The Appalachian Energy Center is developing a half-day campus and community forum this fall examining North Carolina’s emerging role in critical materials and advanced manufacturing. The program would help students, faculty, public officials, and community members better understand how materials such as rare-earth elements support technologies and industries important to NC's economic future. A central industry participant would be Vulcan Elements, a North Carolina manufacturer developing advanced rare-earth magnet technologies for applications including automotive systems, aerospace, defense, energy, and other critical industries. With a new manufacturing facility under development in Benson, the company is also interested in connecting with students about future career opportunities and the wide range of professional skills this growing sector will require. The forum would be intentionally interdisciplinary. In addition to science and engineering, the growth of critical-materials industries raises questions relevant to supply-chain management, business, sustainability, community and regional planning, economic development, environmental management, public policy, workforce preparation, and communication. The proposed event would convene these perspectives through a public educational forum, and a student career exchange.