New leadership at the N.C. General Assembly has led to opportunities for John Locke Foundation staff to have greater input into public policy decisions. In some cases, that input is direct. N.C. Education Alliance Director Lindalyn Kakadelis has been appointed as a member of the N.C. Teaching Fellows Commission. Meanwhile, Becki Gray, JLF Vice President for Outreach, attended her first meeting this week as a member of the N.C. Museum of Art Board of Trustees. Gray heads to Wilkesboro this weekend for a five-county Tea Party event, as previewed in the Boone High County Press. Gray delivered preview and post-session analysis for WTSB Radio listeners this week as the General Assembly returned to Raleigh for three days of work. Mitch Kokai, Director of Communications, also discussed legislative action during his latest chat with Curtis Wright on WAAV/WFNC Radio. Kokai discussed the latest North Carolina appearances from President Obama and Vice President Joe Biden during an interview with WTVD. The Daily Tar Heel quoted Kokai in an article previewing this week’s legislative session. The DTH also referenced the John Locke Foundation in a column about the Carolina Counts efficiency implementation plan. N.C. History Project Director Troy Kickler heads to Cleveland County today to deliver three separate Constitution-related addresses to as many as 900 10th-grade students from three local high schools. Kickler also participates this afternoon in a “Constitution Day Eve Happy Hour Tweet Up,” a Twitter-based conversation about the U.S. Constitution. Jon Ham, Vice President for Communications, developed a new JohnLocke.org page promoting Kickler and Michael Sanera’s ongoing Citizen’s Constitutional Workshops. JLF Executive Vice President Kory Swanson served as moderator last weekend for a Republican National Hispanic Assembly of North Carolina event (PDF) in Guilford County featuring Jeb Bush Jr. A Salisbury Post editorial cited JLF in discussing Rowan County’s need for new jobs.