On October 20, 2025, the Cumberland County Board of Commissioners held a regular meeting at the Judge E. Maurice Braswell Cumberland County Courthouse in Fayetteville, North Carolina. Vice Chairwoman Veronica Jones led the session, which began at 6:45 p.m., and opened with the Invocation and Pledge of Allegiance. The meeting agenda included topics such as youth involvement in emergency preparedness, updates on maternal health programs, and community recognitions.
The Board recognized participants and winners of the first annual Cumberland County Emergency Services Disaster Preparedness Art Contest. Emergency Services Director Garry Crumpler and Emergency Coordinator Chini Gault presented the contest, which invited K–12 students to create art on themes like family emergency planning and community resilience. Winners were chosen through public voting and staff evaluation. Commissioner Henry Tyson presented plaques to the winners, including Amirrah Whalen (High School 1st Place) and Kali Hutchings (Kindergarten-5th Grade 1st Place).
Public Health Director Dr. Jennifer Green provided an update on the County’s Doula Program. The program aims to address maternal and infant health challenges, as Cumberland County reports higher rates of maternal and infant mortality than the state average. Doulas support birthing individuals, and research shows their involvement can improve birth outcomes. For fiscal year 2024–25, the Board allocated $150,000 to expand doula services for uninsured and underinsured residents. The program has served 44 clients, reaching 73% of its annual goal…