Race and Equity in Carrboro


RE Logo CroppedThe Town of Carrboro is focused on addressing systemic racism and injustice.  We are making efforts to center, elevate and honor equity and engaging voices and experiences of People of Color. This webpage highlights some of our initiatives.



Vision Statement 

The Town of Carrboro envisions being a community where race does not determine outcomes and all have equitable opportunities and resources.  We envision a time when participation in community events, programs and advisory boards represent community demographics.  All will feel safe, secure and know their voice is valued.  We strive to be an inclusive and open-minded organization that has a culture created by its diverse staff, which serves the public through a social (racial) justice lens.

Town of Carrboro and Government Alliance On Race and Equity (GARE) Partnership

The Government Alliance on Race and Equity (GARE) is a national network of governments working to achieve racial equity and advance opportunities for all. The Town of Carrboro joined GARE along with many municipalities across the country to help guide us through the process of dismantling structural racial inequity and creating equitable outcomes for all. The Town joined a North Carolina Regional Cohort of local Governments to learn how to address and change policy and institutional norms that are driving the production of inequities. All jurisdictions in Orange County are now members of GARE and are working collectively and individually on this journey.

Racial Equity Dashboard

A dashboard showing at-a-glance views of racial equity within Orange County is now available at  https://experience.arcgis.com/experience/2b39cf29bcc644a7898f1474c053fb0e/ 

The dashboard will be used by the four jurisdictions in Orange County in their work to move the community toward increased equity. Information from the dashboard can be used to provide awareness, track disparity, or inform strategies, grant applications or service provision. It contains statistics on public health, education and economic opportunity as well as those related to living conditions, infrastructure and voting.

Town actions include the following:

  • Town Council adopts updated Racial Equity Commission charge to reflect specific goals and objectives identified by members. (June 20, 2023)
  • Hiring of Carrboro’s first Race and Equity Manager (March 2023)
  • The REAL or Equity Pocket Questions accompany Council Agenda Items to help provide guidance with decision making. (March 7, 2023)
  • Town staff attended Decision Making for Racial Equity training. (January 2023)
  • Offered the foundational training, Advancing Racial Equity, The Role of Government to jurisdictional Elected Officials in Orange County, NC (Nov./Dec. 2022)
  • Carrboro In Motion/Communidad en Movimento launched in fall 2022 to increase neighbor-to-neighbor participation and engagement with a focus on underserved neighbors. https://www.townofcarrboro.org/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=2306
  • Town Manager’s appointment of Carrboro’s first Chief Race and Equity Officer (August 2022)
  • Partnered with Public Works to expand non-digital outreach – constructed new Town Information Centers (kiosks). (Summer 2022)
  • Carrboro Town Council adopts Carrboro Connects 2022-2042 Comprehensive Plan (June 7, 2022)
  • Town departments began use of the Racial Equity Assessment Lens, the REAL to evaluate policies, practices, procedures, and services. (April 2022)
  • o Planning Department creates a web map with demographic information used for the REAL evaluation process (March 2022)
  • Town Council adopts One Orange Racial Equity Framework (Feb. 1, 2022)
  • Mayor Damon Seils proclaims National Day of Racial Healing in Carrboro (Jan. 18, 2022)
  • Town Council adopts establishment of Racial Equity Commission (Jan. 19, 2021)
  • Black Lives Matter Mural installed at Century Center (Jan. 14, 2021)
  • Town begins racial equity training for staff. New employees are required to go through Advancing Racial Equity, the Role of Government. (January 2021)
  • Unveiling “truth plaques” at Town Hall (April 2019) and the site of the former Freedmen’s School on East Main Street (August 2021) to acknowledge the ties of the Town’s namesake to racial segregation and other truths about Carrboro’s history
  • Black Lives Matter Mural installed at Communityworx (Dec. 18, 2020)
  • Town Council adopts Supporting Reparations for Black Carrboro Resolution (Oct. 20, 2020)
  • Town Council adopts Juneteenth as Town Holiday (July 14, 2020)
  • Town Council discusses How COVID-19 is Disproportionately Affecting Blacks, Latinos and Other Underserved and Marginalized Communities (June 9, 2020)