Plus a 150-yr-old law is overturned and a hotline launches for people adjusting to life outside of prison
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** All For NC Newsletter
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Insights and Updates from the Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation
A Note from Joy
Greetings,
At ZSR, we're committed to supporting nonprofit organizations working to make life better for people in North Carolina. Our program officers are critical to this work. Program officers are in constant, direct relationship with nonprofit staff, so they understand organizations' challenges and push ZSR to be a stronger funding partner.
Today I’m excited to introduce Jamilla Hawkins and Katherine Baer, ZSR’s newest program officers, completing our program team and enhancing our capacity to support the vital work of nonprofits across NC.
Headshots of Jamilla Hawkins and Katherine Baer
Jamilla and Katherine bring unique experiences and skills to their roles:
* Jamilla Hawkins’ career has spanned state government, nonprofits and philanthropy. Most recently, Jamilla served as Chief of Staff for the NC Pandemic Recovery Office, where she managed the reporting, communications and outreach functions of the office. Before that, she worked at the NC Rural Center to strengthen food systems statewide by promoting and providing resources to food business entrepreneurs, local farmers and community leaders. Jamilla grew up in Riegelwood, NC, and attended Columbus County Schools. She will work across several of our grantmaking strategies.
* Katherine Baer is a longtime environmental advocate who most recently served as Vice President for Programs at River Network, where she led the organization’s efforts to build an inclusive network and strengthen the capacity of local groups nationwide for safe and affordable drinking water, healthy rivers and climate-resilient communities. Katherine also has worked for American Rivers, Triangle Land Conservancy, Upper Chattahoochee Riverkeeper and the Center for Progressive Reform. Katherine will be primarily responsible for our grantmaking dedicated to fostering a healthy and sustainable environment.
We hope you’ll join us in welcoming them to the team!
All for NC,
Joy's signature
Joy Vermillion Heinsohn
Executive Director
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Get Inspired
Stories of hope and action from our partners across NC
* Recidivism Reduction Educational Program Services Inc. (RREPS) launched a hotline ([link removed]) to help people recently released from prison readjust to life in their communities. Whether callers need help finding a job, housing or even identification documents, the person on the other end of the hotline can connect them to resources.
* The Yadkin River and its tributaries supply drinking water to more than 1.1 million people and feed several lakes that North Carolinians use for fishing and recreation. But like many rivers in NC, the Yadkin is currently under pressure from land developers, industrial agriculture expansion, and loosening environmental regulations. Yadkin Riverkeeper is working to generate community support ([link removed]) to protect the Yadkin so the river can provide fresh water, fishing and recreational opportunities for generations to come.
* When pandemic-era grants for childcare providers expire this summer, 1,500 programs in North Carolina could close, and more than 90,000 children may be left without care. National Domestic Workers Alliance rallied childcare providers, educators, families and advocates ([link removed]) to call attention to this crisis and highlight the need for funding to stabilize the industry during a time of uncertainty.
* Since 1877, NC law has stipulated that if someone with a prior felony conviction voted in an election before having their voting rights restored, they could be prosecuted with another felony and face up to two years in prison simply for casting that ballot – even if they did so mistakenly or unknowingly. Now, a federal court has struck down the law ([link removed]) , saying that its historical intent and present-day impact was to disenfranchise Black voters. The Southern Coalition for Social Justice and Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP represented the NC A. Philip Randolph Institute and Action Institute NC as plaintiffs in the case.
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What's New with ZSR?
* Grant applications for our State-Level Systemic Change Strategy ([link removed]) will open on June 6, and the application deadline will be August 1 at noon.
* Inside Philanthropy interviewed ZSR Director of Strategy and Learning Sorien Schmidt for a story on how regional funders are confronting challenges to democracy ([link removed]) . In the article, Sorien explained ZSR’s approach: “We see this as an ongoing infrastructure that needs to be in place all the time, not just once every four years or every other year. We’re investing multi-year, general operating support to build and maintain this infrastructure and this ecosystem of work."
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The All For NC Newsletter is a monthly email from the Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation where we share insights from our staff, highlight stories of hope and action from partners across NC, and provide updates.
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