Empowered Newsletter | June 2024 | Issue 6 | |
NCCAA staff at the 2024 Legislative Day in Raleigh. | |
We Rally in Raleigh for Legislative Day!
On May 22, thirteen NCCAA organizations, all dressed in red, gathered in Raleigh to strengthen their relationships with legislators and ensure that the voices of Community Action are heard by North Carolina lawmakers. Staff members and directors visited numerous offices, sharing impactful stories of their work and outlining key decisions that could alleviate poverty and enhance economic mobility in the state. They addressed critical issues such as the benefits cliff, funding for childcare, and allocation requests for improved facilities. The strong presence of Community Action leaders successfully opened new channels of communication with state leadership, reinforcing their commitment to driving positive change.
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North Carolina Senator W. Ted Alexander with I-CARE, Inc. Executive Director Brian Duncan, iCare Support Services Director Shelton Moore, Davida Brown, CSBG Case Manager for Gaston Community Action, and April Donalds, I-CARE CSBG Case Manager. | |
Our 2024 Conference in Cherokee celebrated the
60th Anniversary of the NCCAA and the
Community Action Movement
Thank you to all who participated!
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The 2024 NCCAA “Forward Together” Conference in Cherokee was well-worth the time and work! NCCAA staff had the following feelings, observations, and then questions for our colleagues about what’s next: | |
- “The Inaugural Sneaker Ball was a good addition. We will build on this success!” What would you add to the Sneakerball in 2025?
- “The certification registrations for Weatherization and Head Start have increased - are there other certifications that would be helpful in the conference environment?”
- “We loved the 60’s dress theme for the President’s Reception and wonder what ideas we can deploy in 2025?”
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Four days of inspirational speakers, engaged vendors, capacity-building workshops and networking with 250 community action colleagues.The NCCAA staff thanks everyone who supported and participated in the event! We will move “Forward Together” in this deeply important work!
Email your thoughts and ideas to: communications@nccaa.net
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2024 Annual Standing Award Winners | |
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The Gloria M. Williams Award is presented annually to a corporation, foundation, or other valuable partners that have helped to advance the cause of the North Carolina Community Action Association and one or more of its members. This award is not for an individual. Rather, it honors an organization that has provided substantial financial, volunteer, or political support of the North Carolina Community Action Association, its agency network, and the families we all tirelessly serve.
This year’s nominee for the award was uncontested, as the winner is a company that has been a committed supporter of community action all over the country. The president and founder has been a generous and long-standing advocate of all NCCAA efforts, which is why this year’s Gloria M. Williams Award goes to AE Touch Technologies.
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Nominated by the Economic Improvement Council Head Start Director, Dena Banks, Dr. Landon Mason is the 2024 winner of the Roselle Copeland Stewardship Award!
The Roselle Copeland Stewardship Award is presented annually to an individual member of the N.C. Community Action Association (NCCAA). The award focuses on exemplary individual contributions to the NCCAA, to the local community or agency and/or the low-income community at large.
Banks describes Mason as the personification of “The Promise of Community Action,” and someone who upholds the values of compassion, empathy, and resilience.
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The Lonnie D. Burton Achievement Award is presented annually to an individual who, through the assistance of a Community Action Program, has achieved a significant level of self-sufficiency and independence, while recognition is given to the local Community Action Agency's role in helping nominees to help themselves.
This year's winner, nominated by the Johnston-Lee-Harnett Community Action, Inc.Board of Directors, its Executive Director E. Marie Watson, and the staff of the Community Service Block Grant STARS Program, is Ms. Takia Matthews.
Takia turned to her local resources when she needed help, and is now a self-sufficient mother and nurse, providing a stable lifestyle for herself and her family. Her determination to achieve independence is the essence of The Lonnie D. Burton Award, and no one deserves it more than Takia.
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The annual Community Action Employee of the Year Award – The Essential Piece - shows team members from all areas of our organizations that we value what they do. Winners exemplify "the heart" of community action!
This year's Essential Piece award winner, named at our 2024 State Convention, is Kenya Hemphill of Blue Ridge Community Action Inc. Hemphill was nominated by BRCA Finance Director Karen Harshman, who noted her outstanding commitment and willingness to serve in whatever capacity needed over a 23 year career at BRCA.
Hemphill has been described by her coworkers as “a rare gem in the human service space” - always going the extra mile to serve clients and co-workers at the highest level, with kindness, patience and empathy.
Congratulations to Kenya Hemphill and Blue Ridge Community Action for a very deserving Essential Piece Award!
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2024 Dr. Andrea Harris Community Action Scholarship Winner: Shyan Colton | |
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The NCCAA is proud to award the second annual Community Action Scholarship in honor of the late Dr. Andrea Harris - a Community Action trailblazer who never stopped fighting for social and racial equity. This year’s awardee is Shyan Colter, of Apex, a Forensic Science major and Business minor at Fayetteville State University set to graduate in 2027.
Shyan says, “Even if I make a small difference, it will bring me peace of mind knowing that something I’m doing is making a change.”
Please consider a donation to support next year's scholarship! Email info@nccaa.net to contribute to the scholarship fund.
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Pastor Barrett Paynes, Lillington Presbyterian Church
Bailey Talley, Princeton Church
Working Wheels
Marcia Wright, Eastern Carolina Human Service Agency, Inc.
Dr. William Sawyer, EIC
Robert Williams, EIC
Sonia B. Joyner, NC Housing Finance Agency
Andrea Lytle, Blue Ridge Community Action, Inc.
Terry David, NC Head Start Association
John Leatherwood, NCCAA
David White, WNCSource Community Service
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Juanita Ward, Duke Energy
Montrezl Harrell
The Dogwood Health Trust
Adam Crappel, AE Touch Technologies
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Professional athlete Montrezl Harrell shared his company at our conference and made generous contributions as well. Thank you Mr. Harrell!
NCCAA will hold an online auction for remaining shoes donated by Mr. Harrell. Stay tuned for more information!
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Sneaker Ball Debut
At this year's conference we celebrated the 60th Anniversary of the Community Action movement, and the high point of that celebration was our inaugural Sneaker Ball! The event was a great success, and we look forward to carrying on the tradition.
Gallery Here
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Thank you! Socks and Stuff Recap | |
Angie Jaco of Four Square Community Action in Andrews holds a donated box of supplies from Delta Dental | |
NCCAA organized a donation drive once again during the annual conference, which was May 7-10 at Harrah's Cherokee Casino Resort. Members brought donations of socks and hygiene items, which will be distributed by local agency Four Square Community Action. Delta Dental donated hundreds of dental hygiene kits, and the Diaper Bank of NC donated dozens of containers of sanitary wipes and antibacterial gel.
Thanks to the generosity of organizations and individuals, NCCAA donated over 35 boxes of materials including:
- Socks
- Soap
- Deodorant
- Feminine products
- Other bath and body items
These may be small items to us. To someone living on the street, they are practical and uplifting reminders that someone cares for them.
Thank you to all of the generous contributors who made this campaign a success.
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Way to go Sharon!
Goodson Takes Part in Triangle Race for the Cure
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NCCAA Executive Director Sharon Goodson, a cancer survivor, took part in the 2024 Komen Triangle Race for the Cure on Saturday, May 4. She hit the course of the race/walk with Verna Best, Program Operations Branch Chief of the OCS/DCA and Tina Pickett from the North Carolina state Comptroller's Office.
The race is a fundraiser for the Susan G. Komen organization, whose mission is to save lives by meeting the most critical needs in communities and investing in breakthrough research to prevent and cure breast cancer.
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New Feature: Aggie Technologies Tech Tips | |
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Here is a technology tip from our IT partners Aggie Technologies. They help ensure that our office is safe from cyber attacks.
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Nash-Edgecombe-Wilson's Brentwood Head Start Announces Collaboration | |
On April 23rd, the families and staff of Brentwood Head Start hosted an event to officially announce the collaboration between NEW Community Action, PNC Bank, and the Natural Learning Initiative. This partnership will design and create new outdoor play spaces for the children at Brentwood Head Start. NEW CA thanks Jim Hansen, Regional President of PNC Bank, and Robin Moore, co-founder of NLI, and their teams for supporting this endeavor. Also, we appreciate Mrs. Sieara Alexander, Brentwood Head Start Parent Committee President, and the parents who came out to support the event.
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Engagement Event in Asheville
Agency Spotlight: Community Action Opportunities
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Asheville Tourists baseball team mascot Ted E.Tourist visits for a Community Action Opportunities/Hillcrest Head Start male engagement fun day on May 13th. Turnout was great, and Ted himself said "This event melted my heart and made me want to volunteer in this community"! | |
Weatherization and Rehab Program Announces
New Partnerships | | |
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The NCCAA Weatherization and Rehabilitation team is excited to announce two new partnerships to help further projects in both North and South Carolina. Farrell Holdings, Inc., DBA Farrell Insulation, is currently following up on 3,400 leads in 26 North Carolina counties. United Ministries of Sumter is joining us to help serve clients in our Duke Energy Progress territories in South Carolina. | |
Pictured: Farrell Insulation Program Manager Grace Sanchez, with Edi Palau, Director, NCCAA Housing & Energy Programs
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WAGES and HEAL NC Plan Workshops to Help Team Members Avoid Burnout | |
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WAGES and HEAL NC are offering workshops in Wayne County based in the Community Resiliency Model (CRM), which teaches participants to re-set the natural balance of the nervous system with easy-to-understand concepts that bring reliable relief. CRM helps people help themselves and others. Beneficial to small teams and the general public, CRM helps navigate life’s difficult situations.
More Information
Christina Watts
WAGES Community Engagement Coordinator
Email: cwatts@wagesnc.org
Phone: 919-731-9999 Ext. 212
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Field Trip!
Agency Spotlight: Greene Lamp
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1st Annual Foster Grandparents recreational outing for AmeriCorps Seniors from
Greene Lamp! | |
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Choanoke Area Development Association (CADA)
Bertie, Halifax, Hertford, Northampton
Economic Improvement Council (EIC)
Martin, Chowan, Pasquotank, Tyrell, Hyde
Franklin-Vance-Warren-Opportunities, Inc.
Vance, Warren
Greene Lamp
Lenoir, Greene
WAGES, Inc
Wayne
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Notes on reaching your audience from Buris Chalmers Communication | |
NCCAA Certificate Program Classes Begin in August & October | |
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The NCCAA, in partnership with Southern University, continues to offer popular certificate courses in Case Management and Head Start Family Engagement.
Class start dates have been set for the first quarter of 2024. Please reach out if we can provide fliers for your distribution.
Read More About the Certificates at These Links:
Head Start
Case Management
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Links to Career Pages in the NCCAA Network | |
(Link goes to home page when career page isn't offered) | |
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Far West
Blue Ridge Community Action, Morganton
Blue Ridge Opportunity Commission Inc., N. Wilkesboro
Catawba County, Hickory
Community Action Opportunities, Asheville
Four Square Community Action, Inc., Murphy
Macon County Program for Progress, Franklin
Mountain Projects, Waynesville
WAMY, Watauga, Avery, Mitchell and Yancey Counties
West
Charlotte Area Fund, Inc., Charlotte
Davidson County Community Action, Lexington
Experiments in Self-Reliance, Inc., Winston-Salem
Gaston Community Action, Inc., Gastonia
I-Care, Inc., Statesville
Salisbury-Rowan Community Action, Salisbury
Sandhills Community Action Program, Southern Pines
Union County Community Action, Monroe
Yadkin Co. Economic Development District, Boonville
Central
Alamance Co. Community Services Agency, Burlington
Central Piedmont Community Action, Durham area
Franklin-Vance-Warren Opportunity, Inc., Henderson
Johnston Lee Harnett Community Action, Inc., Smithfield
Passage Home, Wake Co.
Southeastern Community Action Partnership, Lumberton
Telamon, Raleigh
Welfare Reform Liaison Project, Greensboro
East
Action Pathways, Fayetteville
Choanoke Area Development Assoc., Rich Square
Coastal Community Action, Newport
Economic Improvement Council, Edenton
Eastern Carolina Human Services Agency, Jacksonville
Greene Lamp, Inc., Kinston
NEW Community Action, Rocky Mount
Wayne Action Group for Economic Solvency (WAGES), Inc., Goldsboro
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Share your community action career opportunities on our web page and have them distributed to 7000+ emails through the NCCAA newsletter! Send your job listings to communications@nccaa.net. | |
Working together to share the impact of Community Action
Does your Community Action Agency have impactful content to share? Let's collaborate. The NCCAA develops creative content year-round to celebrate, educate and inform. Let's amplify the voices of organizations in our network! Let's share the impactful work of community action and tell the stories of our clients! Reach out for collaboration: communications@nccaa.net.
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Share Community Action News with a Friend | |
As a member of the NCCAA community, we work to empower low-income families, change people's lives for the better and improve the communities we serve. We are all dedicated to helping people help themselves and each other. Please take a moment and forward this news to a co-worker and grow the community of professionals dedicated to this important work. | | | | |
