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education
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We believe education begins at birth and lasts throughout life. Education can be a key to unleash the potential of opportunity for everyone, especially for those whose communities have been marginalized. Therefore, education should be equitable, excellent in its delivery and accessible to all regardless of place, gender, ability, income or ethnicity.

Funding Priorities
At-a-Glance

Want to know more? Find out more about Education funding opportunities.

Take a minute to read a message from Ereka R. Williams, Vice President – Education, to find out what we are focusing on in 2024.

wnc after 3pm

Multi-year funding provided to 47 organizations that provide high-quality, evidence-based out-of-school-time programming and supports, with a focus on Black students, English language learners, students with learning disabilities and students experiencing elevated levels of poverty.

what we’re learning about education

Care and Learning (CandL) Data on Early Care and Education

Comprehensive Studies of WNC’s Early Care & Education Landscape

A Landscape Analysis of K12 Education Outcomes in Western North Carolina

Summer Learning Recovery in Western North Carolina: Voices From the Field

how to apply

Want to discuss your ideas? Engage with us to start the process.

meet the
education team

Ereka R. Williams

Vice President – Education
[email protected]

Victoria Brownlee

Officer – Education
[email protected]

Tricia Wilson

Associate- Education
[email protected]

Dr. Ereka R. Williams joins Education Matters to discuss the value of out-of-school time programming in providing students continued learning and enrichment opportunities. In 2023, Dogwood and other WNC partners were recognized as Afterschool Champions for their contributions to out-of-school time programming as part of Lights On Afterschool, an annual nationwide campaign celebrating after school programs and their important role in the lives of children, families and communities.

partner outcomes

partner stories

Big Brothers Big Sisters of WNC

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Western North Carolina works to make a difference by one-on-one mentoring. Volunteers meet with the children and teens they are paired with for several hours, two to three times per month.

partner stories

Boys And Girls Club Of Henderson County

In the summer of 2020, the Boys & Girls Club of Henderson County served nearly 250 members. Members benefited from several programs including the summer academic support program, Brain Gain. The Boys and Girls Club prides itself in mentoring its members to do well for themselves academically and their neighbors in the community.

partner stories

Boys And Girls Club Of Transylvania

Today’s Transylvania Boys & Girls Club is a hub of activity with kids coming from nine area schools. The Club serves kids from kindergarten through 12th grade. They offer a host of activities to engage the kids and to promote life-long learning, from academic success programs and character development to nutrition classes and physical activity.

partner stories

El Centro (LAC) Of Henderson County

El Centro of Henderson County, also known as the Latino Advocacy Coalition (LAC), is a Latinx-operated community center that alleviates challenges and creates a more inclusive community for Latinx residents by providing free and low-cost services, amplifying grassroots leaders, and bringing people together to access community resources. Established in 2001, El Centro (LAC) meets the needs of the Latinx community through three departments: Advocacy, Education and Mental Health.

partner stories

Glitter Sisters

As Principal of Asheville’s School of Inquiry and Life Sciences (SILSA), Nicole Cush recognized an opportunity to help young women of color strengthen their social-emotional skills and increase positive social and academic outcomes. The Glitter Sisters program serves as a critical support system for girls age 15-18 who have historically been marginalized in educational settings.

partner stories

Smart Start Regional Cohort

A Regional Cohort of Smart Start Local Partnerships is helping young children, their families, and early childhood educators increase resiliency and reduce trauma throughout Western North Carolina. Each community within the Cohort starts at its own level of readiness, but all are working in a regional and collaborative way.

education goals & objectives

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Health & Wellness | Goal 4

Increase Access to Behavioral Health and Substance Use Prevention and Treatment

Support programs and networks that reduce deaths, treat addiction, and prevent first use

Objective 4.1: Reduce opioid overdose mortality throughout the region

Objective 4.2: Reduce untreated behavioral health and substance use disorder in disproportionately affected communities

Objective 4.3: Prevent and reduce behavioral health issues and substance use (tobacco, alcohol, illicit and prescription drugs) in youth

Health & Wellness | Goal 3

Address Health Disparities

Help reduce disparities based on race, location, education and income factors

Objective 3.1: Improve health outcomes for women and infants in rural and low-income communities and communities of color

Objective 3.2: Reduce the prevalence of common chronic health diseases in disproportionately affected communities

Objective 3.3: Increase effectiveness of health care through delivery of culturally aligned services

Health & Wellness | Goal 2

Increase Access to Whole-Person Health Care

Invest in integrated heath care with seamless connections to supportive services

Objective 2.1: Increase the number of people with affordable health insurance coverage

Objective 2.2: Increase the available workforce for primary and allied health care services

Objective 2.3: Increase access to comprehensive and integrated care

Objective 2.4: Increase access to community-based services in low-income, elderly and rural communities

Health & Wellness | Goal 1

Support and Build Healthy Communities

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

Objective 1.1: Decrease adverse experiences (ACEs and traumatic violence) and improve individual and family resiliency

Objective 1.2: Increase access to community environments that promote healthy living and social connectedness across the age continuum

Economic Opportunity | Goal 4

Foster Entrepreneurship

Support a well-funded, sustainable, competitive entrepreneur and small business ecosystem throughout the region

Objective 4.1: Increase the number of Person of Color (POC)-led small businesses throughout the region

Objective 4.2: Increase the number of rural small businesses throughout the region

Economic Opportunity | Goal 3

Build Economic Ecosystems

Help build a regional economic ecosystem that supports increased creation/retention of jobs and business ownership

Objective 3.1: Improve access to higher-paying jobs throughout the region, targeting the lowest income populations

Objective 3.2: Increase and retain quality jobs

Objective 3.3: Stimulate economic growth, catalyzing businesses and revenue

Economic Opportunity | Goal 2

Promote Work Readiness

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

Objective 2.1: Close the educational attainment gap in WNC, staying on pace with regional and county-specific projections (myFutureNC 2030).

Economic Opportunity | Goal 1

Develop a Comprehensive Data Resource

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

Education | Goal 3

Support Higher Education Career Readiness

Work in tandem with Economic Opportunity Strategic Priority to invest in career readiness at the community college and university levels

Objective 4.1: Close the educational attainment gap in WNC, staying on pace with regional and county-specific projections (myFutureNC 2030).

Education | Goal 2

Improve K-12 Education

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

Objective 2.1: Address teacher workforce challenges

Objective 2.2: Equip families of students to support academic growth and social-emotional health

Objective 2.3: Increase capacity of partners to provide supports and services, particularly for children facing challenges related to poverty, systemic racism, being differently abled or English language learners

Education | Goal 1

Improve Early Childhood Education Ecosystem

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

Objective: Address early childhood educator workforce challenges

Education | Goal 4

Develop a Comprehensive Landscape Study

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

Housing | Goal 5

Use Impact Investments to Create Affordable and Workforce Housing

Loans, guarantees, and other financial tools to leverage funding opportunities

Housing | Goal 4

Create and Preserve Housing Units for Persons Below 50% of the Median Income

Increase affordable housing for lowest-income individuals and families

Objective 4.1: Create rental units for households below 50% of the median income

Objective 4.2: Help families pay no more than 30% of their income on housing

Objective 4.3: Create and preserve communities in a way that is representative of the WNC natural landscape

Housing | Goal 3

Create and Preserve Senior Housing

Support age-appropriate resources in affordable and workforce units, rental and owned

Objective 3.1: Create needed rental and homeownership opportunities for seniors

Objective 3.2: Incorporate supportive services in rental housing developments

Objective 3.3: Increase use of universal design in development

Housing | Goal 2

Create and Preserve Supportive Housing Rental Units

Invest in housing with sustainable supports for physical and mental health and wellbeing

Objective 2.1: Create new supportive housing

Objective 2.2: Preserve existing supportive housing

Objective 2.3: Leverage state and federal funds

Single story home in the midst of being build with 3 volunteers helping.

Housing | Goal 1

Support Healthy and Safe Revitalization Opportunities

Support healthy and safe revitalizations that work against displacement and gentrification, preserve home ownership and create generational wealth.

Objective 1.1: Revitalize Neighborhoods

Objective 1.2: Repurpose existing structures to minimize environmental impact

Objective 1.3: Support home ownership