Empowered Newsletter | March 2026 | Issue 3 | | Community Action leaders from Mountain Projects and Four Square Community Action recently gathered in Lake Junaluska for a full day of learning at our Intro to ROMA training, led by National ROMA Trainer Carey Gibson. | | NCCAA Board Retreat with NCAP's Tiffney Marley | | |
NCCAA Board members and Executive Director Sharon Goodson participated in a board retreat last month, facilitated by Tiffney Marley, Senior VP with Community Action Partnership National Office.
Pictured, from left, are Board Members Lonnie Ballard from Action Pathways Inc., Ruby Bryant with Johnston-Lee-Harnett Community Action, Inc., Tiffney Marley, Dr. Landon B. Mason with Economic Improvement Council, Inc., Director Sharon Goodson, Nichelle Cole from Nash Edgecombe Wilson Community Action, Inc., Catissa Head with Coastal Community Action, Inc., Dr. Ericka J. Whitaker with Southeastern Community Action Partnership, Inc, Dione Adkins with Salisbury-Rowan Community Action Agency, Inc., Stephanie Ashley from Blue Ridge Community Action Inc, Patricia Beier with WAGES, Inc. and Bryan Duncan with I - C A R E, Inc.
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Make Your Plans!
Annual Conference Set for May in Wilmington
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Hotel Ballast Wilmington, Tapestry Collection by Hilton
301 N. Water St., Wilmington, NC 28401
Conference Dates: May 19 – 22, 2026
Pre-conference on Tuesday, May 19
Conference kicks off on Wednesday, May 20
Board Summit Friday, May 22
| | Registration is open for Conference Sponsors, Advertisers & Exhibitors | | |
Our agencies are a diverse reflection of local communities, and we are united in our commitment to serve low-income families and embody the promise of Community Action. We're all working to help people help themselves and each other.
Please show your support & join us in our mission today!
Who will be attending?
Executive directors/CEOs and founders, nonprofit staff, Head Start and Weatherization staff, board members, community volunteers, new and veteran board members, officers and committee chairs, community leaders, consultants, contractors, elected officials, civil servants and partners.
| | Book Your Room at Hotel Ballast Wilmington | | Join us at Hotel Ballast Wilmington, Tapestry Collection by Hilton for the 2026 Annual Conference. Group Rates are available until room block is full or until your cutoff date: Thursday, April, 16, 2026, whichever comes first. After the cut-off date, please note the group rate will no longer be valid. If you choose to reserve by phone (1-800-HILTONS), mention group code CAA to get the group rate. | |
2026 Award Nominations
Recognizing Those Who Go Above and Beyond
Nomination Deadline is March 6!
| | Community Action Employee of the Year. Boardroom to mailroom! | | Exemplary individual contribution to association, agency or community | | Client who has achieved a significant level of self-sufficiency and independence | | Corporation, foundation, or other partner that has advanced our cause | | Andrea Harris Scholarship | Student interested in a career serving underserved people and communities | | Dr. E. Marie Watson Executive Director of the Year | An Executive Director who has demonstrated exceptional leadership in program development, stakeholder engagement, and resource mobilization. | | Weatherization Excellence | An individual who demonstrates outstanding performance, exceptional skill, and a strong commitment to weatherization | | An elected official who has significantly advanced the cause of Community Action in North Carolina | | An outstanding CAA board member who has made significant contributions through their work on the board | |
iCan Connect Work Groups - Join the Conversation!
Peer guidance, best practices, support...in real time.
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The iCan Connect CSBG Work Group is now live in Microsoft Teams!
This space was created to support real-time connection among CSBG staff across the North Carolina Community Action Network.
Through iCan Connect, staff can ask questions, share resources and documents, exchange best practices, and support one another as we navigate the challenges and opportunities of our work together.
If you have already been added, we encourage you to jump in and start connecting with colleagues across the network.
If you are unable to access the group or would like to be added, please contact Sheryl, and she will be happy to assist.
Let’s use this space to learn from one another and strengthen our network - together. Contact Sheryl Andrews, NCCAA CSBG Liaison, for more information, sheryl.andrews@nccaa.net.
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Upcoming 2026 NCCAA Spring Trainings | |
Address Financial Management Challenges Facing CAAs in 2026
The North Carolina Community Action Association is now registering participants for two in-person workshops focused on Financial Management Challenges for CAAs in 2026, taking place in Charlotte on March 17 and Rocky Mount on March 19.
Led by Kay Sohl, these workshops are designed for CAA Finance Directors and Executive Directors navigating increasing complexity in funding, compliance, and organizational sustainability. Participants will explore strategies for building and maintaining strong financial systems during uncertain and rapidly changing times.
Topics will include CSBG and Uniform Grants Guidance updates, cost allocation and indirect cost recovery, organization-wide budgeting and financial reporting, cash flow challenges, audit preparation, and effective board financial oversight.
Both sessions will run 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., with lunch included. The cost is $99 for NCCAA members and $199 for non-members.
To register or for more info, click here or call 919-790-5757 and ask for Sheryl or Nafia.
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NCCAA & NASCSP Webinar Series: Agency Monitoring
Join us for the fourth and final NASCSP-led training in our online series on Wednesday, March 11 from 11:00 AM to 12:30 PM. NCCAA is hosting this training series at no cost to attendees.
Learn more about why states monitor, how best to prepare, and the benefits to CAAs and CSBG as a whole.
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Mission-Driven Board Recruitment, Engagement, and Support
Join us for the final of three NCAP-led trainings in our free online series on Thursday, April 16 from 1:00 PM to 2:30 PM.
Your board drives your agency’s mission and shapes its long-term success. This session covers strategies for recruiting members with the right skills, perspectives, and commitment, and shows how to engage, support, and develop them once they’re on board. Participants will also explore ways to address common challenges like turnover and uneven participation while fostering a board culture that strengthens governance and maximizes impact.
| | NCCAA Staff Retreat with Dr. Demond Spann | | |
A big thank you to Dr. Demond L. Spann, Human Resources Consultant with GoodBetterGreat Consulting, for leading an insightful session at NCCAA Staff Retreat.
Dr. Spann spent time with our team sharing strategies and guidance to strengthen our work and collaboration. His leadership and perspective added real value as we continue advancing the mission of Community Action across NC.
| | The Art of Everyday Leadership | | |
HEAL NC mothers and children gathered in Goldsboro on February 10 for an Engagement Event centered on “The Art of Leadership.” The session created space for participants to reflect on leadership in everyday life—particularly through parenting, resilience, and service.
HEAL NC is a pilot program operated in partnership by the North Carolina Community Action Association (NCCAA) and WAGES Head Start and funded by The Duke Endowment. The program provides peer support and wrap-around services to Head Start families navigating complex challenges, including early life trauma, mental health concerns, and substance use.
The featured speaker, Tracie Holden, Family Social Worker with WAGES Head Start, shared her experience raising two children with autism. She spoke about the challenges her family faced and the importance of accepting children as they are while ensuring appropriate supports are in place. Her story highlighted perseverance, advocacy, and long-term success—two of her children achieved high academic honors, and both are now thriving as adults.
Participants were engaged throughout the discussion, asking questions and connecting Tracie’s experiences to their own parenting journeys. WAGES Disabilities & Mental Health Services Manager Crystal Hill also provided Positive Parenting Program tip sheets that offered practical strategies aligned with participant concerns.
The session concluded with a “Paint and Talk” activity, giving parents time to create art while continuing conversation. The creative space provided an opportunity for reflection and connection—hallmarks of HEAL NC Engagement Events.
For more information about HEAL NC, contact Peg.Morrison@nccaa.net
| | News From Around the Network | | Passage Home Hosts Workforce Development Cohort | | |
Passage Home welcomed participants to its Raleigh headquarters February 9–13 for a workforce development cohort through its CSBG Workforce Training Program.
Funded through the Community Services Block Grant (CSBG), the program is a short-term initiative focused on helping individuals move from unemployment or unstable work into sustainable employment while strengthening their ability to maintain stable housing.
The cohort combined work readiness training, financial capability education, mental health support, and housing stabilization strategies. By the end of the program, participants had developed professional résumés, completed job applications, prepared for interviews, strengthened rental readiness skills, and connected directly with potential employers.
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EIC Announces Program Enhancements and Facility Expansion
The Economic Improvement Council (EIC) is moving forward with several initiatives designed to strengthen programs and expand services for the communities it serves.
EIC’s Section 8 Housing Program is transitioning to a new in-house software system, PHA-Web, which will improve efficiency, streamline processes, and enhance service delivery for participating families and landlords. The upgrade reflects the agency’s commitment to modernization and responsive community support.
In addition, the Dr. Landon B. Mason Training Center is in the early stages of a 10,000-square-foot expansion. The new addition will create dedicated space for community trainings, workshops, and special events for staff and community partners, while also expanding opportunities for staff development. Once completed, the center will serve as a regional hub for collaboration, learning, and community engagement.
EIC is also preparing to welcome Head Start auditors for its upcoming Focus Area 2 review, an opportunity for the agency to demonstrate accountability and highlight the impact of its work supporting children and families.
These initiatives reflect EIC’s continued commitment to elevating excellence and strengthening the services it provides across the region.
| | Greene Lamp Head Start Leaders in Atlanta | | Representatives of Greene Lamp Community Action's Head Start and Early Head Start Program and Board Member are pictured at the the Region IV Head Start Association Annual Training Conference in Atlanta, Georgia in early February. | | Connecting Classroom Learning to Real Life | | |
One of the Macon Program for Progress Head Start classes took their hands-on learning into the community last month.
Instead of "playing" grocery store, they took a real trip to Ingles Markets with their classmates and teachers. Each child had their own grocery list and helped find items around the store.
Back at school, they used their groceries to make banana snowmen with blueberry eyes and dirt pudding cups with gummy worms.
| | ESR Welcomes Mayor to Celebrate Earned Income Tax Credit Awareness Day | | |
Experiment in Self-Reliance celebrated Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) Awareness Day last month and welcomed Winston-Salem Mayor Allen Joines to read the City Proclamation.
Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) Awareness Day 2026, which was observed on January 23, 2026, is a national campaign to help low-to-moderate-income workers claim this valuable, refundable tax credit.
We appreciate the community members, volunteers, board members and staff who were able to join in the celebration.
| | Head Start Classes Create Live Wax Museum | | |
Head Start classes from I-Care, Inc. celebrated Black History Month with a Live Wax Museum, where students dressed up to represent influential Black leaders and shared powerful stories that continue to inspire.
What an impressive, interactive, creative, and fun way to educate young learners!
| | Parent of the Year Spotlight: Mrs. Ashley Penninger | | |
Piney Grove Head Start, part of Southeastern Community Action Partnership, is proud to recognize Mrs. Ashley Penninger as its Head Start Parent of the Year.
Since 2022, Mrs. Penninger has been an active and dedicated member of the Piney Grove Head Start community. In addition to volunteering at the center, she serves as the Policy Council Representative and Parent Committee Secretary, supporting both families and staff.
As a mother of six, Mrs. Penninger remains deeply involved in her children’s education, fully embracing her role as their first teacher while valuing the comprehensive services Head Start provides. Her consistent engagement in programs, events, and activities reflects the heart of the Head Start mission—family partnership and student success.
We congratulate Mrs. Penninger and thank her for the leadership and dedication she brings to the Head Start community.
| | SCAP is Awarded CSBG Designation | | |
Southeastern Community Action Partnership (SCAP) has been awarded the Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) designation to serve Durham, Chatham, Orange, and Randolph counties following a competitive selection process conducted by the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services Office of Economic Opportunity.
This expansion restores Community Action services to the region after a two-year absence of a local CSBG provider. SCAP will begin the onboarding process in coordination with the Office of Economic Opportunity, including establishing tripartite board representation and building the infrastructure needed to support service delivery. Program services are anticipated to begin in Fall 2026.
CSBG programming typically includes emergency assistance, workforce development, financial literacy, housing stability support, and case management services aimed at promoting long-term self-sufficiency.
For more information, visit www.scapnc.org.
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Thank you, Kathleen Lowe-Jacobs
Southeastern Community Action Partnership recognizes Kathleen Lowe Jacobs for her leadership as the Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) Director as she transitions from her role to focus on completing her Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) credential.
During her time with SCAP, Kathleen helped expand access to education, employment, emergency assistance, and digital resources for families working toward stability and self-sufficiency. She also supported initiatives such as the CSBG Laptop Initiative, increasing technology access for customers pursuing education and career goals.
Dr. Ericka J. Whitaker, CEO of Southeastern Community Action Partnership, shared:
“Kathleen’s leadership has strengthened our CSBG program and expanded our reach within the communities we serve. Her commitment to empowering individuals and families reflects the heart of community action. We are grateful for her service and excited to see her continue making a difference in this next chapter.”
We thank Kathleen for her dedication and wish her continued success as she advances her professional goals.
| | Dads Dance & Dine at Highland Charter Head Start | | |
Head Start classes from Gaston Community Action held special Dad themed activities last month as a way to incorporate parental engagement in the classroom.
The classes had a great turnout of dads who showed up for the "Dads Dance & Dine" celebration. Many dads showed up and showed out, enjoying a meal, hitting the dance floor, and making special moments with their children.
Thank you to all the fathers and father figures who continue to be present and involved.
| | PNC Bank Offers Hosts Free Budgeting Workshop | | |
Participants in the CSBG ASPIRE program, offered through Action Pathways, Inc., recently attended a free budgeting workshop hosted by PNC Bank, aimed at fostering financial empowerment. Many came in feeling overwhelmed by expenses and debt, but the workshop simplified budgeting into manageable steps.
PNC Bank facilitators helped attendees view budgeting as a roadmap to financial freedom rather than a restriction. This partnership continues to equip participants with essential financial literacy skills, promoting self-sufficiency and economic mobility.
Thank you PNC Bank for helping us continue to empower individuals and families.
| | Statewide Partners Meet With Roy Cooper | | |
Charlotte Area Fund President and CEO Nick Wharton joined Community Action leaders and other statewide labor, corporate, and nonprofit partners last month to meet with U.S. Senate candidate Roy Cooper. Statewide partners discussed strategies to strengthen economic opportunity and expand educational access for North Carolinians.
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Food Lion Feeds Supports Second Harvest Food Bank
We are so grateful for our continued partnership with Food Lion and the generosity of our community during the Holiday Food Box campaign!
Thanks to customers who added a Holiday Food Box to their purchase, Food Lion presented Second Harvest with a check for $41,776.47 to help provide meals for families across our region.
Thank you, Food Lion, and thank you to every customer who made this possible!
| | Pictured: Charles Campbell, Store Manager of the Cliffdale Road Food Lion, and Michael Williams, Second Harvest Food Donor Relations Specialist. | |
Women’s History Month Spotlight:
Dr. Phoebe Chavis-Harris
Board Chair, Southeastern Community Action Partnership
Q: What does Women’s History Month mean to you?
Women’s History Month is a time to celebrate and reflect on the courage, perseverance, and legacy of women who have strengthened families and communities, often without recognition. It is a reminder of the responsibility to serve and build for future generations.
Q: Who inspires you most?
Dr. Chavis-Harris credits her mother as her greatest inspiration. She describes her as a model of faith, integrity, and servant leadership who demonstrated that true leadership begins at home and is rooted in service to others.
Q: What motivates you in your work at SCAP?
She is driven by the belief that every individual has purpose and potential. Community Action’s mission to empower families aligns with her commitment to providing dignity, opportunity, and pathways to long-term stability.
Q: How does your role strengthen families and communities?
Dr. Chavis-Harris sees her role as helping create access to resources and partnerships that allow families to achieve stability and self-sufficiency. She believes strong families are the foundation of strong communities.
Q: What advice would you give to young women who want to make a difference?
Stay grounded in your values, be willing to serve before you lead, and understand that meaningful impact is built over time.
Q: In one word, how would you describe the impact women have in our communities?
Hope. When women lead with resilience and compassion, they help others see possibilities beyond their current circumstances.
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Sharing Community Action Voices
NC Community Action agencies in the far west have established a Communications CIVIC Hub along with communication professionals and media partners across Western North Carolina. We are a network of community action practitioners, clients, storytellers, journalists, and community workers that amplify local voices and advocate for those who rely on the social safety net.
This collaboration shares community action stories through traditional, digital, and social media. By sharing authentic stories across media platforms and community spaces, the Hub works to reduce stigma, foster empathy, and strengthen public understanding of the social safety net and the public policies that support this work.
This effort is funded by the Industrial Commons and the Trust for Civic Life and culminates in coordinated content creation for local, regional, and statewide audiences featuring poverty-alleviation and economic mobility work and its importance to NC communities.
The following Community Action western agencies have joined the effort:
- Community Action Opportunities
- WAMY Community Action
- Four Square Community Action
- Mountain Projects, Inc.
- Blue Ridge Community Action
- Macon Program for Progress
Partners align their storytelling to move beyond isolated impact and highlight the power of coordinated community action. These narratives show how collaborative programs and community partnerships can drive lasting prosperity and system-level change.
Buris Chalmers Communications contracts with the NCCAA, Mountain Projects and Action Pathways agencies to build capacity for CAA communications and fundraising.
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WAMY Community Action Client Story - The home he shared with his wife, a sanctuary of memories, has fallen into disrepair. The roof leaked, the windows were drafty, the siding was worn, and the flooring and bathroom were in dire need of replacement. For a man who had always prided himself on self-reliance, asking for help was not easy.
While government grants provide some funding to support needed repairs of Rex's home, private donations allow WAMY to meet people where they are and serve their unique needs.
Thanks to Allison Jennings, WAMY’s Director of Philanthropy for providing this story.
Read Rex's full story here.
| | Community Programs in Action: Supporting Generations | | |
For 15 years, Hattie Kanipe has served as a Foster Grandparent with Blue Ridge Community Action at Quaker Meadows Generations Childcare Center. Her connection to Community Action runs deep—her own family once benefited from Head Start services, and today she gives back in the very center where her family’s story began.
Each day, Hattie brings patience, consistency, and care to young children in early learning classrooms. When asked what she loves most about volunteering, she answers simply: “Them babies.” After a career caring for residents at the J. Iverson Center, she wasn’t ready to stop serving others in retirement. The Foster Grandparent Program provided a way to continue making a difference.
In 2025, Hattie was diagnosed with breast cancer and underwent chemotherapy and radiation. Although she remained committed to volunteering, treatment made navigating the steps at her home unsafe. Through another community partnership, Foothills Service Project—a volunteer-driven nonprofit that builds wheelchair-accessible ramps and completes critical home repairs—stepped in to help. Today, volunteers are constructing a ramp that will allow Hattie to safely remain in her home and welcome family members who use wheelchairs.
Hattie’s story highlights the power of coordinated community programs. From Head Start to the Foster Grandparent Program to local housing accessibility support, these services work together to strengthen families across generations.
Reflecting on the support she has received, Hattie shared, “I’m thankful to God for this opportunity. I’m thankful for Blue Ridge Community Action and Foothills Service Project. There are good people in the world and good organizations. You just have to ask and believe.”
Blue Ridge Community Action (BRCA) serves Burke, Caldwell, and Rutherford counties, although limited services are provided to low-income residents of Alexander, Burke, Caldwell, Catawba, Gaston, Mecklenburg, Rutherford, Stanly, and Union Counties.
Thanks to Meg Poteet, BRCA's Human Resources Director, for providing this story.
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Share Your Community Action news with us!
Do you have 2026 Community Action highlights you'd like to share on NCCAA social media or via the monthly newsletter?
Send us a photo of yourself and a description of your goal, milestone, or accomplishment, and we will share your news! Email communications@nccaa.net
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| | Links to Career Pages in the NCCAA Network | | (Link goes to home page when career page isn't offered) | | |
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 Program for Progress, Franklin
Mountain Projects, Waynesville
WAMY, Boone
West
Charlotte Area Fund, Inc., Charlotte
Davidson County Community Action, Lexington
Experiment 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
ARCAP Community Action Agency, Burlington
Franklin-Vance-Warren Opportunity, Inc., Henderson
Johnston Lee Harnett Community Action, Inc., Smithfield
Passage Home, Raleigh
Southeastern Community Action Partnership, Lumberton
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
| | 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. | | 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. | | | | |
