Communities

Mar 30, 2022

Director’s Log | March 2022

A Few Things to Believe 1951 was a troubling year for the planet. A flu epidemic was breaking out across the globe, causing an unusually high number of deaths in… 

Sep 30, 2021

Faith and Community: Rural Clergy Mental Health

In the fourth episode of “Faith and Community,” Bryan Hatcher, President of CareNet and Hanna Broome, Presiding Elder of AME Dunn-Lillington District  discusses rural clergy mental health. 

Sep 20, 2021

Connected: Building a Community-wide Digital Equity Plan in Forsyth County

In this episode of the “Connected” podcast series, host Maggie Woods (IEI Policy and Program Manager and BAND-NC Program Director) speaks to Layla Garms; Program Officer of Equity in Education with Winston Salem Foundation and Martha Allman; Senior Assistant Provost and Dean of University Collaborations at Wake Forest University about building a community-wide digital equity plan in Forsyth County. 

Sep 14, 2021

First in Future: After the Flood Waters Recede?

In this episode, we focus on "After the Flood Waters Recede" with guests Jim Fox, former Director of NEMAC; Mayor Zeb Smathers of Canton NC; Jeff Howell, Yancey EMC; and NC House of Representatives Majority Leader, John Bell. 

Aug 19, 2021

Faith and Community: Reclaiming Rural: Building Thriving Rural Congregations

In the first episode of “Faith and Community,” Rev. Allen Stanton, the Executive Director of the Turner Center, discusses his new book "Reclaiming Rural: Building Thriving Rural Congregations" and how rural faith leaders can relate to their congregations and communities. 

Jun 8, 2021

First in Future: NC Small Business Recovery with Byron Hicks, Dr. Henry McKoy, and Kevin Price

In this episode, we focus on "Back to Business: The NC Small Business Recovery" with guests Byron Hicks of the Small Business and Technology Development Center, Dr. Henry McKoy of NC Central University and Kevin Price of National Institute of Minority Economic Development. 

May 25, 2021

First in Future: Rev. Dr. Dawn Baldwin Gibson and Michael Maher

In this First in Future episode, we focus on the return to school resembling something normal, and how do we get our kids back on track and recover from what they lost? Our guests are Michael Maher, Executive Director of the Office of Learning Recovery and Acceleration at the state Department of Public Instruction, and Rev. Dr. Dawn Baldwin Gibson, Superintendent of the Peletah Center for Academic Excellence in eastern NC. 

Mar 9, 2021

First in Future: Marco Zarate – Revisited

In this episode First in Future guest Marco Zarate, his wife and others stepped up and assisted in forming the North Carolina Society of Hispanic Professionals, a nonprofit focused on “promoting education among Hispanic youth,” with a special focus on increasing high school graduation rates. North Carolina Society of Hispanic Professionals have raised corporate contributions, brought in members and volunteers, and through it all Marco has stayed with the organization. 

Jan 26, 2021

First in Future: Mark Burrows

The percentage of people showing “empathy” has nosedived over the past 40 years – down 48%. Four years ago, a group in Transylvania County decided to do something about it. Project Empathy has led to tough conversations about guns, racial equity, rural urban divides and other topics. Two years ago, IEI lifted up the program as one of five state examples of how to “connect rural and urban.” Project manager Mark Burrows talks with us about what he has learned, and is learning, about the power of empathy. 

Jan 19, 2021

First in Future: Patrick Miller and Brad Wilson

A few years ago a report that was in many ways 25 years in the making came out. Over the course of 287 pages, it recommends a series of changes that the state of North Carolina needs to make to ensure that it meets its constitutional obligation to provide each child a sound basic education. In this episode of First in Future, we are joined by two members of the Governor's Commission on access to sound basic education, Patrick Miller and Brad Wilson, to discuss the report and actions needed going forward.