NORTHSIDE RESIDENTIAL FELLOWSHIP

The Northside Residential Fellowship, or NRF, is a year-long fellowship with a focus on aging, housing, and racial justice. This housing and learning opportunity is open to graduate students who are interested in volunteering, reflecting, and getting to know elders in their surrounding community!

PiAP and the Marian Cheek Jackson Center invite you to join the Northside Neighborhood through this immersive experience. The Northside Residential Fellowship is from August 2021-May 2022.

Read the NRF Program Overview to learn more. Those who are interested can apply here and contact ryan_lavalley@med.unc.edu with any questions.

Two openings, preference will be given to people who apply by May 31st.

Background: Northside is a historically Black neighborhood in Chapel Hill whose residents live and die by the mandate to “love thy neighbor as thyself.” However, in
recent years, Northside has experienced “studentification” marked by a shift from a predominance of single-family owned homes to a predominance of rental properties shared by college students. This process has disrupted the sense of community in Northside. Residents express seeing a changing neighborhood that is not “for them,” so social integration and community engagement are threatened.

Solution: The Jackson Center and community partners have enacted strategic efforts to balance the market, to educate student tenants, to retain multi-generational
families, and to attract new homeowners intent on living close, connected, and proud, that have been successful. Implementing an intentional living-learning household is
another strategy to preserve this vibrant neighborhood.

Purpose: The Northside Residential Fellowship Program seeks to bridge Northside residents and UNC graduate students together in a reciprocal relationship. Research demonstrates the important role neighborhood plays in the health and well-being of individuals. Therefore, we want to create a space for graduate students to become active members of the Northside community and re-establish a multi-generational neighborhood where all residents feel supported.

Program Specifics:
Student Criteria

• Graduate/Professional student
• Interests in diversity, sustainable communities, health equity, and aging
• Comfortable interacting with diverse groups and desire to live in a diverse community
• Commitment to cultural competency/humility
• A desire to live in the neighborhood for personal gain and also community gain

Engagement Practices

• BE WITH neighbors (Stopping by the porch, playing with the youth outside, acts of kindness)
• Participation in community events sponsored by the Jackson Center and other Northside organizations (Block parties, cookouts, holiday gatherings)
• Service pledge with a Northside organization
• Weekly shared household meal
• Neighbor engagement (Cooking, games, walking, fellowship, transportation)
• Organized neighbor meet-ups (Host has opportunity to share talents/passions with neighbors)