CARRBORO, N.C. -- The Town of Carrboro has established the Chief Race and Equity Officer as a fulltime position within the Town Manager’s Office and appointed Anita Jones-McNair to the position, Town Manager Richard J. White III has announced.
In assuming the race and equity work as a fulltime role, Jones-McNair will step aside from her role as Director of the Recreation, Parks and Cultural Resources Department.
Town Manager White has appointed Charles Harrington (currently, Recreation Administrator) as Interim Recreation, Parks and Cultural Resources Director. The appointments are effective on Monday, Aug. 8.
“Anita and Charles possess a wealth of knowledge and skills that will serve the organization well in their new positions,” White said. “I am certain that they will continue to do a fantastic job.”
The Town of Carrboro will launch searches this summer for other new and open leadership positions including an Assistant Town Manager, Public Works Director, and Fire Chief recruitment processes.
Additionally, the Town of Carrboro will soon be releasing job announcements for Assistant to the Town Manager and Race and Equity Manager positions. Currently, new positions of Grants Manager and Communication and Engagement Specialist positions are being advertised. Learn more about position openings at www.carrboronc.gov/jobs
Learn more about the Town of Carrboro’s recent appointments:
Anita Jones-McNair, Chief Race and Equity Officer, has served as Director of Recreation, Parks and Cultural Resources for the Town of Carrboro since January 2003. She was appointed the Town’s first Race and Equity Officer in 2019 and has served in both roles since that time. She holds a bachelor’s degree in recreation administration from Virginia Union University in Richmond and a master’s degree in recreation administration and supervision from Morgan State University in Baltimore.
Jones-McNair has held progressive opportunities throughout her career in Dallas; Plano, Texas; and Carrboro, NC. She also has worked as an adjunct faculty member at the University of Texas at Denton.
She holds numerous certifications in diversity, equity and inclusion including ones from the University of South Florida, the NC GARE Learning Cohort, and Foundations of Racial Equity Training Cohort. She is a Certified Parks and Recreation Professional through the National Recreation and Parks Association (NRPA). She also holds a Certificate from the UNC-Chapel Hill School of Government’s Municipal and County Administration Course.
Additionally, she is currently a member of GARE (Government Alliance on Race and Equity), GARE Racial Equity CEO’s Working Group, Staff Liaison for MORE (Mayors Organized for Reparations and Equity), and serves on the OneOrange Racial Equity Team. She also serves on numerous boards including the National Recreation and Parks Ethnic Minority Society, the NC Black Recreation and Park Professionals Association, and the NC Recreation and Parks Association Diversity Equity and Inclusion Committee.
Learn more about the Town of Carrboro’s ongoing work in race and equity at https://www.carrboronc.gov/2535/Race-and-Equity
Charles Harrington, Interim Recreation, Parks and Cultural Resources Director, has worked for the Town of Carrboro for more than 23 years. He holds a bachelor’s degree in exercise and sports science with a minor in recreation administration from UNC-Chapel Hill, a graduate certificate in public administration from the University of Virginia, and is a Certified Parks and Recreation Professional through the National Recreation and Parks Association (NRPA).
Harrington began his career with the Town of Carrboro working part-time as a Facility/Activity Supervisor while a student at UNC-Chapel Hill. He has served in positions of Athletics Specialist, Recreation Supervisor, and Recreation Administrator. During his time as Recreation Administrator, he has led the department’s Programs Division, which is responsible for implementing recreational programs and special events including Freight Train Blues and the July 4th Celebration.
Learn more about the Town of Carrboro Recreation, Parks and Cultural Resources Department at https://www.carrboronc.gov/275/Recreation-Parks-Cultural-Resources
Contact the Communication and Engagement Department for hi-res photos at communications@carrboronc.gov
