Local News

Meeting needs: United Way's community impact partners

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Tuesday, 22 July 2025

Written by Anna White

On July 3, United Way of Cumberland County publicized their annual Community Impact Partners for the 2025–2026 funding cycle. The announcement marked not only United Way’s $450,000 in funding allocations to 20 nonprofit programs, but long-standing and newly-budding partnerships between United Way and a host of individuals and organizations who are intent on improving the quality of life for residents of Cumberland County.
This year saw a new partner added to the list as well as a returning partner that has been with the organization 86 years. Long before such partners receive funding allocations, UWCC expends significant effort identifying needs within the community, raising funds, and educating nonprofits about the application process.
It starts with UWCC’s mission to “Improve quality of life by addressing critical human needs,” according to executive director Scott Embry. He says they envision a diverse, dynamic community where everyone shares in opportunity and responsibility—a community where neighbors help neighbors.
By functioning as an independent fundraising arm for nonprofits in the area, Embry says UWCC hopes to reach those neighbors in a meaningful way. UWCC receives donations, identifies core needs in the community through regular community needs assessments, and then receives applications from nonprofits that believe they align with UWCC’s three pillars. If the nonprofit’s applications are accepted, they receive funding from UWCC, enabling them to spend less time doing their own fundraising and more time serving in their area of expertise.
Embry says they conduct community needs assessments every five years to help them hone their pillars, which have largely remained constant through UWCC’s history: Education, Health, and Basic Critical Needs & Financial Stability.
As part of their community needs assessment, they host public surveys, both digital and on-location, for a six-week period.
“In every zip code, we partner with either a library or community center to set up these conversations, and we ask questions,” Embry explained.
He says the goal is to identify, first-hand, where the community’s greatest needs lie.
“It really is a collaboration across this whole community to determine what needs need to be addressed, and then how we are going to address it.”
The digital surveys are advertised on mailers sent out through a partnership with Fayetteville State University—a partnership that Embry says gives them “a lot of confidence” in the quality of the research they’re conducting. Once collected, the data is made available to local government agencies, nonprofits, and businesses in addition to being used by UWCC as they decide which nonprofits to partner with.
The most basic criteria mean that nonprofit applicants must be offering services that fall under one of the three pillars as defined by UWCC:
Education: Programs that strengthen children’s ability to succeed in school from kindergarten to college and programs that build successful youth, families and Cumberland County adults.
Health: Programs that provide access to health care and wellness education programs that provide access to health care and wellness education to help people manage and prevent chronic physical and mental illnesses.
Basic Critical Needs & Financial Stability: Programs that provide access to emergency food, safe shelter, rental, utility, and medical assistance, as well as programs that provide employment preparation and financial self-sufficiency.
In addition to aligning with the three pillars, nonprofits must be at least 2 years old and must meet criteria for financial transparency and effective internal governance.
“They're not incredibly difficult criteria. But unfortunately, some nonprofits won't have the structure in place to get the funding,” Embry shared. “But going through the process of applying will absolutely make every nonprofit better. Because what we require, most organizations that are granting any type of funds are going to require too.”
He said their goal is to add value to the nonprofit community, whether or not they end up funding them. They do that by hosting workshops throughout the year on topics such as sales and marketing.
“We're never going to be able to fund everything, but we're here to help and support nonprofits,” Embry explained. “If I can add to what you're doing just by standing next to you, United Way is interested in that as well, because we know it takes the whole community for the community to be the best version of itself.”
Embry says that while the criteria ultimately exclude certain nonprofits, it means that donors can be confident about where their donations are going.
The 2025-26 funding cycle recipients include the following nonprofits:
Education
• Adult Literacy & Education Center – Fayetteville Urban Ministry
• Community Engagement Program – Girl Scouts, NC Coastal Pines Council
• Find A Friend Mentoring Program – Fayetteville Urban Ministry
• Garden Field Trip & Classroom Program – Cape Fear Botanical Garden
• Intervention & Prevention After School Programs – Greater Life of Fayetteville
• Youth Scouting Programs – Scouting America, Occoneechee Council
Health
• Community Caregiving Circle – Cumberland County Council on Older Adults
• Diabetes Self-Management Program – Better Health of Cumberland County
• Medical Emergency Direct Aid Program – Better Health of Cumberland County
• Mental Health & Substance Use Disorder Services – Cumberland County CommuniCare Preparedness, Health & Safety Programs – American Red Cross, Sandhills Chapter
• VRC on the Move for the Visually Impaired – Vision Resource Center
Basic Critical Needs & Financial Stability
• Day Resource Center for Women & Children – Connections of Cumberland County
• Disaster Services – American Red Cross, Sandhills Chapter
• Emergency Assistance Program – Fayetteville Urban Ministry
• Food Pantry Services – Catholic Charities of the Raleigh Diocese
• Home Improvement Program – Cumberland County Council on Older Adults
• Nehemiah Emergency Home Repair Program – Fayetteville Urban Ministry
• Senior Nutrition Services (Meals on Wheels) – Cumberland County Council on Older Adults Services to the Armed Forces – American Red Cross, Sandhills Chapter
This year’s newest addition is Cape Fear Botanical Garden’s Garden Field Trip & Classroom Program.
“They have an incredible garden and classroom education program that they open up to Title 1 schools to bring buses in so kids can experience something really remarkable locally,” Embry shared. “We were just really excited, because we hate to think that that's not available to people. And if the United Way can help pay for their admission, we think that when we can expose our kids to the best parts of our community, we're going to have a better community.”
Vision Resource Center, an organization that helps the visually impaired of the Cape Fear Region live more independently and socially, is the longest-standing community impact partner, boasting an 86-year partnership with UWCC. This year, they received funding for their program “VRC on the Move for the Visually Impaired.”
Embry says that during a time when many organizations face uncertain government funding and technology that allows donors to send their donations across the world, UWCC is more committed than ever to staying local.
“100% of our focus is on Cumberland County. 100% of the funds we raise stay in Cumberland County,” he shared. “We need people to join us in doing this good work. I promise, at the end of the day, they’re going to find that what we do is exceptional.”

(Photo: Cape Fear Botanical Garden is the newest community impact partner with United Way of Cumberland County. Photo courtesy of United Way of Cumberland County)

Note from the Editor: "UCW" writer Anna White wins Green Eyeshade Award

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Tuesday, 22 July 2025

Written by Aly Hansen

Up & Coming Weekly has a long tradition of winning awards for story writing, graphic design, and photography, and we are excited to continue that tradition through 2025.
UCW writer Anna White has been announced as the third place winner in the Lifestyle Reporting category in the 2025 Green Eyeshade Awards. The journalism contest has been open to journalists and publications across the southeastern United States since 1950. Awards are given for print, digital, radio and television media.
Known as one of the oldest regional journalism contests in the nation, the Green Eyeshades are managed by the Society of Professional Journalists.
The awards are open to journalists from Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Articles for submission are judged by professional journalists, both active and retired.
White's winning article, Dorothy Gilmore Adaptive Recreation Center, Where Abilities and dis-Abilities become POSS-Abilities, was a feature article in our Sept. 4, 2024 edition. Readers can find the article online at https://bit.ly/4lFA7Du
White has been writing for Up & Coming Weekly for a year and a half, and it has been my pleasure to edit her articles each week. Her ability to interview people in the community and get to the heart of the subject come through with every article she writes. From articles about the trails at Carvers Creek to features detailing the latest events at the Cape Fear Botanical Garden, White's UCW resume covers a lot of ground in Cumberland County.
On behalf of the entire Up & Coming Weekly team, congratulations, Anna White!

FTCC announces expansion of partnerships with FSU

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Tuesday, 15 July 2025

Written by Dr. Christopher Thrasher, FTCC Social Science Instructor

Building on a long and successful history of partnership, Fayetteville Technical Community College is proud to announce the expansion of two-degree pathways to Fayetteville State University.
1. Criminal Justice Pathway: Eligible students can now complete three years of study in criminal justice at FTCC and then transfer to Fayetteville State University as a senior to complete the final year of their bachelor's degree. The degree can be completed in person or fully online. This unique program allows students to complete three of their four years of study at the much cheaper community college tuition rate before transferring to FSU to enjoy all the benefits of graduating from an outstanding university.
This degree is a great opportunity for anyone interested in working as a police officer, loss prevention specialist, or correctional officer.
According to the US Department of Labor, police officers can expect to earn a median annual salary of $77,270 with excellent benefits and strong job growth during the next decade.
2. Forensic Science Pathway: FTCC and FSU are also partnering to offer a degree pathway in the emerging field of forensic science. FSU is one of only two universities that offer a bachelor's degree in forensic science. Students on this pathway complete two years of coursework at FTCC before transferring to FSU for specialized training in the most advanced forensic science techniques.
This degree is a wonderful option for anyone who wants to work as a research scientist, toxicologist, or forensic technician.
The US Department of Labor reports that forensic science technicians earn a median salary of $67,440 each year with excellent benefits and much faster than average job growth for the next ten years.
Both the criminal justice and forensic science options provide students with a solid foundation in the theories, practices, and skills necessary to succeed in various sectors of the justice system. FTCC boasts a team of experienced professionals who bring knowledge and real-world expertise to the classroom. Many instructors have served in law enforcement, corrections, the court system, government agencies, and non-profit organizations, providing students with valuable insights and practical examples to enhance their learning experience.
FTCC also prides itself on its commitment to hands-on learning. The college has invested in state-of-the-art facilities, including a crime scene investigation lab and a mock courtroom, where students can apply the theories and skills they have learned in a realistic setting. These practical experiences are invaluable in preparing students for the demands of their future careers.
FTCC was already a great option for anyone interested in pursuing a career in criminal justice or forensic science and the expansion of these degree pathways has made it better than ever.
Please contact Jeffrey Zack, Criminal Justice Department chair, at zackj@faytechcc.edu or by calling 910-678-0043, or reach out to Jennifer Osborn, Criminal Justice and Public Administration instructor, at osbornje@faytechcc.edu or by calling 910-678-0045.

Josephus Daniels and Blue Ridge Parkway

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Tuesday, 15 July 2025

Written by D.G. Martin

Maybe you think I have written enough about Josephus Daniels, the founder and longtime editor of the Raleigh News & Observer.
Nope.
One more column about Josephus Daniels. This one prompted by a recent article about the Blue Ridge Parkway.
In the June 16 New York Times, reporter Gabe Castro-Root wrote, “When Hurricane Helene ravaged much of the Southeastern United States in September, the scenic Blue Ridge Parkway also took a beating.
“Most years, the 469-mile parkway, which winds through the Appalachians in North Carolina and Virginia, tops the list of the most visited National Park Service properties, dazzling travelers with waterfalls, mountain vistas and lush forests. Despite the storm, the parkway still ranked second last year, with nearly 17 million visitors, after the Golden Gate National Recreation Area in the San Francisco Bay Area.
“Landslides, flooding and fallen trees caused by the hurricane’s heavy rain and high winds caused extensive damage to the parkway, closing the entire road for about two weeks.
“Maintenance crews have repaired much of the damage over the last several months, despite layoffs and budget cuts at the N.P.S. [National Park Service], though sections of the roadway as well as some campsites and a destroyed visitor center remain closed indefinitely.”
This recent attention is a reminder of the important role Josephus Daniels played in the Parkway’s location. Only a few older folks remember that North Carolina would have lost much of the parkway to Tennessee if Daniels had not gone to bat in 1934.
We should recognize that although Daniels held and exploited the racist views of his times, his foresight and advocacy are still improving the lives of North Carolinians of all races.
What Josephus Daniels has to do with the parkway’s location is a part of the story Anne Mitchell Whisnant tells in her 2006 UNC Press book, Super-scenic Motorway: A Blue Ridge Parkway History.
In 1933, the new President Franklin Roosevelt believed a program of massive public works would help the nation recover from the Great Depression. Whisnant explains, “The Parkway was authorized under the National Industrial Recovery Act, signed in June 1933, which created the Public Works Administration to finance large-scale public works projects as a way of pumping money into the sagging economy and creating jobs in the construction of substantial structures that would be of long-term value to the nation.”
Roosevelt approved a scenic roadway connecting Shenandoah National Park in Virginia and Great Smoky Mountains National Park located along the North Carolina-Tennessee border. All agreed that the parkway would run from Virginia down to Linville. From there it would either cross the mountains into Tennessee and end at the Tennessee park entrance near Gatlinburg or continue in North Carolina through Asheville and then to the park entrance near Cherokee.
The experts recommended the Tennessee route. But when Josephus Daniels had been Secretary of the Navy during World War I, Roosevelt was assistant secretary, and the two men remained close.
After Daniels weighed in, Roosevelt’s Secretary of the Interior Harold Ickes overruled the experts and selected the North Carolina route.
North Carolinians who enjoy traveling the parkway from Linville through Asheville owe Josephus Daniels a strong thank you.
More current information is available at Anne Mitchell Whisnant’s website https://www.superscenic.com