WILMINGTON OPPORTUNITIES

 
Cultural, Social and Quality of Life Opportunities in the Wilmington Area
 
 
Fifteen minutes to a great beach isn’t bad, but there are many other cultural, social and athletic activities to suit nearly every age and interest.
 
There is a long and active live theater presence in many venues in the City, primarily in Thalian Hall (opened in 1858) and the Wilson Center at Cape Fear Community College (opened in 2015). The Arts and history are supported by Wilmington’s Cameron Art Museum, the Cape Fear Museum of History and Science and a Children’s Museum, and by many local artists and galleries in the downtown area. Restaurants of all types (southern and international are very popular) abound in downtown Wilmington and increasingly in the Porters Neck area. Places of worship have long had a strong presence in Wilmington and virtually all traditions and faiths you could think of are active and present here.
 
Wilmington has two public academic institutions of higher learning, the University of North Carolina Wilmington (UNCW) and Cape Fear Community College (CFCC). Both institutions provide educational experiences dedicated to residents of the Cape Fear region. Lectures from the faculty of these schools are often available to the public. The Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) affiliate at UNCW has a variety of structured classes to meet the interests of non-students. Retired executives can also engage with UNCW students as mentors in activities supportive of their careers. And, of course, sporting events at both institutions have in the past drawn an enthusiastic full season ticket holder audience from the Porters Neck community (a great night out with friends).
 
WHQR, the local public radio station, has a strong voice in Wilmington, providing National Public Radio news and information programs as well as many locally produced programs of local interest, with interviews of individuals with policy and academic expertise. It also has an affiliated classical music station. 
 
The New Hanover Regional Medical Center (NHRMC) has established a reputation as an excellent healthcare provider. It has been a magnet for drawing medical expertise to the Southeastern North Carolina region and virtually all areas of specialized medical interest are available. In particularly difficult cases, the hospitals and doctors at UNC Chapel Hill and Duke Medical Center are within a short drive. 
 
Residents of Porters Neck have always provided a strong volunteer force for the Wilmington community. Volunteers have provided help to the NHRMC Hospital, the Red Cross, the Wilmington Language Bank, UNCW, the Good Shepard Center (providing help to the poor and homeless), the Coast Guard Auxiliary, multiple charity drives for cancer and other research, and teaching tennis to middle school students.  For virtually any interest, you can find a personally rewarding way to engage with people in the Wilmington area. See Volunteer Opportunities.