Empowered Newsletter | August 2024 | Issue 8

In Raleigh with a Purpose

Rallying for Weatherization!

Member Agencies Rally to Raleigh

Community Action leaders from many of our agencies gathered in Raleigh Tuesday to get the attention of NC Dept. of Environmental Quality leadership with complaints and requests related to the administration of weatherization dollars.

"Weatherization works better when we are working together," was the message of the day.

In addition to our advocacy, we held a press conference which led to multiple news stories. (Media links below)

"NCCAA officials have tried to address flaws in the weatherization program with the NCDEQ, but our input is ignored," says NCCAA Board President and Mountain Projects Executive Director, Patsy Davis. "We understand federal budget cuts, but the issues are much greater - and include transparency and inconsistent funding allocations across our state. These problems started well before the 2023-2024 federal budget reductions were announced."

NEWS COVERAGE

Raleigh News & Observer

Materials for the Media, Social Media and Public

Use these materials to support weatherization! More resources are available at this link.

Encourage your audiences to contact the Governor to voice their concerns:

NC Governor Roy Cooper

Email: contactgov@nc.gov

Telephone: 919-814-2000

Mail: 20301 Mail Service, Raleigh, NC 27699-0301

Statewide News

North Carolina Celebrates More Than 500,000 Enrolled in Medicaid Expansion

More than half a million North Carolinians have now enrolled in Medicaid expansion since the program began seven months ago. Beneficiaries are now able get the quality health care they need at low cost. Governor Roy Cooper was joined by North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Kody Kinsley, Dr. Karen L. Smith MD, FAAFP, a family physician in Raeford and Verlina Lomick,CHW-IV, Director of Community Outreach & Advocacy for Kintegra Health and health care advocates to celebrate reaching this major milestone, which had originally been projected to take as long as two years.

"People across our state continue to feel the positive impact in their lives with access to affordable health care coverage," said Governor Roy Cooper. "They can now see a doctor, get preventative care, manage chronic conditions and get life-saving prescriptions without the burden of high premiums or co-pays. The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services along with the many community partners supporting enrollment efforts have done a remarkable job to reach half a million North Carolinians in such a short amount of time, and we’ll keep working to enroll more people."

Congratulations!

Recent CCAP Certification Recipient

Christopher Kornegay

Weatherization Director, WAGES, Inc.

The Certified Community Action Professional (CCAP) credential recognizes individuals who have demonstrated knowledge and application of the core competencies required to effectively carry out the vision, mission, purpose, and values of the Community Action movement.

CCAP positions the Community Action Network to serve the best interests of people experiencing poverty. The program:

Transmits the vision and values of the Community Action movement from one generation to the next.
Guides individuals towards effective leadership within Community Action.
Solidifies Community Action as a true calling.
Recognizes and elevates the professional status of those that earn the CCAP credential.
Embodies the Promise of Community Action.

Continuing Education

Agency Spotlight: Blue Ridge Community Action

Blue Ridge Community Action staff from Head Start and Early Head Start attended the recent North Carolina Head Start Association Teacher Institute and Annual Conference in Wilmington. “We believe it is imperative to give our staff the best opportunities to be successful in their professions!”

News From Our Members

WAMY and World Changers Partner on 12 Home Repair Projects

It all started with a bathtub. Early this year, Rex McQueen was looking to make some renovations to his home in the historic Junaluska community near downtown Boone. What started as a simple bathroom renovation soon turned into a full-scale remodel.

“I had no idea all of this was going to happen,” McQueen said.

The comprehensive home renovation was part of a collaboration between WAMY Community Action and World Changers, who are completing 12 home repair projects in Watauga and Avery counties.

"A good chunk of those projects are right here in this community," Danielle Moreland said. "WAMY is proud to be a part of revitalizing homes that people have lived in for generations."

Mountain Projects' GetCoveredWNC Helps Set Enrollment Record

Thanks to the guidance of health insurance networks like GetCoveredWNC, North Carolina achieved record enrollment through the healthcare marketplace last year. It got the attention of NC Gov. Roy Cooper, who proclaimed a week in their honor and invited NC Healthcare assisters and navigators to his mansion in Raleigh earlier this year.

“It was surreal to be there and actually be acknowledged by a governing official when so many times in the last 10 years we have been in danger of losing the Affordable Care Act.” - Jan Plummer, Manager of GetCoveredWNC

Blue Ridge Opportunity Commission's Fundraising Year Ends With Successful Pageant

Wilkes Community Action Committee (WCAC), the fundraising arm of the Blue Ridge Opportunity Commission, has organized the “Miss CAG”, the “Little Miss Princess” and the Junior Miss pageant for 51, 43 and 10 years respectively, all in support of the BROC and as the culmination of its fundraising year. This year's fundraising drive brought in over $47,000.

Mountain Projects Awarded $2.5M For Affordable Housing

Mountain Projects was recently awarded just under $2.5 million by Haywood County for a single-family development located between the towns of Canton and Clyde and called “Harkins Avenue.”

Total project cost for Harkins Avenue, which should be complete by the third quarter of 2027, is estimated at $10.2 million for 23 units.

Counselors at Mountain Projects will help prospective first-time home buyers understand the responsibilities of home ownership and carrying a mortgage. Some may even contribute “sweat equity” to the building of the home, which can be counted towards a down payment.

Pizza Time!

Agency Spotlight: Community Action Opportunities

Children in Community Action Opportunities' summer program at Johnston Head Start are having fun playing together, building with magnetic toys, exploring sand play, and creating beautiful art butterflies.

Community Action Recognition

Rep. Glenn Thompson of Pennsylvania speaks in support of the Community Action movement on the House Floor.

RPIC Region IV Webinar Workshops

Customer Engagement

Dr. Barbara Mooney, Executive Director, Association of Nationally Certified ROMA Professionals, and Carey Gibson, Deputy Director, Association of Nationally Certified ROMA Professionals, will facilitate.

Description:

Join us for an interactive webinar where will discuss customer engagement approaches and strategies including centering customer voice of people with lived experience, using powerful questions for engagement, understanding the impact of trauma and supporting resilience building.

When:

September 11, 2024, 2:00 p.m.

Click Here to Register

Strategic Focus for Success

Join Dr. Menefee for the "Strategic Focus for Success" workshop, an enlightening journey into the heart of what propels some organizations to thrive while others falter. Discover how strategic focus serves as the cornerstone of impactful organizations and learn how this targeted approach to goal-setting can significantly enhance your agency's effectiveness and outreach. In this interactive session, participants will delve into the essence of strategy development—examining the roles of leadership, process, and tools essential for crafting successful strategies. With a blend of theoretical insights and practical wisdom, Dr. Menefee will navigate you through the methodologies that foster success and organizational significance.

Learning Objectives:

Grasp the critical role of strategic development in achieving organizational objectives.
Discern the elements that constitute a robust strategy development process.
Identify and comprehend key metrics for evaluating success and impact.
Recognize and learn to circumvent common pitfalls that can undermine organization-wide progress.

When:

Wednesday, September 18, 2024 - 2:00 PM

Click Here to Register

Storytelling for Impact

Linda Mosely, founder, and owner of 365 Degree Total Marketing has led her award-winning communications and marketing firm to national and international acclaim for over 30 years. Join us for an immersive workshop designed to hone your storytelling prowess.

Whether you're aiming to inspire politicians, secure funding, engage with families, or empower employees, this workshop will equip you with the tools to capture and convey compelling stories.

Storytelling Calendar Creation - Learn to strategically plan and schedule your stories for maximum impact.
Identifying Your Narrative - We'll guide you in discovering the powerful stories within your organization that demand to be told.
Audience Tailoring - Effectively identify and customize your story for diverse audiences, from policymakers to clients.
Channel Optimization - Get insights on choosing the right channels (e-blasts, newsletters, etc.) to reach your audience effectively.
Media Presentations - Gain confidence with practical advice on presenting your story to the media, including dress codes, and responding to questions with poise.

This workshop is your springboard to not just tell stories, but to tell them in a way that leads to tangible change and bolsters your organization's mission.

When:

Wednesday, September 25, 2024 - 2:00 PM

Click Here to Register

WAGES and HEAL NC Plan 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: 919-731-9999 Ext. 212

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

NCCAA Certificate Program Classes Begin in October

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

Marketing Minute

Notes on reaching your audience from Buris Chalmers Communications, communications contractor for NCCAA

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 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

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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