LAUNCHED -- Chancellor Carter addresses a gathering inside the university’s new
Entrepreneurship Incubator. It is expected to be renovated and operational by summer of
2015. The space pictured is half the newly acquired storefront building.
‘TRANSFORMATIVE’
University reaches out to its neighbors with a business incubator
On December 6, 2013, UNC Pembroke’s Chancellor Kyle R. Carter officially
launched the Entrepreneurship Incubator, a community outreach that he says will be
“transformative” for a region with chronically high unemployment.
Located in a 17,000-square-foot storefront on Main Street in Pembroke, the
incubator will provide space for 8-to-12 startup businesses. The building will also house
the offices of two existing business development offices - the Thomas Family Center for
Entrepreneurship and UNC’s Small Business and Technology Development Center.
With a planned opening in summer 2015, the incubator is expected to produce
115 jobs and create private investment of $1.15 million within three years. In addition to
serving community startups, UNCP business students will get hands-on experience
working in the incubator.
Two years in the making, the funding for the project came from several sources
and put on display the university’s persistence and entrepreneurial spirit. In September,
the university received approval of a $932,000 grant from the U.S. Commerce
Department’s Economic Development Administration.
The grant, when combined with a $200,000 grant from the Golden Leaf
Foundation will cover the cost of renovating the building. Private contributors gave
$210,000 toward the purchase of the building, located at 202 Main Street.
From inside the building, Chancellor Carter addressed a gathering of area officials
and business people. He called the incubator a “catalyst” for community development
and an asset for the university and its business students.
“This is a proud day for UNCP,” he said. “Since I arrived in Pembroke, we have
looked for something that would bring us closer together with the community.
“This is not a white horse riding in to save the day,” he said. “But we do have
good people coming in here who will collaborate on solving problems. This is a foothold
where we can build a better place together.”
The project is the Carter administration’s most aggressive outreach program. “I
have called this a transformative project, and for many good reasons,” Chancellor Carter
said. There is wide agreement in the community.
In letters of support, the Town of Pembroke gave its “enthusiastic support,” said
the town’s manager, Oryan Lowry. “The university and its existing Thomas Family
Center for Entrepreneurship have been invaluable to the economic improvement of
Pembroke and its surrounding region.”
Greg Cummings, Robeson County’s economic development director,
acknowledged the need for support for startups as well as established businesses.
“Having UNCP’s knowledgeable faculty as a resource, together with the creative,
enthusiastic assistance of the university’s students, will provide a strong foundation to
help our business community meet the challenges of this economically challenged
community,” he said. “The fact that this facility will be housed in the center of town,
convenient to business owners, shows the respect the university has for the community
and its commitment to supporting economic growth.”
Local entrepreneur and UNCP graduate James Freeman, whose restaurant start-up
got valuable help from the SBTDC, said “the incubator is going to be awesome. Ten or
15 years down the road, Pembroke is going to be an amazing place.”
The project represents the coming together of public and private funding. In
addition to the federal grant, the project received money from North Carolina’s Golden
Leaf Foundation, which funds projects in rural North Carolina communities affected by
the loss of tobacco revenues, and the Thomas Family Foundation, which has supported
entrepreneurship programs at the university since 2006.
Wendy Lowery, UNC Pembroke’s vice chancellor for advancement, oversaw the
effort to raise the private funds that are making the project possible. Contributors
included Jim and Sally Thomas Foundation, Mary Ann Elliot Foundation, Lumbee Bank,
Pembroke Hardware, CoreVantage Technologies, Dr. Robin Cummings, Dr. and Mrs.
Kyle Carter, Ron Brown and Russell Livermore.
“The private investors in this project truly believe in the mission of UNC
Pembroke and the constituents who will be served by this initiative,” Lowery
said. “Their support also signifies the importance of enhancing the partnership between
the university and the Town of Pembroke and is an investment in both entities. This
project epitomizes the strength of collaboration.”
At a dinner in their honor, high school authors and artists who contributed to “The
River,” a new literary journal
Literacy Commons: Outreach program is spreading its wings
Beginning in 2012 and for several months UNC Pembroke’s Literacy Commons
(LC) was an idea in search of an action plan. In a county with a high illiteracy rate,
English professor and LC director David Marquard knew that fostering literacy through
creative writing was the primary objective. So they started at the beginning – in
elementary school.
What started in a rural elementary school in one of Robeson County’s most
impoverished rural communities has now blossomed into a multi-pronged writing project
across age groups and across the county. Student volunteers launched a literary journal
for county high school students that debuted in late spring. Another group works with
veterans, and another group of student volunteers began a podcast project.
The idea for the Literacy Commons originated as an adult literacy project by
students in a composition class taught by Writing Center director Teagan Decker, and the
mission evolved from there.
Graduate student and military veteran Gordon Byrd brought his love of writing
and volunteered his time and grant writing skills. English professor Scott Hicks joined the
project with students in a “service-learning” course on the Harlem Renaissance.
Students recruited from the Esther Maynor Honors College (pictured here) led the
high school literary journal, titled “The River,” and they hosted a banquet for the authors
and artists who contributed their works.
“Programs like this equip our students to build projects like this in their own
communities,” said Hicks. “They take ownership of their ideas.” Dr. Marquard credits
students for their inspiration and the expertise of off-campus partners with defining the
program’s mission.
“When we were brainstorming the idea, we really didn’t know where we were
going,” Dr. Marquard said. “We met with Robeson Community College’s adult literacy
staff. They pointed us to the public schools, and things took off from there.
“The Public Schools of Robeson County hosted a meeting for volunteers,” he
continued. “We thought eight or 10 people might show up; almost 30 people came.”
In the early going, the Literacy Commons obtained seed money from UNCP’s
Office of Academic Affairs. Vice Chancellor Kenneth Kitts got on board with a $10,000
Engaged Learning Grant. Dr. Kitts also found office space and suggested additional
funding sources.
Things are taking shape for next year. Besides getting help from the community
college and public schools, the Healing Lodge, a Pembroke faith-based non-profit,
involved its diabetes education program with the Literacy Commons.
“The Healing Lodge was so excited to have this partnership,” Decker said. “They
were the group who pointed us to Oxendine Elementary School. They thought we could
make a difference there.”
In spring 2013 and again in 2014, the Literacy Commons published books of
student writings and art from Oxendine Elementary titled “Voices.” From Oxendine, the
Literacy Commons built a similar project at the Communities in Schools, a middle school
located next door to the university. Both projects were repeated in 2014.
CIS teachers and administrators were pleased. “Our students have found
something in themselves that they didn’t know they could do,” said Wanda Sampson.
“As a veteran teacher, this has been inspiring for me.”
“We really appreciate our continuing partnership with the university,” said CIS
Executive Director Dencie Page. “This proves to our students that they can write.”
Oxendine Elementary School students got a kick out of seeing their work in print.
Third-grade teacher Tiffany Cummings said she learned from the project. “I
enjoyed it. I hope we do it again next year,” Cummings said. “They gave me some good
ideas about encouraging my students to write.”
Oxendine Elementary School teachers enjoyed the spirit of the project. Sixthgrade teacher Nena Blue said her students enjoyed the UNCP’s students. “They enjoyed
working with the college kids, because they are young and hip,” Blue said. “They taught
in a way that was interesting for our students.”
The program caught the attention of a local Kiwanis Club with a mission for
youth, who chipped in $5,000. “As a civic club, the Kiwanis Club seeks to address the
needs of our children,” club president Mary Winfree said. “We’re excited to see UNCP
students going out to elementary schools and being role models. We’re also very excited
about your writing project because literacy is an area of special concern in our
community.”
The Literacy Commons is going in as many directions as it can find volunteers
with ideas. The podcast project adds a new dimension to its bridge building program in
the community. Like the LC as a whole, it is creative and gives voice to ideas and
subjects that would otherwise be overlooked.
Popcorn and a movie – Some of the student crew who staged the Lumbee River
Independent Film Festival from left: Katy Million, Jordan Campbell, Cameron Reynolds
and Keith Witherspoon.
‘Voices of the Lumbee’ premieres at student film festival
The much-anticipated premiere of the documentary film “Voices of the Lumbee”
was staged in a carnival-like atmosphere on the opening night of the second annual
Lumbee River Independent Film Festival. Attendance was estimated at more than 700.
The Givens Performing Arts Center sported live music from local indie band Dark
Water Rising, a photo booth, balloons, popcorn, raffles, and memorabilia for sale. The
film festival is completely student sponsored and lasted long into the night during its twoday run.
“Voices of the Lumbee” is an hour-long oral history of Robeson County’s
Lumbee Indians’ experiences in the post-World War II economy as it transitioned from
farm to factory and then to the massive layoffs of the late 1990s. It is also a story of a
community that retains its strength and resilience.
The project was nearly three years in the making and approximately 100 students
worked on recording interviews, conducting research, and completing various aspects of
production and editing with producers Dr. Michele Fazio of the Department of English,
Theatre, and Foreign Languages and Dr. Jason Hutchens of the Department of Mass
Communication.
In his introduction, Chancellor Kyle R. Carter sensed the electricity in the crowd.
“We’re in for a real treat tonight,” he said. “There is a great deal of energy and creativity
in the air. This is an example of hands-on learning that UNCP is known for.”
“A lot of people still don’t know the story of the Lumbee people,” Dr. Carter said.
“In ‘Voices of the Lumbee’ our faculty and students engaged with this community to tell
their story. Many of you will see friends and family.”
Dr. Fazio said the story of the Lumbee literally reached out to her as she drove
past the huge, empty Converse factory near Pembroke. “This story of job creation and
loss is one that resonates throughout American history,” she said. “What I saw here in
Robeson County were hard-working people with a rich and unique cultural heritage.”
The project, Besides working with the Lumbee Tribe and its elders, filmmakers
traveled to interview Lumbees in Washington, D.C. and Baltimore.
“It’s produced an important record about local history and lived experience,” Dr.
Fazio said. “It’s been one of the most meaningful experiences of my professional career.”
Dr. Hutchens said filmmaking of this type “demonstrates to students what it takes
to be successful in this field. It shows them that with hard work, dedication, and vision,
an endeavor of this scope can be seen through to completion.”
As the credits rolled, it revealed exactly how many students had a hand in the
project. Dr. Fazio said students working closely with Lumbee elders produced learning
that they cannot get out of a textbook or in a classroom. Bonds were forged between
students and elders and stereotypes shattered, she said.
The Lumbee River Independent Film Festival is a service-learning project of Dr.
Dandan Liu’s senior public relations capstone course. The students raised funds,
marketed, and worked the two-night event. Student organizers Elizabeth Bundy and
Daniel Holmes were pleased with their work.
“This event is very exciting, and the film festival is gaining momentum,” Bundy
said. “Not counting proceeds from the raffle, we’ve raised $2,000.”
“We’ve worked on this for more than three months,” Holmes said. “I think we’ve
done everything possible to market it.”
Even the student-emcees for
the premiere, Alexis Locklear and
Comfort Johnson (pictured here),
worked on the “Voices” project.
“Alexis and I worked on this, so
we’re really excited to see it,”
Johnson said. “Thanks to all the
students who made this night
possible.”
Locklear, who is listed as an
assistant online producer, was also
the reigning Miss Lumbee at the
time of the premier. She served as a
bridge between the Lumbee
community and the filmmakers. In
an interview with UNC public radio
about “Voices of the Lumbee,” she
said it was an important project.
“This tells the history of my
people,” Locklear said. “I knew a
little about Lumbee history, but this
was a great way to learn more.”
Interviews with Lumbee
elders were candid and remarkably
honest.
Annie Lowry described the
time before manufacturing came to
Robeson: “We didn’t have jobs; we worked on the farm. The factories built homes for
people.”
The factories “had a great impact on our lives,” said Yvonnie Sampson. “A lot of
them said they didn’t know what they were going to do because all of the jobs were
leaving. I just felt really sorry for them.”
Thomas Locklear was laid off from his 30-year job at Alamac Knits in
Lumberton. “I thought it would always be there,” he said.
Later, the narrative transitions to people and organizations who are working to
solve community problems and uplift the community. Lumbee Homecoming, powwows
and other strong cultural institutions are discussed, including UNC Pembroke.
In the end, the film goes to the heart of Robeson County and finds it still beating.
It is a story of a distinct community that continues to be a powerful and prideful force in
the lives of Lumbees.
University works to reduce Infant Mortality rate
You are young, pregnant, and scared you may not be ready to be a parent. What
should you do? Call the team at Healthy Start! Healthy Start Corps. is a program
serving pregnant women and families with children under age 3 in Robeson County. The
mission of the program is to reduce infant mortality and promote positive health
outcomes for the families involved. The infant mortality rate in Robeson County from
2008-2012 was 12.5%, which was higher than the state rate for that period of 7.5%. The
Healthy Start program also focuses on positive parenting and promoting a healthy bond
between parents and their children. The program has been in existence in Robeson
County since 1999 and is funded through a grant from the Health Resources and Services
Administration (HRSA). It is one of four Healthy Start programs in North Carolina,
serving a total of 15 counties, and the only one housed out of a state University.
Healthy Start is housed at the UNC-Pembroke Regional Center in the ComTech
Business Plaza. The staff currently consists of a Director, Outreach Manager, Data
Analyst, three Case Managers and a Registered Nurse. Case Management is done
primarily through home visitation. Other services may include, transportation to doctor’s
appointments, referrals to other community agencies, emergency supplies (such as
diapers, formula) for families being served in the program, and health education. Any
women in Robeson County who is between the ages of 14-44 and is pregnant or has a
child under 3, can participate in the program. The level of care is determined by 17
different risk factors, some of which are limited prenatal care, substance use,
homelessness, or even just a need for parenting skills. In 2013, Healthy Start served 252
participants. Of those participants, 31.1% live below the poverty level, 22.1% were
teenagers, 78.6% were single mothers, and 49.2% did not completed high school.
Healthy Start works with many other programs in the community to ensure the
families served are getting their needs met. Referrals often come from Southeastern
Health, the Robeson County Health Department, local maternity health providers and the
Department of Social Services. The Outreach Manager and Case Managers continue
communication with referring providers when necessary, in an effort to meet the
participant’s needs in the best way possible. The program also participates in local
outreach and fundraising efforts with organizations such as the March of Dimes, the
Housing Authority and Eastpointe.
Healthy Start services are available to any woman in Robeson County, which can
include students at UNC-P. Students may be attending UNC-P, but may be from another
area and unfamiliar with the services that are available to them locally. Sometimes even
the local students are unfamiliar with the services available to them. The Case Managers
can provide support and make referrals to both on-campus and off-campus programs.
Kavita Ramoutar, a UNC-P student stated “Healthy Start has supported my pursuit of
furthering my education finding a suitable home for my family and overall Healthy Start
has been a great support system”. The program also works with students who need to
complete internships and/or service hours for their programs. In May and June, a student
in the school of Education completed 20 service hours with the program. Another
student in the school of Social Work just completed her internship with Healthy Start,
which lasted from January to July. Students have the opportunity to go out with the Case
Managers to observe and participate in the care of the program participants. They also
help with other Healthy Start Initiatives, such as program events and community
meetings.
The Healthy Start program is going through a period of growth. The program
recently increased from two Case Managers to three. There has also been an effort to
grow the Infant Mortality Task Force in Robeson County. The Infant Mortality Task
Force consists of representatives from like-mission organizations within the county to
address current issues that may have an effect on the infant mortality rate. Some
participating agencies are UNC-P Student Health Services, Robeson County Health
Department, Robeson County Partnership for Children and other local agencies. We are
also trying to grow the number of program participants that may be interested in being a
part of the Infant Mortality Task Force. They can enhance the conversation by bringing
in the perspective of someone who has been through pregnancy and parenting in Robeson
County.
Another current focus of the Healthy Start program is development of a
Fatherhood Initiative. This was kicked-off by a Father’s Day celebration that took place
in June. One father, whose girlfriend is a current Healthy Start participant, agreed to
speak about what he felt it was like to be a father. After he finished, every other father
there also took the opportunity to speak about their experiences. It was wonderful to see
the Dads opening up to each other like they did. Carlionte Carr, who attended and is
planning to be an on-going participant in the Fatherhood Initiative states “The only way
to solve any problem at hand is for us to be involved. Likewise, Healthy Start involves
the dad. Furthermore, if dads stay involved the whole family will evolve”.
Healthy Start is a valuable program not only to UNC-P, but to the Robeson
county community as a whole. The Infant Mortality rate in the county has been at a
decrease, 10.1% in 2001 and 9.8% in 2012. Although these numbers are still higher than
the state rate, we are making strides. Healthy outcomes for babies are an important step
in bringing future strong leaders to our community. If our babies can have a strong start
from the very beginning, they will be more likely to grow up to make positive impacts,
both socially and economically, on Robeson County in the years to come.
For more information on the Healthy Start program, please call (910) 521-6181.