Agenda - 02-16-2021; 6-b - Re-naming the New Orange County Environmental Agricultural Center (EAC) to the Orange County Bonnie B. Davis Environmental and Agricultural Center

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1 ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT Meeting Date: February 16, 2021 Action Agenda Item No. 6-b SUBJECT: Re-naming the New Orange County Environmental Agricultural Center (EAC) to the Orange County Bonnie B. Davis Environmental and Agricultural Center DEPARTMENT: County Manager ATTACHMENT(S): INFORMATION CONTACT: 1) Letters of Support Bonnie Hammersley, 919-245-2306 2) Photograph of Bonnie B. Davis PURPOSE: To discuss re-naming the new Orange County Environmental Agricultural Center (EAC) to the Orange County Bonnie B. Davis Environmental and Agricultural Center. BACKGROUND: Bonnie B. Davis joined the North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service in the 1950's. Bonnie retired from Orange County Cooperative Extension Department in 1990 after over 40 years as the Family & Consumer Sciences Agent. She died on July 27, 2018. • Bonnie B. Davis was appointed the first Orange County "colored" Home Demonstration Agent (now known as Family and Consumer Sciences Agent), a job she retained for 40 years. • Bonnie B. Davis leadership strengths served as a foundation to facilitate racial integration in the Orange County Extension office. Her positive attitude spread among 4-H youth, home demonstration club members (better known now as Extension & Community Association), and Extension employees. • Bonnie B. Davis drove to rural parts of the County to help youth practice demonstrations for 4-H short courses. Ms. Davis believed that everyone, regardless of where they started in life, could excel given the right opportunity, the necessary training and resources. • Bonnie B. Davis displayed her steadfastness when she returned from maternity leave in 1956. The new courthouse had opened with a kitchen for the use of white agents and their clubs, but no facilities for the black agents and their clubs. Mrs.