Golden LEAF Critical Conversations

Reimagining rural education through Golden LEAF Schools

The latest episode of Golden LEAF Critical Conversations with President, Chief Executive Officer Scott T. Hamilton explores how North Carolina rural middle schools participating in the Golden LEAF Schools Initiative are rethinking education to better prepare students for high school, careers, and the workforce of the future. In this episode: * Rachel Wright-Junio, Director of the Golden LEAF Schools Initiative at the N.C. Department of Public Instruction, explains how the initiative is helping schools implement innovative teaching models, strengthen leadership, and create career-connected learning environments that support long-term student success. * Dusty Martin, Principal of Northern Middle School in Person County, shares how the Transformative Schools cohort is reshaping school culture, improving instructional practices, and helping educators build stronger systems that support both students and the broader community. * Heather Herron, Instructional Technology Facilitator at Swain Middle School in Swain County, offers insight into how proficiency scales and competency-based learning are helping students better understand their progress, build confidence, and take ownership of their education. Listeners will gain a deeper understanding of how the Golden LEAF Schools Initiative is supporting teachers, engaging students, and working to strengthen North Carolina's future workforce by investing in innovation and continuous improvement in rural schools.

How ready sites give economic developers a strategic edge

The latest episode of Golden LEAF Critical Conversations with Scott T. Hamilton, the Foundation's President and CEO, brings together three leaders driving economic development across North Carolina to answer a critical question: What does it really take to attract new industry to a community? Kenny Flowers, Chief Deputy Secretary with the N.C. Department of Commerce, shares how statewide coordination and strategic site readiness are essential to winning competitive projects and keeping North Carolina at the top for business. Brittany Brady, President of the North Carolina Economic Development Association and CEO of the Henderson County Economic Development Partnership, offers insight into what site selectors and companies are actually looking for—and why speed, infrastructure, and preparation can make or break a deal. McKinley Perkinson, Community and Economic Development Director for Warren County, provides a real-world perspective on how rural communities can leverage programs like the Golden LEAF SITE Program to transform raw land into market-ready opportunities. Listeners will gain a clearer understanding of why industrial site readiness is a team effort—and how preparation today can lead to economic opportunity tomorrow.

Plant Sciences Initiative Growing the Future of North Carolina Agriculture

The latest episode of Golden LEAF Critical Conversations with Scott Hamilton features three voices shaping the future of North Carolina agriculture. They answer the question: What happens when scientists, extension specialists, and farmers tackle agriculture's toughest challenges together? Adrian Percy, Director of the NC State Plant Sciences Initiative (PSI), shares the bold vision behind bringing researchers, engineers, industry partners, and growers together to solve real problems on the farm. David Suchoff, Extension, Outreach and Engagement Platform Director for PSI and NC State Crop and Soil Science faculty member, explains how research moves from the lab to the field and how extension helps farmers turn innovation into practical results. Bo Stone, Robeson County farmer and PSI Farmer Advisory Council member, brings the grower's perspective on emerging tools like AI decision systems, soil diagnostics, and sensor technologies that are changing how farmers manage crops and protect the land. Listeners will walk away with a clearer understanding of how cutting-edge science, collaboration, and farmer feedback are helping North Carolina agriculture stay productive, profitable, and sustainable for generations to come.

More Than a Scholarship: Golden LEAF Scholarship Pathway From Classroom to Career

What happens when opportunity meets rural community pride? In this episode of Golden LEAF Critical Conversations, host Scott T. Hamilton talks with a current Golden LEAF Scholar, a Scholar Alumna, and an internship site host to show exactly how the Golden LEAF Scholarship [https://scholars.goldenleaf.org/applicants/colleges-universities/] and Golden LEAF Rural Internship Initiative [https://scholars.goldenleaf.org/rii/] change lives and shapes communities across North Carolina. You will hear from three inspirational guests: * Current Golden LEAF Scholar Joe Bolick, a future educator, who discovered that the scholarship did more than ease college costs; it opened doors to real relationships with school leaders back home. * Golden LEAF Alumna Lyric Locklear reflects on how internships turned into employment, affirmed her sense of purpose, and helped her build a meaningful career serving rural mental health needs. * Golden LEAF Rural Internship Initiative site host Prince Dugba of Monarch Bioenergy offers a behind-the-scenes look at why hosting Golden LEAF interns isn't just good for students, it's smart for rural businesses preparing the workforce of the future. Together, their stories paint a powerful picture. This scholarship program isn't just about paying for college. It's about building confidence, creating career pathways, and proving that impactful, innovative work can and does happen in rural North Carolina. If you are interested in how scholarship funding, education, and internships come together to strengthen rural North Carolina communities, this conversation offers insight, inspiration, and a case study on how this model works.

North Carolina's Economy and National Trends: 2025 Review, 2026 Outlook

In this first podcast episode, Golden LEAF President, Chief Executive Officer Scott T. Hamilton is joined by two leading economic voices: Tom Barkin, President and CEO of the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond, and Dr. Mike Walden, William Neal Reynolds Distinguished Professor Emeritus at NC State University. Together, they unpack a year marked by uncertainty, described as "driving through fog," and explore why the economy has proven more resilient than many expected. From national trends like productivity growth, inflation, and interest rates to North Carolina's record-setting job creation, workforce growth, and housing expansion, the conversation connects the dots between policy, people, and place. Listeners will hear insights on: * Why North Carolina continues to stand out nationally for job, workforce, and housing growth * What record-breaking job announcements mean for communities across the state * How agriculture, agribusiness, and workforce development may evolve in 2026 * The risks and opportunities ahead as economic uncertainty begins to lift