Empowered Newsletter | November 2025 | Issue 11 | | The government shutdown has disrupted critical programs that families, seniors, and low-income households depend on—including housing, nutrition, energy assistance, workforce development, and early childhood education. NCCAA is working closely with state and local partners to manage the disruptions and keep our communities informed. | |
|
Letter from NCCAA
Executive Director,
Sharon Goodson
Subject: Standing Strong Through the Federal Government Shutdown
Dear Community Action Colleagues,
Across our state and indeed across the nation the federal government shutdown has brought about a wave of uncertainty and hardship. For North Carolina’s Community Action Agencies, the effects are immediate and deeply personal. Many of our agencies are being forced to make impossible choices: furloughing staff, suspending vital services, and halting work with local partners and contractors who share our mission. This is more than a budgetary impasse; it is a disruption of hope for the thousands of families who rely on us every day.
Community Action has always been more than a set of programs. It is a promise to stand beside North Carolinians who are striving for stability, dignity, and opportunity. We serve working families with low incomes who are fighting to make ends meet, seniors who depend on home energy and nutrition support, veterans rebuilding their lives, children who deserve early education and care, and individuals with disabilities who need access not barriers to success.
Even in this moment of challenge, let us remember the enormous value we bring to our communities. Collectively, North Carolina’s Community Action Agencies infuse tens of millions of dollars into the state’s economy each year. We employ thousands of dedicated professionals and contract with local businesses, childcare providers, and housing contractors—stimulating economic activity all 100 counties. For every federal dollar invested in Community Action, $16 plus dollars circulate back into local economies, strengthening both families and small businesses. Our work is not just charitable—it is an engine of economic resilience.
While the current shutdown threatens to silence some of our operations, it cannot quiet our mission or diminish our impact. We have weathered storms before, and we will do so again, together. This is a time for unity, for advocacy, and for clear communication with our communities and policymakers. Let us raise our collective voice to remind decision-makers that Community Action is not optional; it is essential.
I encourage every agency to stay connected, share your stories, and continue to demonstrate your value at every opportunity. Share your stories through your socials, on your websites and in the media. Tell the story of how Community Action programs and federal supports like housing, food, and health subsidies keep families safe, working, and healthy. Contact your local and statewide representatives and ensure they understand the specific value of the work we do in the communities they serve. Community Action contributes to the well-being of 1.5 million low-income North Carolinians. We are not only first-line poverty fighters, we are economic mobility experts.
We will continue to advocate tirelessly at the state and federal levels for the restoration of funding and for the recognition of the indispensable role you all play. Together, we embody the power of community and the spirit of service that North Carolina needs most right now.
Thank you for your resilience, your compassion, and your unwavering commitment to those who depend on us.
In Solidarity and Service,
Sharon C. Goodson
Executive Director
North Carolina Community Action Association
| | | |
NCCAA 2026 Annual Conference in Wilmington!
It's time for sponsor registration! The North Carolina Community Action Association’s 2026 Annual Conference is set for May 19–22, 2026, at the Hotel Ballast Wilmington, Tapestry Collection by Hilton — located at 301 N. Water St., Wilmington, NC.
Each spring, Community Action professionals, nonprofit leaders, Head Start and weatherization staff, board members, volunteers, and community partners from across the state come together for inspiring workshops, dynamic speakers, and invaluable networking opportunities. It’s a time to learn, connect, and celebrate the impact of Community Action in North Carolina.
Join us for four unforgettable days of growth, collaboration, and coastal fun
in beautiful Wilmington!
Registration for Sponsors, Advertisers & Exhibitors has begun at the link below, and individual registration will begin soon
| | Apply Now for a CCAP Member Scholarship | | |
There’s still time to join the 2026 Certified Community Action Professional (CCAP) cohort — presented by the Community Action Partnership National Office.
Everything is 100% online — from study sessions and assignments to the proctored exam, so you can earn your CCAP certification from anywhere!
New Deadlines:
Scholarship Applications Due: November 14, 2025
CCAP Enrollment Closes: November 30, 2025
NCCAA member scholarships are available on a first-come, first-served basis — but once they’re gone, they’re gone!
Don’t miss your chance to join a powerful network of Community Action leaders committed to creating change. Email nafia.speach@nccaa.net today to reserve your spot and apply for your scholarship.
Learn more: communityactionpartnership.com/ccap
| | Women, Wellness, and Vision Boards | | |
On October 18, HEAL NC families came together at the WAGES Head Start Bryan Sutton Child Development Center in Goldsboro for an afternoon of inspiration, creativity, and connection.
Twenty-one Head Start mothers (and a few little ones!) created personal vision boards designed to spark clarity, confidence, and hope for the year ahead.
The highlight of the event was a dynamic Women and Wellness session led by Candra Edwards, MSW, LCSW. Edwards’ charismatic and down-to-earth style set the tone for a heartfelt, interactive conversation on topics that truly matter to women. Her facilitation created a safe space where participants shared openly, supported one another, and reflected on their own wellness journeys.
The gathering concluded with fellowship over a delicious lunch of homemade chicken soup and sandwiches — a warm way to “break bread” and nurture both body and spirit. Thanks to Success Coach JoAnn Smith for sharing her talent for photography!
Learn more about HEAL NC at https://www.nccaa.net/heal-nc.
| | | At the PNC Community Leadership Symposium | | Pictured with NCCAA Executive Director, Sharon Goodson are Dr. Dalitso Sulamoyo, Board Chair of the National Community Action Partnership and CEO of the Champaign County Regional Planning Commission, and Jim Hansen, Regional President for the Eastern Carolinas for PNC Bank. | | | | |
NCCAA Executive Director Sharon Goodson attended the PNC Annual Community Leadership Symposium in Pittsburgh, PA last month.
This event brought together leaders from across the country to share strategies for advancing financial inclusion and strengthening economic mobility in the communities we serve.
At left, Sharon is pictured with Tony Smith, Senior Vice President of PNC Bank, and guest speaker Michelle Singletary, a personal financial columnist for the Washington Post.
| | | News from Around The Network | | Fighting Hunger During the Government Shutdown | |
From Executive Director, Si Simmons, to supporters in response to the shutdown
Dear Mountain Projects Supporters,
You’re hearing from us a little earlier than usual — and for a very important reason that directly affects neighbors here in Western North Carolina.
Due to the ongoing government shutdown, thousands of families will not receive their SNAP (food stamp) benefits in November. We are unclear when funding will be re-established.
In Haywood and Jackson Counties alone, more than 12,000 households rely on SNAP each month. Many of these families also turn to Mountain Projects for childcare so they can work, or for rental assistance, emergency heating, and other essential, basic human needs.
Every month, Mountain Projects works with almost 3,000+ low-income, vulnerable individuals, a high percentage of whom are food insecure. Among the people we serve throughout our programs (with some overlapping groups):
● 35% are seniors (age 65+)
● 60% are disabled
● 12% are young children
● 30% are low-income working families
Without SNAP support, many will simply go hungry, unless we step up to help.
Mountain Projects has established food pantries at our Waynesville and Sylva offices to ensure we can provide food to households in need. We are accepting donations of shelf-stable foods and financial contributions to provide milk, cheese, juice, fruits, vegetables, and other proteins to these families. (Read the full letter at the link below)
| |
Congratulations to ECHSA Director, Trudy Murray
Eastern Carolina Human Services Agency Executive Director, Trudy Murray, was honored at the Ordinary People Recognition Banquet last month.
With over 35 years of dedicated service to Eastern Carolina Human Services Agency, Inc., more than 25 years as a public notary, and a degree in social work from Campbell University, Mrs. Murray continues to lead with grace, wisdom, and unwavering commitment to our community.
This special event celebrates everyday people doing extraordinary things — those who serve their communities with kindness, compassion, and heart.
| | | Celebrating Excellence at the SECAA Conference | | |
During the 2025 Southeastern Association of Community Action Agencies Annual Conference in Charlotte, the Founders Awards Luncheon honored leaders whose dedication, compassion, and service continue to uplift and empower their communities.
Congratulations to our NCCAA award recipients:
-
Dorothy Counts-Scoggins, Charlotte Area Fund, Board Member and American Civil Rights Pioneer, who received the Trailblazer Award.
-
Nick Wharton, CEO of Charlotte Area Fund, Inc. for serving as the Host Agency of the 2025 Conference
-
Kathleen Jacobs, CSBG Director, Southeastern Community Action Partnership, Inc., who received the William Sonny Walker Self-Sufficiency Award;
-
Latasha Lovette, CSBG Director, Welfare Reform Liaison Project who received the Carl D. Perkins Human Service Award
Congratulations to these leaders who continue to make a difference in the communities across NC!
| | | BRCA Honors Staff at 60th Board Meeting | | |
Blue Ridge Community Action, Inc. (BRCA) marked a remarkable milestone this year — 60 years of service to the community. Established in 1965, BRCA was founded in the spirit of President Lyndon B. Johnson’s War on Poverty, with a mission of “Helping People, Changing Lives.”
The agency recently held its 60th Annual Board Meeting, themed “It’s All About the Staff — Past and Present,” celebrating the dedicated employees whose compassion and commitment have powered BRCA’s success across six decades. From early childhood education and weatherization to senior and community services, BRCA’s team continues to embody the agency’s mission through service and care.
The celebration also recognized long-time employees and board members for their years of service, including special memorial honors and the introduction of a new Excellence Shining Star Award to individuals who demonstrate outstanding leadership, inspiration, and heart. The inaugural recipients this year were NCCAA Executive Director Sharon Goodson and Finance Director Karen Harshman.
| | I-CARE Celebrates 60 Years of Service | | |
From providing a safe, nurturing place for children to learn and thrive to helping senior citizens make their homes more comfortable, I-CARE is there for Iredell County.
That was the message that Executive Director Bryan Duncan delivered last month during its anniversary celebration.
The organization has been spreading hope, love and a caring spirit in Iredell County for 60 years and has grown to serve Alexander, Lincoln and Catawba counties. The organization celebrated its 60th anniversary with a luncheon featuring testimonials from some of those whom I-CARE has impacted.
Pictured here at the I-CARE Luncheon, Executive Directors Bryan Duncan of
I-CARE and Fred Bazemore of Experiment in Self-Reliance.
| |
Conference in Vegas!
Staff Members of Greene Lamp Community Action attended the 16th Annual NP Solutions Inc MIP User Conference this week at the Park MGM Hotel in Las Vegas.
The nonprofit accounting conference offered breakout sessions covering workflow, task automation, budgeting, payroll, grant management, and other financial management proficiencies.
Learn more about Greene Lamp Community Action at their website: https://greenelamp.org/.
| | A NEW Natural Outdoor Learning Environment | | |
In partnership with @PNC Bank and NC State University College of Design’s Natural Learning Initiative (NLI), NEW CA Inc.’s Brentwood Head Start celebrated the grand opening of our new natural outdoor learning environment in September.
The seeds planted in April 2024 with a $125,000 grant from the PNC Foundation to Nash Edgecombe Wilson Community Action (NEW CA, Inc.) are now blooming at Brentwood Head Start. We’re grateful to PNC, their amazing volunteers, Robin Moore, and the NLI staff for creating a wonderful outdoor learning experience for our preschoolers—today and for generations to come!
Local PNC leaders joined students and staff to mark the completion of our center’s new outdoor play and learning environment! To learn more, visit https://newcainc.org/.
| | Blue Ridge Community Action went pink last month! BRCA staff and kids from all centers and programs joined together to show support, spread hope, and celebrate strength for Breast Cancer Awareness Month. | | |
Building a Civic Hub for Community Action Voices
Buris Chalmers Communications is launching an effort to establish a CIVIC Hub along with Community Action agencies and media partners across Western North Carolina—a network of community action practitioners, clients, storytellers, journalists, and community liaisons to amplify local voices and advocate for those who rely on the social safety net.
This effort is funded by the Industrial Commons and the Trust for Civic Life and will culminate in coordinated content creation for local, regional, and statewide audiences featuring poverty-alleviation and economic mobility work and it's importance to a healthy society. The project will strengthen civic partnerships, elevate marginalized voices, and reframe public understanding of poverty with empathy and connection.
Buris Chalmers contracts with the NCCAA, Mountain Projects and Action Pathways agencies to maximize communications and fundraising efforts.
Visit BurisChalmers.org or call 828-550-9336 to learn more.
| | 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
| | 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, 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. | |
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. | | | | |
