WFDD Community Conversations

Let's Talk

At WFDD, we pride ourselves on being a place where people come together to discuss ideas. You might not always agree with what you hear, but you can trust that it's based on facts. Our reporters work 24/7 to find and talk to the best available sources on every issue affecting our community. And now during the pandemic, we've convened a series of Virtual Community Conversations, to further discussions on key issues. We want to hear from you. What's on your mind? What topics would you like us to cover in our Community Conversations series? Let's talk!

Check out our upcoming and past conversations: 

What you need to know about COVID-19 Vaccines

A graphic of a nurse getting a COVID-19 vaccination with her mask on.

Monday, February 8th, 3pm

(Para versión en español, hacer click aquí.)

The next in our series of Virtual Community Conversations is coming up on Monday, February 8th. We’ll discuss what you need to know about COVID-19 vaccines with WFDD’s Bethany Chafin and special guests Dr. Mandy Cohen, Dr. Michelle Laws, Dr. Iulia Vann, and Dr. Christopher Ohl. The conversation will cover everything from the safety of the vaccine, the timeline of the rollout and how it's being distributed, and of course, your questions.

It’ll happen at 3pm on Monday, February 8th, via Zoom webinar. Send us the questions you’d like to have answered using the form above, and please register to let us know you’re coming. You’ll also be able to ask questions during the discussion.

If you weren't able to join us live, English and Spanish recordings of the event are archived on our YouTube channel and embedded below.

Panelists:

  • Dr. Mandy Cohen, Secretary of the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services 
  • Dr. Michelle Laws, NCDHHS Historically Marginalized Populations COVID Response Team Lead 
  • Dr. Iulia Vann, Guilford County Public Health Director 
  • Dr. Christopher Ohl, Wake Forest Baptist Health Infectious Disease Expert

Zoom automatically created a transcript of the event. You can read it here.

Watch the recordings in Enligh and Spanish:

Safeguarding Your Vote

Thursday, September 24th, 2pm

We know there’s a lot of uncertainty surrounding the vote, and we’re here to help. Take part in our next Virtual Community Conversation: Safeguarding Your Vote. We’ll talk with election officials and answer your questions about absentee voting, in-person voting, voter intimidation, and more. WFDD reporter Paul Garber will be joined by our special guests, who will address your concerns and questions to help you feel confident in your vote.

We'll hear from:

  • Karen Brinson Bell, Executive Director of the NC State Board of Elections
  • Charlie Collicutt, Director of Guilford County Elections
  • Anna Fesmire, Co-President of the League of Women Voters of the Piedmont Triad
  • Tim Tsujii, Director of Forsyth County Elections

What Does 'Back to School' Mean Now?

There are a lot of unknowns as we head into the new school year. What will instruction look like for K-12 Public Schools? How are districts addressing equity issues and kids who may be slipping through the cracks as school buildings remain closed in many areas? There are also issues like providing school lunches for students during remote learning and childcare concerns for working families during the extended closures. 

How will schools pay for COVID-19 safety requirements and changes when they do reopen? There are also questions about testing and a whole lot more. WFDD's Keri Brown will moderate a discussion with local experts about some of the challenges and what’s being done to help address these issues during the crisis.

Watch the full recording of our Virtual Community Conversation: What Does 'back To School' Mean Now?

Race and the White Ally Toolkit

David Campt addresses an audience in Chapel Hill on April 14, 2019.

David Campt addresses an audience in Chapel Hill on April 14, 2019.

Attribution
Ivan Saul Cutler

During this Virtual Community Conversation, speaker, author, and dialogue facilitator Dr. David Campt discussed strategies for more effective discourse about race. Campt stepped through the details of his R.A.C.E. Method, developed using best practices of non-violent communication and the neuroscience of persuasion. Campt and WFDD's David Ford role-played how this method might unfold in a conversation. We also answered listener questions, some submitted in advance of the event, and some submitted through the live stream.

Watch the full recording of our Virtual Community Conversation: Race and the White Ally Toolkit.