Better 2Gether
At the Institute for Emerging Issues, we are blessed to collaborate with and learn from people who are making North Carolina a better place to work, learn and grow by bringing together coalitions to get things done.
2/22/22 (what we’re calling TwosDay) will be the last day with so much numerical consistency for nearly 90 years—until January 1, 2111. It’s as good a day as any to celebrate 22 people we believe are making NC Better 2Gether. Of course these aren’t the only 22 people across the state worthy of celebration, but they are 22 people our staff has connected with in the past few years and that we think are pretty amazing.
These folks are working day-to-day in communities to solve problems that hold us back and to build support for ideas that move us forward. They are building and bridging connections in their communities—making North Carolina a more vibrant and prosperous state.
To be #NCBetter2Gether, we believe that:
- In our new digitally-based economy, having broadband in the home is as essential as electricity to our future educational and economic success.
digital inclusion champions
Merald Holloway
Learn More
Jocelyn Romina Santillan-Deras
To be #NCBetter2Gether, we believe that:
- Rural and urban communities within a region are much more interconnected than divided, and that “a rising tide should lift all boats.”
rural and urban champions
To be #NCBetter2Gether, we believe that:
- Faith communities can serve as anchor institutions for progress in rural communities and beyond.
faith champions
To be #NCBetter2Gether, we believe that:
- All students—younger, older, and non-traditional, of all backgrounds, races, cultures, and ethnicities, and across the economic spectrum—should have access to the supports needed to reach their educational attainment goals.
educational attainment champions
To be #NCBetter2Gether, we believe that:
- Everyone experiencing poor mental health should have access to affordable, culturally appropriate, and innovative services to meet the growing demand.
mental health champions
To be #NCBetter2Gether, we believe that:
- All workers should have pathways to economic opportunity through training and skills development that can result in family sustaining wages.
economic opportunity champions
To be #NCBetter2Gether, we believe that:
- We need equitable policy and programmatic strategies to improve workforce participation and retention in the near and long-term.
workforce champions
To be #NCBetter2Gether, we believe that:
- Nurturing student interest in public policy will inspire a new generation of leaders to tackle the challenges of today, and tomorrow.
public policy student champions
To be #NCBetter2Gether, we believe that:
- Increasing civic engagement and building skills to dialogue across our differences will help us bridge our polarization and political divides to nurture positive working relationships.
civic engagement champions
To be #NCBetter2Gether, we believe that:
- Broad community engagement is essential when developing policies and programs that will meaningfully impact those communities.
community engagement champions
To be #NCBetter2Gether, we believe that:
- All North Carolinians can help build their community capacity by leveraging and sharing their time, talent, and treasures.
