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<a name="_Hlk50625707"></a><a name="x__Hlk532890118"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk50625707"><b><span style="font-size:48.0pt;font-family:"Avenir LT Std 55 Roman",sans-serif;color:#201F1E;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in"><img width="148" height="148" style="width:1.5416in;height:1.5416in" id="Picture_x0020_2" src="cid:image001.png@01D8EAA3.18D2B2E0" alt="A close up of a sign
Description automatically generated"></span></b></span></a><span style="mso-bookmark:x__Hlk532890118"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk50625707"><b><span style="font-size:20.0pt;font-family:"Avenir LT Std 55 Roman",sans-serif;color:#201F1E;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in"><o:p></o:p></span></b></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="margin-bottom:0in;text-align:center;line-height:normal;background:white">
<span style="mso-bookmark:x__Hlk532890118"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk50625707"><a name="_Hlk50627857"></a><a name="_Hlk86910929"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk50627857"><b><span style="font-size:48.0pt;font-family:"Avenir Next LT Pro",sans-serif;color:#201F1E;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in">NEWS
RELEASE</span></b></span></a></span></span><span style="mso-bookmark:x__Hlk532890118"></span><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk50625707"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk86910929"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk50627857"><span style="font-family:"Avenir Next LT Pro",sans-serif;color:#201F1E"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal;background:white">
<span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk50625707"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk86910929"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk50627857"><b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Avenir Next LT Pro",sans-serif;color:#201F1E;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in">For
Immediate Release Date: 10/28/22</span></b></span></span></span><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk50625707"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk86910929"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk50627857"><span style="font-family:"Avenir Next LT Pro",sans-serif;color:#201F1E"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal;background:white">
<span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk50625707"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk86910929"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk50627857"><b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Avenir Next LT Pro",sans-serif;color:#201F1E;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in">Contact:
Public Information Office Phone: (919) 560-0000/Fax: (919) 560-0020</span></b></span></span></span><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk50625707"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk86910929"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk50627857"><span style="font-family:"Avenir Next LT Pro",sans-serif;color:#201F1E"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:0in;margin-left:2.5in;text-indent:.5in;line-height:normal;background:white">
<span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk50625707"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk86910929"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk50627857"><b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Avenir Next LT Pro",sans-serif;color:#201F1E;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in">E-mail: </span></b></span></span></span><a href="mailto:publicinformationoffice@dconc.gov" target="_blank"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk50625707"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk86910929"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk50627857"><span style="font-family:"Avenir Next LT Pro",sans-serif;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in">publicinformationoffice@dconc.gov</span></span></span></span><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk50625707"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk86910929"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk50627857"></span></span></span></a><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk50625707"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk86910929"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk50627857"><u><span style="font-family:"Avenir Next LT Pro",sans-serif;color:blue;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in"><o:p></o:p></span></u></span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:0in;margin-left:3.0in;text-indent:.5in;line-height:normal;background:white">
<span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk50625707"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk86910929"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk50627857"><span style="font-family:"Avenir Next LT Pro",sans-serif;color:#201F1E"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="margin-bottom:0in;text-align:center;line-height:normal;background:white">
<span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk50625707"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk86910929"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk50627857"><b><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Avenir Next LT Pro",sans-serif;color:#201F1E;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in">Durham
County Launches Platform for Inclusive Resident Feedback</span></b></span></span></span><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk50625707"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk86910929"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk50627857"><span style="font-family:"Avenir Next LT Pro",sans-serif;color:#201F1E"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="margin-bottom:0in;text-align:center;line-height:normal;background:white">
<span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk50625707"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk86910929"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk50627857"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Avenir Next LT Pro",sans-serif;color:#201F1E;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in">New partnership
will enable collection of input and insights from across the community</span></span></span></span><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk50625707"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk86910929"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk50627857"><span style="font-family:"Avenir Next LT Pro",sans-serif;color:#201F1E"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal;background:white">
<span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk50625707"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk86910929"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk50627857"><b><span style="font-family:"Avenir Next LT Pro",sans-serif;color:#201F1E;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal;background:white">
<span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk50625707"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk86910929"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk50627857"><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Avenir Next LT Pro",sans-serif;color:#201F1E;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in">Durham,
N.C. – </span></b></span></span></span><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk50625707"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk86910929"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk50627857"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Avenir Next LT Pro",sans-serif;color:#201F1E">Durham County
is launching a new community input and insights platform powered by community engagement technology firm Zencity. The civic engagement software allows users to hear from a wider cross-section of residents and to get the meaningful and actionable takeaways
from feedback gathered. The platform will enable the County to more easily understand and incorporate resident voices into both the planning and implementation of key initiatives to improve local services and the overall quality of life.
<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal;background:white">
<span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk50625707"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk86910929"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk50627857"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Avenir Next LT Pro",sans-serif;color:#201F1E"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal;background:white">
<span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk50625707"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk86910929"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk50627857"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Avenir Next LT Pro",sans-serif;color:black">In launching the platform, the County will first focus
on gathering more feedback and insights regarding the </span></span></span></span><a href="https://durhamcounty2022bondsreferendum.org/"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk50625707"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk86910929"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk50627857"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Avenir Next LT Pro",sans-serif">Durham
County 2022 General Obligation Bond Referendum</span></span></span></span><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk50625707"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk86910929"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk50627857"></span></span></span></a><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk50625707"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk86910929"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk50627857"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Avenir Next LT Pro",sans-serif;color:black">.
</span></span></span></span><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk50625707"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk86910929"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk50627857"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Avenir Next LT Pro",sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal;background:white">
<span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk50625707"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk86910929"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk50627857"></span></span></span><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk50625707"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk86910929"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk50627857"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Avenir Next LT Pro",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal;background:white">
<span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk50625707"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk86910929"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk50627857"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Avenir Next LT Pro",sans-serif;color:black">Take the first survey
</span></span></span></span><a href="https://surveys.zencity.io/durham-county/YowT2b"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk50625707"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk86910929"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk50627857"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Avenir Next LT Pro",sans-serif">here</span></span></span></span><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk50625707"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk86910929"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk50627857"></span></span></span></a><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk50625707"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk86910929"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk50627857"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Avenir Next LT Pro",sans-serif;color:red">.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal;background:white">
<span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk50625707"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk86910929"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk50627857"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Avenir Next LT Pro",sans-serif;color:#201F1E"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal;background:white">
<span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk50625707"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk86910929"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk50627857"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Avenir Next LT Pro",sans-serif;color:#201F1E">“We are always striving to get more input from residents,
and this partnership with Zencity will be a great step toward increasing the depth and breadth of the resident feedback we get, bringing their needs and concerns to the fore to help us make the best, most inclusive decisions for the future of our
</span></span></span></span><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk50625707"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk86910929"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk50627857"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Avenir Next LT Pro",sans-serif;color:black">county</span></span></span></span><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk50625707"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk86910929"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk50627857"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Avenir Next LT Pro",sans-serif;color:#201F1E">,”
said County Manager Dr. Kimberly J. Sowell. <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal;background:white">
<span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk50625707"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk86910929"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk50627857"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Avenir Next LT Pro",sans-serif;color:#201F1E"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal;background:white">
<span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk50625707"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk86910929"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk50627857"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Avenir Next LT Pro",sans-serif;color:#201F1E">Durham County will work with Zencity to better understand
the feedback residents are already voicing, in any language, about the issues that matter to them the most — whether on publicly available social media channels, comments on traditional news sources, or through official channels such as the County’s own social
media accounts, website and more — helping the County to hear from more corners of the community. This information will enable Durham County leaders to better understand emerging trends, challenges and priorities of those less likely to participate in traditional
civic forums. In addition, Zencity’s platform will provide an opportunity use the data received to support long-term planning for what may be just around the corner, and to stay in front of potential crises. Finally, the new technology will allow Durham County
to hear from a broader set of residents who have valuable ideas and opinions but have been unaware of how to participate in governmental decisions and processes.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal;background:white">
<span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk50625707"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk86910929"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk50627857"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Avenir Next LT Pro",sans-serif;color:#201F1E"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal;background:white">
<span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk50625707"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk86910929"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk50627857"></span></span></span><a href="https://zencity.io/zencity-for-counties/"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk50625707"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk86910929"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk50627857"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Avenir Next LT Pro",sans-serif">Zencity</span></span></span></span><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk50625707"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk86910929"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk50627857"></span></span></span></a><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk50625707"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk86910929"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk50627857"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Avenir Next LT Pro",sans-serif;color:#201F1E">
works with hundreds of municipalities of all sizes across the U.S. including Chesterfield County, Virginia; Jefferson County, Wisconsin; Sarasota County, Florida; Chicago, Phoenix, Seattle, and many others on issues ranging from public safety to Infrastructure
and Jobs Act Implementation.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></p>
<span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk86910929"></span>
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<span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk50625707"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk50627857"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Avenir Next LT Pro",sans-serif;color:#201F1E;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="margin-bottom:0in;text-align:center;line-height:normal;background:white">
<span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk50625707"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk50627857"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Avenir Next LT Pro",sans-serif;color:#201F1E;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in">###</span></span></span><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk50627857"></span><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk50625707"></span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Avenir Next LT Pro",sans-serif;color:#201F1E"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
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