There's a growing recognition that large industrial farms that require long-distance transportation costs to get the food to market are not serving us well. It's fair to say there's a healthy revolution regarding locally grown food sweeping the country. Partners is involved locally in that movement.

Current Projects:

• Community Gardens and Nutrition
  In order to increase access to fresh local food, Partners has organized a new community garden in Wendell, NC in the Spring of 2010. Maggie Castor, Director of Nutrition Programs for Partners For Strong Communities is currently working together with The Social Ministry Group of St Eugene's Church on this effort. Church and community volunteers donate their time, talent and to make the Garden a success. Most of the food that is harvested from the Garden stays in the community to feed people who otherwise may not have access to fresh fruits and vegetables.
  

  Classes on “Basic Nutrition” and “Gardening 101”empower local community garden members with the opportunity to improve their access to affordable and healthier fruits and vegetables.
  Contact Maggie Castor to learn how you can participate in this program, or to start one in your community. maggiecastor@partners101.org

• "The Veggie Lady" Mobile Nutrition Education Program
  Partners for Strong Communities launched a Mobile Nutrition Education Program in November, 2009, in an effort to help elementary school students understand the importance of eating their fruits and vegetables. "The Veggie Lady" is Maggie Castor, who is heading up Partners for Strong Communities Nutrition Programs. The Veggie Lady leads elementary-aged students in creating "vegetable super heroes," a fun and creative way to introduce children to a wide variety of vegetables. This concept is similar to the premise of the popular new ABC television series, Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution. Maggie and Jamie both agree that many children today have trouble identifying a tomato on sight, and that is something that can be changed, one community school at a time.
  

  The "Veggie Lady's" Program Goal: Get the kids to eat right at a young age AND have fun doing it!
  

  Teacher comments: "Thanks for coming to my class and giving my students such a delightful lesson. The kids loved you. I will ask the other 4th grade teachers if they are interested in the Veggie People. It is such a great idea and you are such a natural teacher."
  Mary LaCombe, 4th Grade teacher, Middlesex Elementary, Nash County, Nov 2009

This annual event raises funds for the church and the surrounding local community. Kelly Castor, President of Partners for Strong Communities, was the Master of Ceremonies. The festival celebrated its seventh year and has a great track record of success due to the hundreds of volunteer participants from both the church and local community.

Food Outreach Director, Maggie Castor, helped organize the First Annual "Unity" Canned Food Drive, which directly benefited the local community food pantry, with the help of the St. Eugene Social Ministry group and The Triangle Church Alliance, a group of interdenominational church members, who all banded together to contribute to the success of the food drive. Worldwide cuisine from 17 countries set up vendor booths in an effort to allow local participants the opportunity to sample international foods.

The event, which was held in downtown Wendell, NC, also showcased popular international and regional music talent, such as the jazz tunes of recording artist, The Adrian Duke Project and Blue Grass Band, Down River.

Self-sustaining local economies are the heart of strong, vibrant communities. A strong local economy provides the goods and services every community needs and economic opportunities to its residents. Working with the North Carolina Rural Center, Good Work and other partner organizations, we use a holistic approach to focus on a variety of fronts. We focus on current and future entrepreneurs, local support systems including other nonprofits, community college systems and elected officials.

Current Projects:

• North Carolina Rural Center's Entrepreneurial Development System II
  
  —June 19, 2009—
  Partners for Strong Communities signs 3-year contract with the North Carolina Rural Center to support entrepreneurship in rural North Carolina.

  The North Carolina Rural Center's Entrepreneurial Development System II (EDS II) is a program funded by the N.C. General Assembly. The program provided grants to hire coordinators in 2 five-county regions within North Carolina.

  The coordinators, through grassroots efforts, are charged with building a regional coalition of businesses, local governments, nonprofit agencies and school systems to bring a unified economic and social development initiative within their region. This initiative is designed to increase opportunities within the region to support thriving and vibrant local economies and ultimately an increased quality of life for all.

  Partners for Strong Communities and Good Work, a nonprofit organization located in Durham, N.C., work together to support the coordinators in their efforts. The contract runs through June of 2012. "We are excited about this opportunity. We've worked with John Parker at Good Work in the past on a variety of projects. It's exciting to work alongside him again and be a part of this important program." stated Kelly Castor, President of Partners for Strong Communities. "The coordinators chosen for each region are top-notch. They are committed, caring individuals and we know they will make great impact in their respective regions."

  Footnote: The EDS II project started in October of 2008. It has already had much success. The coordinators have conducted or been a part of hundreds of programs that have resulted in new businesses starting, existing businesses getting training and funding to expand and have opened up new alliances across county lines. Contact Kelly Castor to learn more. (kelly@partners101.org)

• Youth Program (Future Entrepreneurs)
  
  —May 22, 2009—
  Partners for Strong Communities conducts "A Day with an Entrepreneur" at Scotland County High School.

  Laurinburg, NC. — Kelly Castor, President of Partners for Strong Communities, conducted our Youth Entrepreneurship Program, "A Day with an Entrepreneur," in an all-day session with students in the business school program of Scotland County High School. The program is designed to give students a chance to interact with an entrepreneur to learn more of what it means to be a business-owner on a daily basis.

  The students gain perspective of real-world situations and life lessons of running a business. After a brief presentation introducing key fundamentals of running a business and some powerful truths about communicating for effectiveness, Kelly attended a number of classes for a more personal question and answer session.

  The students were very active with questions ranging from "how much money do you make?" to specifics about contracts and product pricing. It was a packed day and everyone was very involved. "Out of all the consulting I've done and the businesses I've been a part of or ran, this was one of the most rewarding days I've spent in a long, long time," stated Kelly Castor. "The kids and the teachers are incredible. I can't wait to do this again and also get other entrepreneur's doing it as well. Investing in the future with these young minds is time well-spent."

  Footnote: Subsequent to this day, Partners for Strong Communities has developed a Youth Entrepreneurship program designed to coordinate with school curriculum and with local entrepreneurs willing to give back to their community. For more information, please contact Kelly Castor (kelly@partners101.org).

• Business Coaching and Support
  1-on-1 consulting to take an existing business to the next level. We utilize our Productivity Tools to help business owners and managers clarify their plans, get clear on where they are and build a road map to where they want to be in a manageable program that is customized to their specific situation. Visit our partner site, Practical Lessons, to learn more about our approach.

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