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** A NOTE FROM JOY
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Friends,

As a public school parent, I am in school buildings often, but earlier this month, I had the opportunity to view our local public schools through a different lens.

I participated in Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools’ first Principal for a Day program, along with ZSR Program Officer Ricky Hurtado. I shadowed Principal Katie McGregor ([link removed]) at Jefferson Elementary School, and Ricky shadowed Principal Jessica Gillespie Johnson ([link removed]) at Jefferson Middle School.

What we saw made it clear that our public schools are doing amazing work to prepare our children to live, work and lead in North Carolina.

I asked every teacher I met what they’d change about public education in our state. Overwhelmingly, they mentioned: increase teacher pay, trust teachers to do their job, invest in universal pre-K and reduce the emphasis on testing.

These changes would make our public schools stronger, which benefits all North Carolinians. But to make them happen, our government must ensure our public schools and teachers get the resources they need. And right now, North Carolinians are suffering a decades-long campaign to disinvest from our public schools – most recently by diverting taxpayer money to fund private school vouchers ([link removed]) for wealthy families.

Our state now ranks 48th in the country ([link removed]) in per-student spending and 38th in teacher pay ([link removed]) . That’s inexcusable.

ZSR has long funded and championed efforts to advance public education in North Carolina, and Ricky’s and my experience as Principals for a Day only reiterated to us why these investments matter.

We’ll continue to support our local public schools because we believe that all kids in NC deserve access to an excellent education.

All For NC,

Joy Vermillion Heinsohn

ZSR Executive Director


** GET INSPIRED
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Stories of hope and action

from our partners across NC

One person, one vote. This month, thousands of people across the state participated in rallies ([link removed]) held by Common Cause, Democracy NC, Emancipate NC, Forward Justice, and other groups working to protect election integrity and people’s voting rights in North Carolina.

The Fayetteville Observer ran a powerful op-ed ([link removed]) spotlighting the work of the NC Immigration Law & Justice Center, which provides legal services, education and advocacy for immigrants. The organization is experiencing an influx of interest from people who want to volunteer to support NC’s immigrant communities during this time of fear and chaos.

In a WRAL op-ed ([link removed]) , Public School Forum of North Carolina's Mary Ann Wolf says the start of a new legislative session presents a critical opportunity for NC’s elected officials to strengthen our local public schools. The vast majority of NC’s children are educated in public schools, and North Carolinians overwhelmingly support investing more in them rather than diverting money to private school vouchers.

Resident-owned communities (ROCs) are cooperatives where residents individually own manufactured homes and collectively own the land beneath their homes. ROC USA has helped 342 ROCs in 21 states purchase their communities, empowering residents to collectively own and govern their communities and keep costs affordable. With a new $38.1 million grant ([link removed]) from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, they’ll be able to expand this work in NC and across the country. ROC USA announced the new funding at Oak Meadows Community Association, a 58-home ROC in Asheboro.

El Pueblo, with support from the North Carolina Justice Center and the ACLU of North Carolina, published a Spanish-language emergency guide ([link removed]) to help inform Latine families about their rights and prepare them for potential interactions with ICE officers.

The Western North Carolina Small Business Initiative II added another $35 million to support small businesses recovering from Hurricane Helene. This initiative, funded by North Carolina state government ([link removed]) , Dogwood Health Trust ([link removed]) and The Duke Endowment ([link removed]) shows how government and philanthropy can work together to strengthen NC’s economy and improve people’s lives.
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** WHAT’S NEW WITH ZSR?
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We were deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Rev. Nelson Johnson, a renowned civil rights leader and co-founder of the Beloved Community Center in Greensboro, a long-time ZSR grant partner. Learn more about Rev. Johnson’s life and legacy ([link removed]) .

Last week, Tom Lambeth, who led ZSR for two decades before retiring in 2000, was awarded the Order of the Long Leaf Pine, the Governor’s highest award for service to North Carolina. ZSR leaders past and present — pictured below with Governor Josh Stein — attended the ceremony. If you know of North Carolinians who have given extraordinary service to our state, you may nominate them for an award here ([link removed]) .
Six people stand smiling at the camera in front of a staircase.

From left: Former ZSR Executive Directors Mo Green, Leslie Winner, Tom Lambeth, NC Governor Josh Stein, current ZSR Executive Director Joy Vermillion Heinsohn, former ZSR Executive Director Tom Ross

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