Welcome from the Office of Civil Rights & Civic Life
Where Civil Rights Meet Civic Action
At the Orange County Office of Civil Rights & Civic Life, we work to foster fairness, access, and inclusive civic life. Below is a message from our team about the intentions that guide our work.
Mission
To shape policies, practices, and programming that bridge divides, address past, present, and future disparities, and dismantle barriers, ensuring everyone in Orange County experiences justice, accessibility, and a culture of equity.
Vision
We believe in an Orange County—and beyond—where racism, discrimination, and injustice are dismantled through people-centered collective action and community partnership. By recognizing the legacy of past harms and the presence of current discrimination, we strive to create a future where inequity is a relic of the past and all people belong.
A Message from Chief Civil Rights Officer Paul Slack
The following section contains a personal letter from the Chief Civil Rights Officer.
Read the full letter
I hope this message finds you well.
I hope this message finds you happy.
I hope this message finds you inspired.
My name is Paul Slack, and I am writing this letter to you as the County’s Chief Civil Rights Officer. Allow me to begin by sharing a story about introductions that has shaped how I introduce myself.
I grew up in Minnesota, which by itself isn’t all that interesting—except for the fact that Minnesota is home to a very active Indigenous population.
Many years ago, I sat in a community meeting with an Indigenous woman. As is customary when people are meeting for the first time, introductions began. People would stand and say, “My name is so-and-so, I work at such-and-such company, and my title is XYZ.”
We’ve all been in meetings like this—it’s efficient and helps clarify who’s who and where the power lies in the room.
This happened three or four times before the cycle made its way to this woman, and what she said has stuck with me ever since.
While the exact words are lost to time, the idea remains vivid: for Indigenous people, their experience with the United States and Americans has been so complex that leading with a resume feels insufficient. Instead, she asked people to introduce themselves by stating their intentions.
She shared her intentions, and the entire energy of the meeting changed. To this day, I do not know her name, but I know so much more about who she is.
With that, let us introduce our intentions for our County and this office.
- We intend to be advocates for the people of Orange County—full stop.
- We intend to advise and support the County in making its programs and services more accessible, more inclusive, and more welcoming to all residents.
- We intend to model patience and compassion in times of challenge, and to celebrate alongside our community in moments of joy.
- We intend to listen deeply, engage sincerely, and speak truth with care.
- We intend to stand firmly against policies, practices, or behaviors that oppose justice.
- We intend to lead with respect, courage, integrity, commitment, and humility.
Above all, we intend to be a team that Orange County can trust, depend on, and grow with.
In partnership,
The Orange County Office of Civil Rights & Civic Life
Where Civil Rights Meet Civic Action
Orange County, North Carolina