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