned businesses receive an equitable portion of recently approved COVID-19 relief funding. These stores account for approximately half of all businesses in the state.
“Diverse businesses are engines for our economy, and we need to encourage their continued growth and development as we administer this much needed aid,” Governor Cooper wrote. “Given the disproportionate impact this pandemic has had on minority communities, it is more vital than ever for us to ensure that all North Carolina businesses have equal access to these funds.”
The Golden L.E.A.F. Foundation is managing the distribution of $125 million in loans for businesses that are struggling as a result of COVID-19 that was included in the recently passed 2020 COVID-19 Recovery Act. The law allocating that funding states that historically underutilized small businesses (HUBs) benefit from equitable distribution of relief funding.
Read Gov. Cooper’s letter to the Golden L.E.A.F. Foundation.
Governor Cooper proclaims May Mental Health Month
Press Release, State & National May 18, 2020
RALEIGH, N.C. – Governor Roy Cooper proclaimed May as Mental Health Awareness Month in North Carolina. Nationally this month is used to reduce the stigma regarding mental health and encourage individuals to seek the medical help they may need.
“This pandemic has put a spotlight on the need for more attention to mental health. Taking care of your mental health is just as important as your physical health, and there are newly expanded opportunities to seek telehealth during this pandemic,” said Governor Cooper.
“These past months have been really hard on so many North Carolinians. Our lives have changed in unimaginable ways and some of us may be struggling with managing our mental health. Please reach out to a provider or call our Hope4NC hotline for help coping and building resilience during this of crisis,” said Dr. Mandy Cohen, NC DHHS Secretary.
1 in 5 adults struggle with mental health challenges in a given year, and during this month people are encouraged to hold open conversations that support and respect individuals living with mental illness. The majority of individuals with mental illness do not receive the treatment they need.
During the COVID-19 pandemic it is important that all North Carolinians pay attention to their physical and mental well-being. While activities many perform as part of their daily lives have been limited, people are encouraged to practice safe, socially distant outdoor exercise and meditation. There are also newly expanded opportunities to safely receive mental health services through telehealth during the course of the pandemic.
North Carolinians can call Hope4NC at 1-855-587-3463 for mental health support.
Visit covid19.ncdhhs.gov/hope for more wellness resources.
Read the Proclamation.
Watch Governor Cooper’s Video.
Phase One of reopening North Carolina begins on May 8
Business May 7, 2020
RALEIGH, N.C. – Starting at 5 p.m. on Friday, May 8, residents of N.C. will have certain restrictions lifted as the state moves toward reopening.
In Phase One, the distinction between essential and non-essential businesses is removed and individuals can leave their homes for any commercial activity that is open. Small outdoor gatherings are allowed, but gatherings more than 10 are still prohibited. Religious services and First Amendment activities are also allowed but must follow social distancing protocols. However, the 10-person limit doesn’t apply to these gatherings, but they should gather outside unless impossible.
“COVID-19 is still a serious threat to our state, and Phase 1 is designed to be a limited easing of restrictions that can boost parts of our economy while keeping important safety rules in place,” said Governor Cooper. “This is a careful and deliberate first step, guided by the data, and North Carolinians still must use caution while this virus is circulating.”
Those who do decide to go out they are encouraged to wear a face mask, carry hand sanitizer, wash their hands whenever possible, and regularly clean high-touch surfaces.
“When leaving home and wear it inside all public settings such as grocery stores, pharmacies, or other retail or public-serving businesses. A Face Covering should also be worn outdoors when you cannot maintain at least six (6) feet distancing from other people with the exception of family or household members. These coverings function to protect other people more than the wearer,” states the Executive Order.
Retail stores can operate at 50 percent capacity. Additionally, customers must stand six feet apart and retailers should provide hand sanitizer, screen employees, and frequently clean. NCDHHS is posting the screening questionnaire online.
Phase One summary from Gov. Cooper’s office.
Businesses that remain closed are bars, personal care businesses, entertainment venues, and gyms.
Restaurants may only continue to serve customers for drive-through, takeout and delivery.
All employees are encouraged to wear face masks or coverings and Cooper still recommends teleworking whenever possible.
Long-term care facilities are still closed to visitors.
Parks are encouraged to open if they can accommodate social distancing, but playgrounds should remain closed.
Childcare facilities will be open to serve families who need the assistance. The organizations are required to follow strict cleaning protocols. Summer day camps can operate in compliance with NC DHHS guidelines.
In explaining the decision to move to Phase One, Cooper and Secretary Cohen reported North Carolina remains stable on the following key metrics:
- Trajectory in COVID-Like Illness (CLI) Surveillance Over 14 Days – North Carolina’s syndromic surveillance trend for COVID-like illness is decreasing.
- Trajectory of Lab-Confirmed Cases Over 14 Days – North Carolina’s trajectory of lab-confirmed cases over the last 14 days cases is slightly increasing.
- Trajectory in Percent of Tests Returning Positive Over 14 Days – North Carolina’s trajectory in percent of tests returning positive over the last 14 days is decreasing.
- Trajectory in Hospitalizations Over 14 Days – North Carolina’s trajectory of hospitalizations over the last 14 days is level.
In addition to these metrics, the state continues building capacity to be able to adequately respond to an increase in virus spread. These areas include:
- Laboratory Testing – North Carolina has doubled the daily testing rate.
- Tracing Capability – The Carolina Community Tracing Collaborative has received over 4,000 applications and is in the process of hiring 250 new contact tracers.
- Personal Protective Equipment – Supply chains continue to improve with the exception of gowns.
The order is in effect until 5 p,m, on Friday, May 22. However, the end of this Order does not necessarily mean the state will move to Phase Two. Phase Two only start if data and indicators are in the right place.