- Q&A with Stacie Kinlaw: ‘ROARing’ for years to come in Robeson County
By Kerria Weaver kerriaweaver@borderbelt.org Stacie Kinlaw of Bladen County has worked for various nonprofits in southeastern North Carolina. She is currently the community engagement assistant director for the Robeson County Partnership for Children. Kinlaw works to grow awareness of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and resilience. She hopes the prevention of ACEs will also lead to other positive outcomes, such as lower violence and crime and …Read more - Q&A with Jenny Phelps: Bringing community together for Special Olympics Scotland County
By Kerria Weaver kerriaweaver@borderbelt.org On April 24, Scotland County held its annual Special Olympics, an event that recognizes those with intellectual disabilities and gives them a chance to compete in a number of events. This year, Jenny Phelps was the local program coordinator of the Special Olympics alongside Kelly Jackson. Border Belt Independent spoke with Phelps about her first time helping with the Special Olympics …Read more - Q&A with Amber Bellamy: DREAM Center makes positive impact in community
Amber Bellamy did not know that after graduating from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill she would come back home to work. Bellamy, 39, is the executive director of the DREAM (Developing Resilience through Enrichment, Awareness, and Motivation) Center in Columbus County and has been there since July 2020. She has worked in the nonprofit sector for 15 years. She wouldn’t trade the …Read more - Q&A with Terry Mann: Jewish synagogue donation honors close relationship with communities
By Kerria Weaver kerriaweaver@borderbelt.org Terry Mann believes in giving back to the community while also making sure the Jewish community is recognized and remembered. Mann and other Jewish families who were members of the Beth Israel Synagogue came together earlier this year to donate $200,000 to the Southeastern Community College Foundation and Bladen Community College. Mann, 71, currently serves as the mayor of Whiteville. For …Read more - Q&A with Carol Caldwell: ‘My story is told for a lifetime, not just February’
By Kerria Weaver kerriaweaver@borderbelt.org Carol Caldwell knows the importance of recognizing Black voices in her Columbus County community. So she and some other residents created a committee that focuses on the preservation of African American culture. The Border Belt Independent spoke with Caldwell about her efforts. Q. When did the Columbus County Committee for the Preservation of African American Culture start? It actually started as …Read more