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3 <br /> out for our community, and wholeheartedly supports the resolution. She also added her thanks to <br /> county staff who were involved in caring for the community during the weather-related <br /> emergencies. Finally, she shared that since the Board's last meeting, she attended the GoTriangle <br /> Special Tax Board meeting, where no increases were approved, and also attended the Triangle <br /> West TPO meeting. <br /> Commissioner Bedford briefly reported on Durham Tech's Facilities and Finance <br /> Subcommittee meeting, noting a clean state audit with only two small findings, which have already <br /> been corrected. She noted that the five-year strategic plan is expiring, and the subcommittee will <br /> have a retreat next month to work on the new one. She also thanked Asset Management Services <br /> staff for ensuring safe access to the building during the icy weather. <br /> Commissioner Portie-Ascott echoed thanks to staff who kept the community informed and <br /> safe during the icy and snowy weather. She connected Black History Month to current events and <br /> said this month is an opportunity for reflection, but also responsibility. She said Black History is a <br /> story of people who helped build this country while being denied full access to it, and it is a story <br /> of resilience, innovation, and organizing in the face of exclusion. She continued, we are also living <br /> in a moment where many of our neighbors are carrying fear across the country, and there is <br /> aggressive rhetoric, heightened enforcement, and families being separated. She emphasized that <br /> even when those actions are happening somewhere else, fear shows up here. Commissioner <br /> Portie-Ascott pointed out the erosion of trust due to this fear and said she believes that trust is <br /> the foundation of everything local government is supposed to be. She concluded by stating: "I <br /> want to say plainly to anyone in our community who feels unseen, unheard or left behind, that you <br /> matter. You are valued, and you deserve dignity, safety, and opportunity. <br /> 4. Proclamations/ Resolutions/ Special Presentations <br /> a. Black History Month Proclamation <br /> The Board approved a proclamation designating February 2026 as Black History Month in Orange <br /> County. <br /> BACKGROUND: Black History Month originated from the efforts of Carter G. Woodson and three <br /> colleagues, who established the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History (ASNLH) in <br /> 1915. Their mission was to research, preserve, and promote the achievements of Black <br /> Americans and people of African descent. Inspired by the fiftieth anniversary of emancipation <br /> celebrations in Washington, D.C., the ASNLH introduced the concept of a Negro History Week in <br /> 1926. <br /> This celebration was intentionally placed in February to honor the birthdays of Abraham Lincoln <br /> and Frederick Douglass, two pivotal figures in the fight for freedom and equality. Over time, the <br /> event grew in prominence, culminating in 1976 when President Gerald Ford officially expanded <br /> the observance to the entire month of February. President Ford called on Americans to"seize the <br /> opportunity to honor the too-often neglected accomplishments of Black Americans in every area <br /> of endeavor throughout our history." Since then, every U.S. president has recognized Black <br /> History Month. <br /> This year's theme is "A Century of Black History Commemorations", which highlights the 100tn <br /> annual celebration of Black History week/month in the United States. <br /> Paul Slack, Chief Civil Rights Officer, introduced the following proclamation, and the Board <br /> read it in turn: <br />