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Wednesday, 08 July 2026
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Written by Katie Herring
In an era where civic engagement is more critical than ever, a new generation of young leaders is stepping up to prove that age is no barrier to making a meaningful impact. Among these bright minds is Callie Tisdale, an eighth-grade Fayetteville Academy student whose sharp critical thinking, deep understanding of government and passion for her community have propelled her to the top of a prestigious national stage.
The National Civics Bee, organized by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation, is a competitive program designed to encourage middle school students to engage with their communities. According to the Foundation, students who participate "gain knowledge about American democracy, practice engaging respectfully and constructively and build trust in others and institutions."
For Callie, entering the competition was a natural choice. As someone who has always been fascinated by history and government, which was further fueled by her seventh-grade civics class, she jumped at the opportunity when her English teacher presented the idea of competing in the Civics Bee.
The first step of the competition required submitting an essay identifying a local problem and proposing a civic-minded solution. Callie chose to tackle a heavy and deeply critical issue affecting her community: human trafficking in Cumberland County.
In her essay, Callie argued for the urgent need to raise awareness by collaborating with local organizations like the Child Advocacy Center and local law enforcement, as well as utilizing the powerful stories of survivors. To bridge the gap between awareness and action, she proposed creating a centralized website to consolidate vital resources, making it easier for people to access help and information. As Callie wrote in her essay:
“With the horrid nature of these acts, we need a system in place that will prevent it. Helping this issue will help everyone feel safer
in our city.”
Instead of allowing this idea to remain theoretical, Callie took her ideas beyond the page, the webpage, that is. While she is working to build the website, she has launched an Instagram account titled WRATH (Websites for Resources Against Trafficking Humans), which can be found at @the.wrath111. The significance of 111 is that January 11 is National Human Trafficking Awareness Day. This digital platform serves as the first step in her mission to consolidate resources and spread awareness, proving that her essay was not just a competition entry but a blueprint for real-world change.
The journey of the National Civics Bee is a demanding, multi-tiered sequence. The competition begins at the regional level, where students take part in a live quiz and a Q&A session defending their essays. The top three contestants from each regional event advance to the State Finals.
Callie excelled at the regional level, held in Fayetteville this year, earning her ticket to the state competition. Throughout the progression of the bee, competitors must stick to their original essay and core problem. However, they are permitted to adapt their ideas and expand upon their solutions. In Callie’s case, her original solution involved going into schools to help raise awareness of human trafficking and helping her peers understand how they could help prevent it. However, as she continued through the competition, she realized how time-consuming and labor-intensive that could be, and that by creating digital resources, more people could be reached and helped. Callie used this opportunity to refine her digital resource strategy, demonstrating a sophisticated understanding of public policy and community organizing.
Her hard work, poise and thoroughly researched solutions have not gone unnoticed. Callie not only held her own against the brightest minds in the state, but she won the entire North Carolina State competition. Reflecting on the environment, Callie shared a sentiment that highlights the true spirit of the event: “It’s really fun to compete with people who have similar interests.”
By capturing the state title, Callie has earned the opportunity to represent North Carolina at the National Civics Bee National Championship in Washington, D.C. The stakes at the national level are incredibly high. Finalists from across the country will compete not only for prestigious recognition but also for a life-changing $100,000 contribution to a 529 college savings plan.
Through her brilliant analytical skills, dedication to public service, and willingness to tackle difficult conversations, Callie Tisdale is proving that the next generation is ready to lead. As she prepares to take her ideas to the nation's capital, Cumberland County stands proudly behind a young leader who is actively working to make her community a safer place.
(Photo: Callie Tisdale won the North Carolina State Civics Bee after earning her spot at the Regional Civics Bee held in Fayetteville. She will compete in Washington DC in the nation wide competition later this year. Photo courtesy of Karen Tisdale)
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Tuesday, 07 July 2026
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Written by Tiffany Haywood
Before the first family arrives, volunteers are already at work.
Local business Flip Flop Sauce joins Gate Beautiful's crew at the grill, serving hot dogs while children gather around a nearby face-painting tent. An inflatable slide welcomes younger guests, and under one large tent, families sit together, share a meal and spend the evening in conversation.
It doesn't take long to realize Gate Beautiful isn't simply hosting an event. It's intentionally building something much harder to earn: trust.
Most people think trust is built when someone tells the truth. But trust is also built through consistency—showing up again and again, exactly as promised.
That's the idea behind Summer of Hope, a free weekly community gathering hosted by Gate Beautiful every Thursday at 6 p.m. through Aug. 13 at Christ Covenant Baptist Church at 5200 Bragg Blvd. Made possible through the City of Fayetteville Office of Community Safety's Safe Space Activation Grant, the 10-week program offers food, activities and access to community resources while creating a place where relationships can grow.
"This kind of thing is something we've wanted to do for a really long time, but we just haven't had the capacity to do it," said Abbie Arena of Gate Beautiful. "The grant definitely provided that capacity for us."
Although participating organizations could host two events each month through the grant, Gate Beautiful chose a different approach: returning to the same location every Thursday.
"We chose to stay in the same spot every time... to establish that consistency in that neighborhood, to be able to build trust and really just show up for people consistently," Arena said.
Before volunteers realized I was there as a reporter, they approached me just as they did every other attendee. They took the time to introduce themselves, learn my name, ask about my family and welcome me as a newcomer. Nothing felt hurried or scripted. It wasn't about moving me through a line or directing me to a registration table. It was about getting to know me and making me feel like I already belonged.
Arena said that's exactly the goal.
"Maybe on week one, someone's not quite ready," she said. "But maybe by week four or five they've established enough of a relationship to realize, 'Okay, you're the real deal,' and feel comfortable asking for the help they need."
Sometimes, that relationship begins with something as simple as friendship.
During the program's third week, volunteers celebrated the birthday of a returning participant who had been facing difficult circumstances. It was simply the natural result of taking the time to know one another.
"It's starting to feel more and more like a little community," Arena said. "They're just accepting friendship, and that's really what we wanted — to establish that community."
District 8 City Council member Shaun McMillan said the Safe Space Activation Grant, funded through the City of Fayetteville Office of Community Safety and led by Director John Jones, is designed to strengthen organizations before crises occur rather than to respond afterward. The office awarded reimbursement grants to four local organizations, including Gate Beautiful.
"Too often we focus on the outcomes," McMillan said. "In a preventive way, they're pouring into organizations and the spaces that provide safety and meet people's needs."
He said programs like Summer of Hope are "creating opportunities for people to come together in a strong community."
Gate Beautiful, which supports individuals impacted by human trafficking through case management, legal advocacy, rehabilitation referrals, detox services and other support, created Summer of Hope to become a bridge long before someone reaches the point of asking for help.
Attendance grew from 33 participants during the first week to nearly 60 during the second. By the third week, volunteers were greeting familiar faces, and families were bringing friends along.
What stayed with me most wasn't the hot dogs, the inflatable slide or the face painting.
It was the people.
The volunteers weren't simply serving dinner. They were listening. They weren't checking off a task list. They were investing in relationships that may one day become the bridge between someone realizing they need help and feeling safe enough to ask for it.
Summer of Hope continues each Thursday at 6 p.m. through Aug. 13 at Christ Covenant Baptist Church. Arena also credited Christ Covenant Baptist Church for opening its campus and providing the space for the weekly gatherings, the Cumberland County Sheriff's Office for providing security and volunteer support, and Vigilant Hope for serving alongside Gate Beautiful throughout the summer.
The free program is open to the community, offering families an opportunity to enjoy a summer evening together while discovering resources, support and a community committed to showing up week after week.
Because sometimes hope begins with knowing that when you come back next Thursday, you'll see a familiar face, hear your name and realize you're no longer walking into a crowd—you're walking back to a community.
(Photo: Gate Beautiful's Summer of Hope is held every Thursday at Christ Covenant Baptist Church from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Photos by Tiffany Haywood)
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