January 2022 NCCAA Empowered Newsletter

January 2022, Issue 1

Taking action for North Carolina families

An interview with The Duke Endowment

Growing up in Halifax County, NC, Sharon Goodson always looked forward to attending Head Start summer camps in her rural community. “I guess you can say I entered the world of community action as a child at those camps,” Goodson says. “I had no idea I would one day end up helping those agencies do the incredible work that they do.” READ MORE of Sharon's candid conversation with The Duke Endowment on how community action agencies are making a difference for low-income families under her leadership.

Success Story

Spotlight on Healthy Home Initiative: Cultivating healthier spaces

A healthy home includes both the physical structure of your house and the spaces around it. Unfortunately, some families struggle to make home repairs. NCCAA's Healthy Homes Initiative is a transformative program for qualified homeowners who need crucial renovations. Recently, the program provided Cheryl Robens of Hot Springs in Madison County, with funding to have repairs done to a bridge in front of her home. READ MORE

Agency News

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Mountain Projects receives funds from local holiday challenge

Mountain Projects is the recipient of funds from The Mountaineer's annual holiday challenge. The challenge raises funds to contribute to a specific community initiative. Mountain Projects will use the funds to supplement its flood relief and winter warm assistance programs.

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Passage Home honored with Residential Architect Design Award

Passage Home's new affordable housing project has been recognized with a 2021 Residential Architect Design Award. The housing development, located in Raleigh, NC's South Park neighborhood, is available for qualifying renters earning 30% to 70% of the area's median income. READ MORE

YVEDDI, SHFB partner to provide meals to homebound seniors

A partnership between YVEDDI and Second Harvest Food Bank in conjunction with Providence Catering is now delivering lunchtime meals to Yadkin and Surry county seniors five days each week.

WAMY hosts annual 'Santa for Seniors' brunch

WAMY recently hosted its third annual 'Santa for Seniors' brunch for residents of Avery, Mitchell, Watauga, and Yancey counties. Melissa Soto said the feedback and continued support allow the organization to create new services and programs that benefit the community’s most vulnerable populations.

Webinar Recording: Combining utility assistance, wraparound services, and roof repairs in weatherization

Looking for a unique approach to services? Check out how a webinar on how Wayne Metropolitan Community Action Agency integrates utility bill payment assistance and multiple home repair funds to reduce deferrals and maximize the Weatherization Assistance Program. Access the recording of the webinar here.

News

IRS increases standard business mileage rate for 2022

The IRS has announced that the standard business mileage rate will increase to 58.5 cents per mile in 2022 (up from 56 cents per mile in 2021). Many nonprofits use this rate when reimbursing their employees for work-related driving. The volunteer mileage rate–the amount that is tax-deductible when nonprofit volunteers drive on behalf of a nonprofit organization–remains at 14 cents per mile and can only be changed by Congress. READ MORE

SEACAA presents the

'Wheel Deal' webinar series

The Southeastern Association of Community Action Agencies has launched a series of training webinars to help equip CAAs with tools to proactively turn risk into opportunity. NCCAA members can access low-cost training packages that include live webinars and recordings at discounted rates. LEARN MORE

Blogs

How do you solve poverty? Throw money at the problem

If there’s one enduring myth in America, it’s that there’s nothing we can really do to end poverty. Most policy prescriptions during the last few decades — from setting up Byzantine barriers to programs like food stamps and Medicaid to doing nothing at all — are rooted in condescending lore that poor people deserve to suffer because they clearly made poor personal choices, while conveniently ignoring structural problems of inequality and racism. But the COVID-19 pandemic showed us, once and for all, that we can eradicate poverty — if we want to. READ MORE

How to create your own at-home spa for the ultimate relaxation

We all need a bit of me time to relax, unwind, and enjoy a little pampering. You don’t have to pay a lot of money to get a spa’s unique experiences if you create your own at home. With a few simple tweaks and tips, you can enjoy your very own at-home spa for the perfect way to practice a little bit of self-care. We’ve put together an awesome list of ideas to help you relax and create a DIY spa that’ll have you feeling calm and serene. READ MORE

NC Supreme Court hears arguments on juvenile

life-without-parole

The North Carolina Supreme Court recently heard oral arguments on the racial disparities involved in sentencing kids under 18 to life without parole. Research shows the sentences are disproportionately used in cases involving young people of color. In North Carolina, Black and brown kids make up more than 90% of those serving life-without-parole sentences. READ MORE

Inspirational Words

Calendar

Mark Your Calendar!

January

10| Case Management Certification, Virtual

12| Learning Communities Resource Center 2022 Kickoff, Virtual

17| Head Start Family Certification Cohort, Virtual

19| 2022 Annual Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Commemoration, Virtual

19| The Unapologetic Introvert, Webinar

February

02| Motivational Interviewing: Practices to Better Serve Your Communties, Webinar

16| Emerging Economic Challenges = Big Opportunites for 2022, Webinar

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