Leadership Chapel Hill-Carrboro, the region’s premier leadership development program facilitated by The Chamber for a Greater Chapel Hill-Carrboro , cultivates and connects the community leaders of today and tomorrow. Each year, Leadership cohorts are tasked with executing a “Small Miracles” fundraising project applying tools and lessons learned through the program and supporting a local non-profit organization. We heard from Caroline Dwyer, AICP, the Planning Manager at Chapel Hill Transit and one of this year’s Leadership participants about the group’s fundraising goals and how YOU can support this home-grown initiative.
What is Leadership Chapel Hill-Carrboro?
Leadership Chapel Hill-Carrboro is a world-class leadership development program for experienced and emerging leaders, designed to inform, connect, and engage experienced and leaders in Greater Chapel Hill-Carrboro with their own community. Hallmarks of participants include a commitment to community service, a passion for learning, and a willingness to serve in key volunteer leadership roles. The 10-session program features a cohort-based learning experience with dozens of panels, tours, and workshops. Leadership combines presentations, experiential learning activities, and facilitated dialogue to help participants better understand key issues in our region related to the economy, government, education, health, economic development, and the environment. Through these immersive experiences, participants gain a deep understanding of the critical issues facing our region, build valuable relationships, and develop the skills needed to drive positive change. Since its inception, the program has empowered individuals to take on leadership roles in business, government, and the nonprofit sector, strengthening the fabric of our community. To learn more about the program or to apply, visit: https://www.carolinachamber.org/leadership-chapel-hill-carrboro/
What is “Small Miracles?”
The participants of each Leadership Chapel Hill-Carrboro cohort execute a “Small Miracles” project supporting a local non-profit. Participants apply tools learned through the program to identify and select a local non-profit to support and to execute a fundraising event. The rules are simple – each class must raise enough money to support one scholarship to the following year’s Leadership program and funds supporting the stated needs of one or more local non-profit organizations. To select a non-profit, participants form teams and develop a pitch for their organization and a fundraising activity. The group then applies governance tools such as Robert’s Rules of Order, negotiation, and more to select their target organization and fundraiser. Participants are then responsible for planning and executing the project, to meet their fundraising goals.
What organization will benefit from this year’s Small Miracles project?
This year, we’ve identified a goal to support community organizations that are mitigating food insecurity, enhancing access to education, and supporting community empowerment. We are hosting a silent auction with proceeds benefiting the Rogers-Eubanks Neighborhood Association (RENA). We hope to raise enough money for RENA to hire a professional grant writer, currently one of the organization’s most critical needs. Participants are also coordinating food drives at work or home. Collected food items will be donated to People Offering Relief for Chapel Hill-Carrboro Homes (PORCH).
Can you tell us more about these organizations?
Absolutely! The Rogers-Eubanks Neighborhood Association (RENA) is a non-profit community development organization founded in 2007 by residents of Chapel Hill’s Rogers-Eubanks neighborhood. The story of the Rogers-Eubanks Neighborhood is one of resilience and community spirit. This neighborhood was originally settled in the early 1800s by people freed from involuntary bondage. For most of the neighborhood’s long history, residents have not enjoyed the same benefits, freedoms, and civil liberties as our community’s white population. Still today, the Rogers-Eubanks neighborhood lacks full civic representation, despite being governed and taxed by several municipal bodies. From 1972 to 2013, Rogers-Eubanks residents suffered the adverse impacts of environmental injustice, including odors, noise, and pollution, generated by the County landfill located adjacent to the neighborhood.
Rising from these adversities, the residents established a non-profit and created the RENA Community Center, transforming it into a beacon of hope and empowerment. When RENA was founded by residents in 2007, the organization provided a foundation for the consistency advocacy needed to finally close the landfill. Today, RENA hosts an array of impactful programs including food drives, educational workshops, summer camps, and ESL classes, significantly enhancing the quality of life for its residents including:
- Healthy and accessible food: Hosting a monthly food bank (except in summer), a community garden, and cooking classes.
- Education: Providing after-school and end-of-grade tutoring and computer and English as a Second Language (ESL) classes.
- Building Community: Organizing events including Back to School Bash, Summer Enrichment Camp, Christmas Toy Drive, Halloween Festival, Big Sweep Clean-Up Days, and Community Movie Nights.
People Offering Relief for Chapel Hill-Carrboro Homes, or PORCH, was founded during the 2010 recession by three friends in Chapel Hill. The organization began as a small neighborhood initiative where residents left cans of tuna on their porches to be collected for local hunger relief. Over the last 20+ years this simple initiative has significantly expanded into an organization coordinating monthly food drives in over 100 neighborhoods. PORCH donates non-perishable food items to local food pantries, families, and schools in Orange County, ensuring our neighbors know where their next meal is coming from.
How are you raising money for RENA?
This year’s Leadership cohort is hosting an online silent auction featuring an array of locally-sourced, one-of-a-kind items and experiences. All proceeds from the auction directly benefit RENA. The auction is currently live and is scheduled to end on August 26, 2024 at 9 PM eastern time. The online silent auction platform lets you view and bid on items when it’s most convenient for you!
We are also selling tickets for a 50/50 raffle offering a chance to win up to $2,000! 50/50 Raffle Tickets are $10 each and can be purchased by emailing [email protected]. In person ticket sales will also be announced online. The winning ticket will be drawn at the Leadership 2024 Graduation ceremony on August 27. You do not need to be present to win!
What types of items and experiences can we bid on?
We have everything from collector’s items, to experiences, to one-of-a-kind handmade goods.
For example, we have a “Book Lover’s Delight” package that includes a $200 gift certificate to Flyleaf Books in Chapel Hill and an autographed 4”x6” photograph of George RR Martin, author and creator of the extremely popular Game of Thrones books and TV show.
We also have four UNC Football tickets in the Blue Zone to see UNC take on NC Central this fall.
Or, you can bid on experiences like “An Evening of Elegance” including two tickets to a performance by the North Carolina Symphony and $100 in Gift Cards to Top of the Hill.
And we have some truly special, one-of-a-kind handcrafted items like a handknit merino wool shawl and a custom digital portrait based on a photo you provide to the artist.
We promise – there is something for everyone. This is also a great opportunity to get a head start on your holiday shopping!
How can our readers help?
Visit our auction and bid! The link to view and bid is https://www.32auctions.com/leadership2024
Or buy a 50/50 Raffle ticket! And tell all of your friends, coworkers, neighbors, Instagram followers, etc. to do the same! Help us get the word out. There are also opportunities to make a direct donation on the auction site, if you’re not interested in bidding on an item or experience.
Any last messages?
We’d like to send a big thank you to all the local organizations and agencies that have supported us on our journey and donated items and experiences for our auction. This is a great opportunity to directly impact an organization in our community that needs your help. We have some AMAZING offerings and all proceeds go directly to RENA. Your participation helps sustain the RENA Community Center’s programs and enhance the lives of their residents. Don’t miss out on these great items and a chance to support a worthy cause. Bid early, bid often! The auction ends 8/26! https://www.32auctions.com/leadership2024