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Isothermal Community College strives for student success

Community Cohort Stories

Headshot of Through the Trees Executive Director Yvette Brooks.

Oct 22, 2025

Bridging the Digital Divide in Western NC

This special feature series profiles the members of IEI's Financial Resilience Community Cohort. First, we hear from Through the Trees Executive Director Yvette Brooks sharing how she and her team are helping bridge the digital divide across Western North Carolina and beyond.
Nine people pose in two rows for a group photo

Jul 1, 2024

Financial Resilience Community Cohort Announced

IEI is excited to announce the five regional teams that will make up the Financial Resilience community cohort. The cohort met for the first time on June 26 at the James B. Hunt Jr. Library on NC State’s Centennial Campus.
Mac Sims (center), President of East Greensboro Now, discusses how Guilford County must be able to adapt to the continued growth and economic desirability of the region.

Mar 28, 2024

Clean Energy, AI and Growth: Guilford County Workforce Leaders Hold Action Meeting on Jobs of the Future

Guilford County's continued growth and workforce opportunities was the central theme at the “Jobs of the Future: Guilford County Workforce Action Meeting” that took place on March 20 in High Point.

Mar 12, 2024

Guilford Apprenticeship Partners (GAP) Is Building A Talent Pipeline For Years to Come

Since 2016, the Guilford Apprenticeship Partners (GAP) program has provided approximately 100 Guilford County high school juniors and seniors the opportunity to “earn and learn” by gaining paid work experience while receiving their associates degree on full scholarship. 
A group of people sit at tables in a classroom setting

Jan 23, 2024

Cape Fear Community Cohort Team Brings Regional Leaders Together to Support Opportunity Youth

On December 13, 2023, youth program leaders and industry professionals from Brunswick, Columbus, New Hanover and Pender counties gathered at Brunswick Community College in Leland for the Four-County Regional Conversation on Opportunity Youth - a meeting of leaders with the shared goal of better connecting young adults to employment and upward economic mobility.
A wide angle shot of a large room filled with tables where people are sitting.

Nov 30, 2023

Western NC Community Cohort Team Holds Symposium to Address Regional Education and Workforce Goals

On Wednesday, Nov. 8, representatives from more than 85 organizations and institutions based in Western North Carolina attended the A3 Education and Workforce Symposium at UNC Asheville. The event was organized by the Talent First Economics Community Cohort Western Mountain Region team, a group of certified workforce development leaders helping increase employment opportunities for underrepresented workers in the region.
A man speaks into a microphone at the front of a room. In the background, several people sit at a table listening.

Sep 25, 2023

Community Cohort Team Discusses Engaging with Underutilized Workers in Eastern NC

Members of the Eastern Carolina Region community team engaged in dialogue with businesses, community leaders, and individual job-seekers, at a regional action planning meeting in Snow Hill on September 13.
An adult interviews a high schooler at a table in a library

Aug 8, 2023

Wilson Education Partnership builds relationships between students and community

Over the past year, Wilson Education Partnership has focused on one impactful program called “Communicating with Confidence,” which aims to support students and teachers through the development of soft skills and community relationships. 
A group of high school students stand at the front of a classroom in front of a crowd, being celebrated.

Jul 18, 2023

Boys & Girls Club of Henderson County provides pathway to higher education

Over the past year, the Boys & Girls Club of Henderson County has returned to pre-pandemic levels of engagement, serving more than 1,000 young people in western North Carolina. The Club helps students as young as elementary school envision a future that includes higher education. 
Two representatives from Isothermal Community College stand in front of a promotional tent for the college

Jul 6, 2023

Isothermal Community College strives for student success

Isothermal Community College is not only committed to improving its students' lives through learning—it strives to improve its own processes by learning about the needs of the community.