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Ten Mothers Farm Now Living Wage Certified

Orange County Living Wage is happy to announce that Ten Mothers Farm is now a living wage employer. Ten Mothers Farm is a small farm in Cedar Grove growing organic, nutrient-dense vegetables for a CSA and local restaurants. The farm was founded by Gordon Jenkins and Vera Fabian in 2016.

“The Ten Mothers Farm crew is an incredible team,” says Vera. “Together, we get a lot of work done and grow a lot of food. Making sure that every member of the team makes a living wage shows that everyone is valued and helps them meet the cost of their basic necessities. Farming is hard work and skilled work, and farmers deserve to earn a living wage. Paying a living wage means our farmers have stable, year-round jobs and can stick around longer than one season, which makes our business more resilient. Skilled long-term farmers make for better vegetables and better service for our CSA customers. It’s taken us a number of years to get to this point, but it feels really good to finally be here, and we believe it’s a win-win situation for all of us.”

For more information, go to tenmothersfarm.com.

For a list of all of Orange County’s certified living wage employers, click here.

Listen as WCHL shares the news of Ten Mothers Farm’s living wage certification! 

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New Vista Development Now Living Wage Certified

Orange County Living Wage is pleased to announce that New Vista Development has certified as a living wage employer.

New Vista Development is a boutique custom home design and building company based in Chapel Hill. They work in Orange, Chatham, and Durham counties. Their success is driven by Kurt Mueller’s enjoyment of the design process. He works with clients collaboratively and is committed to listening, understanding, and respecting their needs and wishes in order to deliver the home of their dreams.

Listen as WCHL shares the news of New Vista Development’s living wage certification! 

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Well Is Now Living Wage Certified

Orange County Living Wage is pleased to announce that Well has certified as a living wage employer.

Located on Franklin Street in Chapel Hill, Well is a health tech startup offering on-demand health guides and habit-forming journeys.

Well’s concierge health team delivers easy-to-understand explanations, health guidance, and active assistance — live and on-demand. This is not one size fits all. For every member, they deliver proactive health insights that are data-driven, timely, and personalized.

For more information, head to well.co. 

Listen as WCHL shares the news of Well’s living wage certification! 

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Pure Tree Care Now Living Wage Certified

Orange County Living Wage is pleased to announce that Pure Tree Care has certified as a living wage employer.

Pure Tree Care provides expert-quality tree services. Whether you require services in tree removal, pruning, or trimming, their professional arborists and tree surgeons have the experience and skills to assist. This family-owned tree service business was founded in 1992 and serves Chapel Hill, Carrboro, and the surrounding areas. Their prices are affordable – yet each project is tailored to exact client specifications.

Learn more by visiting https://puretreecare.com.

Listen as WCHL shares the news of Pure Tree Care’s living wage certification! 

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Bowbarr Now Living Wage Certified

Orange County Living Wage is pleased to announce that Bowbarr has certified as a living wage employer.

Bowbarr is a bar on West Rosemary Street specializing in cocktails and community gathering space. You can also order wine or gifts on their website for pick up or delivery.

Learn more by visiting www.bowbarrtogo.com.

Listen as WCHL shares the news of Bowbarr’s living wage certification! 

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The Beehive Now Living Wage Certified

Orange County Living Wage is pleased to announce that The Beehive has certified as a living wage employer.

The Beehive is a fun, funky salon buzzing in the heart of downtown Carrboro, on East Weaver Street. They are a Green Circle Salon Certified salon, and they offer gallery space for local artists as part of the Second Friday Art Walk.

They have been keeping Carrboro cute for more than 15 years!

Learn more by visiting www.thebeehive-salon.com.

Listen as WCHL shares the news of The Beehive’s living wage certification! 

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Afton Nature School Now Living Wage Certified

Orange County Living Wage is pleased to announce that Afton Nature School has certified as a living wage employer.

The Carrboro-based preschool has decided to pay their teachers a living wage because they “appreciate their hard work. [We] want them to … keep doing what they love — teaching children!”

The school’s mission is to provide young learners with engaging and enjoyable play experiences that maximize their intellectual, social, and physical development. The design of the program provides for a joyful childhood while preparing students to enter kindergarten ready to succeed.

Learn more about the Afton Nature School by visiting AftonLittleSchool.com.

Listen as WCHL shares the news of Afton Nature School’s living wage certification! 

 

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The Meantime Coffee Co. Now Living Wage Certified

Orange County Living Wage is pleased to announce that The Meantime Coffee Co. has certified as a living wage employer.

The Meantime Coffee Co. is a student-run nonprofit coffee shop right in the heart of UNC’s campus, partnering with Carrboro Coffee Roasters to bring Chapel Hill the finest and freshest coffee from around the world. They’ve decided to pay a living wage because, according to CEO Alaina Plauche: “We care about the well-being of our baristas. The current minimum wage is not enough to sustain today’s cost of living. And, as everyone at Meantime is a student, it’s even more important to ensure a living wage because we have tuition costs to worry about.”

Learn more at https://meantimecoffee.com.

Listen as WCHL shares the news of The Meantime Coffee Co.’s living wage certification! 

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The Lupine School Now Living Wage Certified

Orange County Living Wage is pleased to announce that The Lupine School has certified as a living wage employer.

The Lupine School is a community preschool where the idea of a simple childhood is valued. Its home at 1870 Farm is the perfect spot for nature-based exploration and adventure.

“It is really important to make sure the teachers at our school feel respected, valued, and well compensated for the incredibly important work they do! We are working with the youngest citizens in our community. Cultivating compassion and teaching them what it means to live in a democratic society where their voices matter. That needs to extend not just to the children in our care and their families, but to our employees!” – Amy Magrinat, Director and Teacher

Learn more at www.thelupineschool.com

Listen as WCHL shares the news of The Lupine School’s living wage certification! 

 

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With a Living Wage for Artists, The ArtsCenter Foresees More Community Partnerships

By Roxana Boyd

During a transformative year, The ArtsCenter in Carrboro became a living wage employer to stay true to its mission and help its employees thrive in their community.

After learning more about the Orange County Living Wage program, The ArtsCenter joined the roster of living wage employers in October. As the county’s largest employer of artists, The ArtsCenter understood the importance of paying employees a living wage and saw it as a vital component of its arts education mission. 

The ArtsCenter’s nine staff members work collaboratively to serve more than 100,000 students and citizens through classes, performances, and art exhibits. Ensuring accessibility for these individuals is another fundamental tenet for the organization, said Deputy Director Mark Bettger. He said accessibility includes removing cost as a barrier and paying employees a living wage.

In providing a living wage, The ArtsCenter hopes these resources will help employees live in the community instead of commuting from further away. For an arts organization, this creates and fosters better partnerships and creativity.

“We all benefit when the employees are invested in their community and want to try and stay and put down roots here,” said Bettger. “They can be better engrained, better in tune, and contribute to the quality of life here in Orange County.” 

The living wage certification has shown The ArtsCenter’s investment in its staff, he said. “I think from a staffing perspective, it’s a very positive benefit.”

The ArtsCenter has experienced a transformative year – “a reset,” said Bettger. After joining The ArtsCenter in the early months of the pandemic, Bettger helped bring in new staff with new perspectives. Together, they are working to take The ArtsCenter “to the next level.”

 

Listen as WCHL shares the news of The ArtsCenter’s living wage certification!