An Eye-Opening Experience

The Tar Heel Bus Tour travels to towns and cities throughout North Carolina as faculty members and senior administrators examine the most pressing issues facing our state. Carolina Across 100 partners will be featured in the annual bus tour.

Campus-Community Insights

In the summer and fall of 2024, the Carolina Across 100 team interviewed 2023 THBT grant awardees—both community and campus partners—to learn more about the impact of the work that resulted from these grants, their experiences partnering with one another, and the advice they would give to others looking to form effective campus-community partnerships.

THBT Grants

The following counties are engaged in campus-community partnerships supported by “Tar Heel Bus Tour Grants.” To date, these grants have supported partnerships in 21 counties across the state.

Tar Heel Bus Tour Minigrant Program 2024

The Tar Heel Bus Tour grants program works to support the goals of the Tar Heel Bus Tour. The program also encourages Tar Heel Bus Tour participants to build on and maintain their connections across North Carolina by developing projects that address issues and needs in partnership with communities throughout the state. In 2024, Carolina Across 100 offered $20,000 total in grant funding to these community-engaged projects that will have a meaningful impact across the state. These funded projects are ongoing in 2 North Carolina counties. 

Tar Heel Bus Tour Minigrant Program 2023

In 2023, Carolina Across 100 partnered with UNC Rural to offer $100,000 total in grant funding to these community-engaged projects that will have a meaningful impact across the state. These funded projects are ongoing in 15 North Carolina counties. 

“Our State, Our Work” 2023 Bus Stops

Carolina leadership hit the road in October for the annual Tar Heel Bus Tour. Two buses covered both the east and west portions of North Carolina making 19 stops, each exhibiting the University’s commitment to serving all North Carolinians. Two of the stops were hosted by “Our State, Our Work” teams, showcasing their local efforts to connect young adults with living wage employment opportunities.  

Tar Heel Bus Tour Stops 

  • Team 5 (Collaboration Over Competition) hosted University leaders at their headquarters in Cabarrus County on October 18. Team 5 is led by the Men of Destiny program, partnering with the governments and other community leaders of Cabarrus and Mecklenburg counties to provide Opportunity Youth with mentoring from local business and government leaders through hands-on internships. Through the “Levels of Leadership” Initiative, young adults receive opportunities to gain Level One certifications in construction while benefiting from training from the Southeastern Carpenters Regional Council. In addition to technical skills, young adults also receive social-emotional support from their community mentor. 
  • Team 11 (Wayne County Pathfinders) hosted a bus tour stop at the Wayne County Library, which is a lead partner in providing employment support, career fairs, volunteer opportunities, and community service opportunities for justice-involved youth. Other partners on the team include the Wayne County Chamber of Commerce, Wayne County Public Schools, Communities Supporting Schools of Wayne County, and Wayne Community College.