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3 <br /> 1 Vice-Chair Greene said she attended the CHCCS Teacher of the Year awards ceremony <br /> 2 on May 91". She said this year's Teacher of the Year is Roxana Rojas, a Kindergarten teacher at <br /> 3 Sewall Elementary and expressed her congratulations. She said on Tuesday, she attended the <br /> 4 first meeting of the naming committee for the Southern Branch Library in Carrboro. She said on <br /> 5 Wednesday, she attended UNRBA meeting, and attended the Visitors Bureau Open House on <br /> 6 Thursday. <br /> 7 Commissioner Richards said she also attended the open house as well as the Justice <br /> 8 Advisory Board meeting. She said it was exciting to hear about the many initiatives happening in <br /> 9 Orange County. She said she attended the Burlington-Graham MPO meeting before this meeting <br /> 10 and the ABC Board earlier today. She said she wants to highlight the mental health forum <br /> 11 sponsored by the faith community for Mental Health Month as well as a Community Forum she <br /> 12 attended, which focused on the future of Peace and Justice Plaza in Chapel Hill. She said the <br /> 13 most interesting program she attended was held last Thursday at Carrboro High School which <br /> 14 recognized 120 black and brown students with 3.0 or better GPAs in CHCCS. She said this is a <br /> 15 great opportunity to uplift students, who are often talked about for what they aren't doing. She <br /> 16 also recognized the upcoming Memorial Day holiday. <br /> 17 Commissioner McKee welcomed representatives from the school boards present this <br /> 18 evening. He said the county has continued working with Lumos over the past year to install <br /> 19 broadband. He said there are disparities in areas that are being overlooked for service. He said <br /> 20 that staff is working on solutions to ensure that once the project is completed, no one will be <br /> 21 without broadband in Orange County. <br /> 22 <br /> 23 4. Proclamations/ Resolutions/Special Presentations <br /> 24 a. Mental Health Awareness Month Proclamation <br /> 25 The Board approved a proclamation designating May 2024 as Mental Health Awareness Month <br /> 26 in Orange County. <br /> 27 <br /> 28 BACKGROUND: Mental Health Awareness Month has been observed in the U.S. since 1949. <br /> 29 Each year millions of Americans face the reality of living with a mental illness. Even though mental <br /> 30 health conditions are common and treatable like physical health conditions, many people are still <br /> 31 afraid to talk about them due to the stigma associated with mental illness. In May, mental health <br /> 32 organizations and affiliates raise awareness with community events and messages of hope to <br /> 33 highlight the importance of mental health. <br /> 34 <br /> 35 The Board of Commissioners is asked to proclaim May 2024 as"Mental Health Awareness Month" <br /> 36 in Orange County to shine a light on mental illness and the need for long-term improvements in <br /> 37 our mental health care system and improved access to care so no one feels alone. <br /> 38 <br /> 39 Commissioner Richards read the following proclamation: <br /> 40 ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS <br /> 41 PROCLAMATION <br /> 42 MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS MONTH <br /> 43 <br /> 44 WHEREAS, mental health is part of everyone's overall health and well-being, and mental illnesses <br /> 45 are prevalent in our county, state, and nation, with one in five adults experiencing a mental health <br /> 46 issue every year; and <br /> 47 <br /> 48 WHEREAS, mental health sustains an individual's thought processes, relationships, productivity, <br /> 49 and ability to adapt to change; and <br /> 50 <br />