Empowered Newsletter | May 2025 | Issue 5

The Pre-K prom at Blue Ridge Community Action Head Start was a great success!

The Final Countdown - Are You Conference Ready?

Annual Conference is One Week Away

Sheraton Raleigh Hotel and Raleigh Convention Center

Conference Dates: May 13 – 16, 2025

Pre-conference on Tuesday, May 13th Conference kicks off on Wednesday, May 14th

Board Summit Friday, May 16th through Saturday, May 17th

Sneaker Ball Gala on Thursday, May 15th

Sneaker Ball is Back!

Lace Up Your Kicks for a Good Cause

We’re excited to bring back the Sneaker Ball at this year’s conference—a fun night of celebration, connection, and recognition! We’ll honor community allies, give out themed awards, and announce our annual NCCAA Standing Awards.

This year's Sneaker Ball is included in your conference registration.

Sneaker Ball tickets can also be purchased separately by friends, family and community members

Board Summit Scheduled May 16 & 17

North Carolina’s CAA board leaders will hear from a leading expert on multiple topics related to board governance after this year's annual conference. Come get a refresher while learning new techniques and best practices. Space is limited so register today.

Pre-Conference Event

OMB Uniform Guidance Training

Join us for a training workshop to learn about the Office of Management and Budget’s (OMB’s) Uniform Guidance regulations (2 CFR Part 200: Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards). We’ll review the regulations and share examples, stories and best practices learned from years of auditing and consulting. Wipfli’s nonprofit specialists have been presenting high-quality training for more than 40 years. During this workshop, we’ll provide you with federal grant regulation training relating to financial management and administration to help you with financial grant compliance.

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All agencies that receive federal funding are eligible to register

We will cover:

General provisions, administrative requirement and procurement

Monitoring and reporting, cost principles and cost allocation

Selected items of cost and audit requirements

Pre-Conference Event

Mission Meets Market: Unlocking Revenue Through Social Enterprise

Discover how nonprofits can leverage social enterprise to generate sustainable revenue while advancing their mission. This session covers key concepts, organizational readiness, and practical steps for developing a successful business model. Learn from real-world case studies and explore strategies for funding, marketing, and scaling social enterprises. Join us to gain fresh ideas, practical insights, and the inspiration to take your nonprofit’s impact to the next level!

Free for members (registration required) and $49 for non-members.

May 13, 9:00am - Noon

News From the NCCAA

LEADING WITH PURPOSE

Board Training With Passage Home

NCCAA Board Chair Patsy Davis and nonprofit attorney Lee Davis recently visited Passage Home, Wake County’s Community Action Agency, to lead an impactful Board training session.

Their expertise and guidance were invaluable as they helped strengthen governance practices and empower our Board to better serve the community. At the heart of Community Action is collaboration— and this training is a powerful example of leaders coming together to ensure that our agencies continue to grow in effectiveness and impact.

In Memoriam

Honoring E. Marie Watson

NCCAA officials gathered to honor the life and legacy of longtime community action leader E. Marie Watson during her memorial service on Friday, April 11. 

From left are Fred Bazemore, Executive Director of Experiment In Self-Reliance; Krystina Chavis, NCCAA Deputy Director; Ericka J. Whitaker, CEO of Southeastern Community Action Partnership, Inc; NCCAA Executive Director Sharon Goodson; Dr. Landon B. Mason, Executive Director of Economic Improvement Council, INC.; and Bryan Duncan, Executive Director of I - C A R E, Inc.

Protect Your Mental Health

You're Not Alone; Help is Here!

The North Carolina Community Association (NCCAA), in partnership with Integrated Family Services (IFS), is offering free, confidential emotional health support for Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) staff.

Take advantage of one-hour sessions designed to help you manage stress, navigate personal or workplace challenges, and enhance your well-being in a safe, supportive space with guidance from licensed clinical social workers (LCSW). Your well-being matters. Connect, share, and find the support you deserve!

Questions? Contact: Sheryl Andrews, CSBG Liaison

Phone: 919-790-5757

Email: Sheryl.Andrews@nccaa.net

NCCAA Seeks Audit Firms for Referrals to Network Agencies

The NCCAA is seeking CPA firms that are interested in working with nonprofits.

Please contact our office to connect with us and learn more: 919-790-5757

News from Around The Network

Community Economic Development in Action

Pictured left to right: Keith Walker, CEO, East Carolina CDC, Abdul Rasheed, CEO, Franklin-Vance-Warren Opportunity, Inc., Governor Josh Stein, Nicholas Wharton, CEO, Charlotte Area Fund, Inc., Brandon Alexander, Special Projects Manager, Franklin Vance Warren Opportunity, Inc., and Lynox Rasheed (Not pictured: Kevin Price, CEO, National Institute of Minority Economic Development).

Community leaders recently gathered at the Governor’s Mansion to brief Gov. Josh Stein on the vital infrastructure and capacity of North Carolina’s Community Action Network and Community Development Corporations (CDCs). Abdul Rasheed from Franklin-Vance-Warren Opportunity, Inc., and Nick Wharton from Charlotte Area Fund represented the Community Action Network in North Carolina. Representing decades of service and impact in their communities, these leaders highlighted how grassroots organizations are driving economic growth, equity, and opportunity statewide.

If you give a teacher a classroom...that child gets a Head Start

If you give that child a Head Start…they’ll build confidence,

grow with support, and step into a lifetime of learning.

Blue Ridge Community Action HR Director Meg Poteet and Andrea Ross, Child Development Disabilities Coordinator, represented BRCA at the Western Piedmont Community College Early Childhood Education Career Fair this week to connect with future early childhood educators.

Mental Health Training in Action

Salisbury Rowan Team Invests in Mental Health First Aid

The Salisbury-Rowan Community Action team with Pam Wiggins.

The team at Salisbury-Rowan Community Action Agency, Inc participated in an empowering Mental Health First Aid training, led by Pam Wiggins. From thoughtful questions to meaningful discussions, the staff showed engagement and a deep commitment to understanding how to better support those facing mental health and substance use challenges. Their energy and care created a positive, collaborative environment focused on learning and growth.

Click Here to Sign Up

Community Resiliency Model (CRM) Training with WAMY

On April 11, NCCAA shared Community Resiliency Model (CRM) training with the dedicated staff of WAMY Community Action. This practical, trauma-informed approach helps us better understand, recognize, and respond to the effects of trauma, in others and in ourselves.

A huge thank you to our incredible trainers, Peg Morrison (NCCAA) and Stephanie Cox (Coastal Community Action, Inc.), for leading this impactful session with care and expertise.

Mental Health First Aid Training at EIC

On April 9, the team at Economic Improvement Council, Inc. came together for a powerful day of Mental Health First Aid training. Led by Pam Wiggins, the session equipped staff with vital tools to better support individuals facing mental health and substance use challenges.

Program Spotlight

Gaston Community Action Head Start Director Graduates From Emerging Leaders Academy

Congratulations to Gaston Community Action Head Start Director, Ms. Kristin Thomas on her selection and successful completion of the Emerging Leaders Academy. She worked alongside fellow Region IV directors and the Training Associates team to grow, lead, and inspire. 

Experiment in Self Reliance IDA Program Graduate Honored

Congratulations to Courtney James, a graduate of ESR's New Century Individual Development Account (IDA) Small Business Program, on being named the 2025 Financial Health First Responder of the Year by Financial Pathways of the Piedmont. ESR's New Century IDA Program focuses on helping participants build assets that will continue to grow in value to achieve homeownership or enhance their small business.

Pictured are Hilda Moore, ESR's IDA Program Manager, Bianca Green, 2022 winner of the Financial Health First Responder Award and Courtney James, 2025 winner of the Financial Health First Responder Award. 

News From the Community Action Partnership

Community Action Month Toolkit Now Available

The purpose of the Community Action Month Toolkit is to support Community Action Agencies in their outreach efforts all throughout the month of May. The resources provided are designed to help you take advantage of the great opportunity afforded during Community Action Month to raise the visibility of your agency and its work within your community, showcase your successes in connecting families to greater opportunity, and increase awareness about the national impact of our network at large.

To those ends, this toolkit contains sample tweets and social media graphics, press release and government proclamation templates, fundraising ideas, video production tips, branding tools, and event and activity information. Be sure to check out our calendar for daily themes, activity ideas, and guidance for making the most out of your agency’s Community Action Month celebrations.

“I love the Parent Engagement Events. They always leave me with so much knowledge and tools to just get throughout everyday life. HEAL NC has been a big part of my mental health and success these short months, and I truly appreciate all three of the women

who work constantly to support us.”

– Jalissa Douglas, client

Dads On Guard (D.O.G.)

Franklin Vance Warren Head Start Holds Event for Dads

Photo courtesy of Gia L Photography

The Head Start program at Franklin Vance Warren Opportunity hosted a “Where My Dogs At?” Dads on Guard event to highlight and support the important role fathers and male caregivers play in children’s lives. The event brought them together for meaningful conversations about the challenges and responsibilities of being an engaged and supportive dad.

WAGES and HEAL NC Host Workshops to Help Team Members Avoid Burnout

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: 919-734-1178 ext. 212

Career Spotlight

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, 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

Franklin-Vance-Warren Opportunity, Inc., Henderson

Johnston Lee Harnett Community Action, Inc., Smithfield

Passage Home, Wake Co.

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 (info@newcainc.org)

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.

We Want Your Stories!

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.

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.

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