“We’re not here to just fix immediate needs. We have to find the courage to seek new ideas that can truly transform the health and wellbeing of people in Western North Carolina.”
Martha Tyner’s interest in helping others started when she worked for the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) program in Western North Carolina, providing vital nutrition to those in need. Seeing so many of her neighbors struggle inspired her to become a social worker, and her desire to serve others further expanded after she and her husband, Harrison, started their family.
“When I had our first child and was cared for so beautifully at Spruce Pine Hospital,” said the Asheville native and Western Carolina graduate, “that’s when I really became passionate about supporting health care in our community.”
That passion includes past service as chair of the Blue Ridge Regional Hospital Board of Directors. From 2003 to 2007, she also served on the Blue Ridge Regional Hospital Foundation Board.
Throughout that time she also held a variety of roles for her family’s business, Tyner Construction, while also raising her family in the shadow of Mount Mitchell.
“We live in a beautiful part of the world, but it can also be challenging,” said Martha. “The mountainous terrain can make things like transportation, broadband access and economic development more difficult, and that in turn can negatively impact people’s health and well-being.”
Martha says she feels privileged to be working with Dogwood Health Trust to help improve the lives of those living in Western North Carolina.
“It’s a real honor to work with such an outstanding group of people,” she said. “We all bring different skill sets, but we’re all determined to embrace bold ideas than can completely change the course of our region.”
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Asheville, NC 28803
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Asheville, NC 28803
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Support programs and networks that reduce deaths, treat addiction, and prevent first use
Help reduce disparities based on race, location, education and income factors
Invest in integrated heath care with seamless connections to supportive services
Support communities that promote healthy living and resiliency and help mitigate the impact of trauma, isolation and stress on individuals and families, especially those experiencing poverty
Support a well-funded, sustainable, competitive entrepreneur and small business ecosystem throughout the region
Help build a regional economic ecosystem that supports increased creation/retention of jobs and business ownership
Help build a skilled workforce with the knowledge and technical abilities to excel in a wide range of industry employment opportunities that provide a competitive, sustainable wage
Source, analyze and share a comprehensive, county-by-county data set that paints a full picture of work readiness, economic development and entrepreneurial needs and opportunities specific to Western North Carolina
Work in tandem with Economic Opportunity Strategic Priority to invest in career readiness at the community college and university levels
Support K-12 learning experiences with the resources and sustainability to provide an excellent academic and social-emotional education, so that all students graduate ready for college or career
Invest in an improved early childhood education ecosystem with the resources and sustainability to provide developmentally appropriate, affordable and accessible education and care to support ages birth to five, so that all children in WNC enter kindergarten ready to learn
Source, analyze and share a comprehensive set of publicly available data that provides a regularly updated, county-by-county picture of access, workforce and student outcomes in early childhood education and K-12 education specific to Western North Carolina
Loans, guarantees, and other financial tools to leverage funding opportunities
Increase affordable housing for lowest-income individuals and families
Support age-appropriate resources in affordable and workforce units, rental and owned
Invest in housing with sustainable supports for physical and mental health and wellbeing
Support healthy and safe revitalizations that work against displacement and gentrification, preserve home ownership and create generational wealth.