NCLM Southern City Volume 71, Issue 3, 2021

Mayor Don Hardy: The Ever-Present Voice of Kinston just like Kinston. That’s my job. That’s the motivating force behind me, to see communities develop and move beyond where we are." The early days were primarily a learning experience. Typical for Hardy, it was learning through involvement. “I nosedived,” he said. “I had to learn a lot for myself. I went out to find folks to help me. I decided, I’m going to join every organization I can to learn all I can. I’ll order the books, I’ll learn the rules, I’ll take the classes— whatever I can.” He remembers attending as many local events as possible too, admitting that he was well over-booked. Those early days also informed how he’s responded to the crises of his tenure. There have since been four hurricanes: Florence, Michael, Dorian and Isaias. “We did a tremendous job,” Hardy said. “We were proactive. We got through them with a proper response and were able to rebuild... I felt really good about the team efforts we all took to get through those storms.” With the COVID-19 pandemic over the last 18 months, Hardy has taken a similar quick-acting approach in both advocating and leading his home- town. That advocacy earned a hard-fought victory with the pas- sage of the federal American Rescue Plan this past spring, which will bring Kinston roughly $6.4 million. In the interim, Kinston was, by Hardy’s recollection, the third local government to apply for and receive COVID-19 relief from the state in a round of funding that ultimately awarded $26.8 million to 34 communities. He also helped organize vaccination and testing clinics—and, remember- ing the hardship that followed Hurricane Matthew, he was sure to have those events serve as a food drive, too. His schedule still dedicates an immense amount of working time to the mayoral role. Monday through Thursday, that’s his focus, with the hospital job scheduled for the weekend. “If I do take off a weekend, it’s because I’m working for the city.” The only time he really steps back, Hardy notes, is in June, since that month holds both his anniversary and his wife, Angela’s, birthday. Otherwise, his vacations are just different bits of work. “If I do take off a weekend, I’m probably out somewhere advocating for the city.” Recapping the dozens of projects, initiatives and groups he’s involved with, Hardy pauses for a second and laughs. It’s the only style he knows. It was a busy night when the hurricane hit, and it’s been busy every day since. “You gotta do something versus nothing,” Hardy said. 19 NCLM.ORG Hardy’s resume is crowded, as though his goal is to serve everyone, everywhere, all the time. That aligns with his favorite quote and personal mission statement: “ We must do whatever we can, whenever we can, however we can to help impact the lives of others for the better .”