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' }. <br /> 39 <br /> i I i <br /> LOOKING TO 2050 <br /> DEVELOPMENT AND METHODOLOGY CONTINUED <br /> COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT <br /> Orange County hosted a series of focus groups and workshops and embarked <br /> on a public education campaign to disseminate a public Climate Action Survey. <br /> At the 2023 Orange County Agricultural Summit, the project team presented <br /> a baseline assessment of existing actions and potential best practices that <br /> the County could consider. Feedback centered around the need to strengthen <br /> support for young farmers and the need to increase local food networks. Breeze <br /> Farm was highlighted as a showcase property for teaching farmers sustainable <br /> agricultural practices including agro voltaics. <br /> In addition to an internal County staff focus group,the County initiated outreach <br /> to key community stakeholders throughout the year. The County presented <br /> two focus groups: a Business and Vendor Perspectives and a Community <br /> and Environmental Priorities focus group. The County heard critical feedback <br /> from businesses, non profits, and public agencies on how the CAP could best <br /> support the broad community in terms of resources, education and additional <br /> programming needed. A Student Voices workshop was held at UNC to learn <br /> about potential research that is happening on campus and determine if there <br /> were opportunities to leverage that research to pilot new technologies within <br /> County facilities. <br /> Finally, the final draft of the CAP was presented at a Community Symposium <br /> in the Fall. The public was invited to learn about the County's priorities and <br /> roadmap for implementation. <br /> 500 people participated in the County's Climate Action Survey which was <br /> distributed as a QR code at local farmer's markets and similar outreach <br /> events in the County. Outreach examples include all three farmer's markets <br /> in Hillsborough, Chapel Hill and Carrboro, Climate Action Day at UNC, events <br /> through EI Centro Hispano, Orange County Juneteenth event, and Orange <br /> County, Chapel Hill, and Carrboro City Schools. In addition, the survey was <br /> sent to all Orange County churches, community groups, and targeted local <br /> businesses with physical flyers with the QR code posted at libraries, grocery <br /> stores, parks, etc. The survey was translated in Spanish, Karen, Burmese and <br /> Mandarin. <br /> 36 2023 CLIMATE ACTION PLAN ORANGE COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA <br />