LAURINBURG — Laurinburg resident Noran Sanford has joined a strategic planning council that advises The Cooperative Extension Program at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University.

The 21-member council represents the needs of communities across the state to cooperative extension leaders, who use that input to develop research-based programs and information on critical issues.

Sanford is a licensed mental health therapist who developed a pilot program for young people who were either engaged with or at-risk of falling into the justice system. He continues his work with at-risk young men through the non-profit organization growingchange.org which is working to repurpose a defunct county detention center into a thriving agricultural-based community center. Sanford is also a member of the Scotland County Family and Consumer Sciences advisory committee.