A NOTE FROM JOY

Friends,

When the government invests in children, we all benefit.

Taking care of kids isn’t just the moral thing to do (though that should be reason enough). It also makes fiscal sense. That’s why recent federal cuts to funding for education and nutrition programs are so harmful. They don't just hurt individuals — they threaten our entire state's future.

Thankfully, many of North Carolina's leaders are stepping up, recognizing that smart, long-term investments in kids make our state stronger.

This month, Governor Josh Stein announced the new North Carolina Task Force on Child Care and Early Education. The leaders of several ZSR grant partners have been named to the task force, and we know their expertise will help inform the work of this diverse, cross-sector group.

ZSR invests in NC’s early care and education system because it delivers short- and long-term benefits for all North Carolinians, helping parents enter and stay in the workforce, improving graduation rates, boosting lifetime earnings, lowering health care costs and strengthening our economy.

But right now, NC’s early care and education system is in crisis. Families — including those still reeling from Hurricane Helene — are hurting. Other states have implemented creative solutions, and we can too, but we’ll need everyone at the table: government, business, philanthropy, nonprofits and families.

The launch of NC’s task force is an encouraging first step. We look forward to seeing their preliminary recommendations in June, and we remain committed to ensuring all children in NC get an excellent early education that prepares them for a bright future.

All For NC,

Joy Vermillion Heinsohn

ZSR Executive Director

GET INSPIRED

Stories of hope and action

from our partners across NC

In an interview with WFAE Charlotte, Dr. James E. Ford, executive director of the Center for Racial Equity in Education (CREED), reflected on CREED’s latest Impact Report. Despite attacks on diversity, equity and inclusion, the organization continues to advocate for inclusive classrooms and policies so that all students feel safe and supported to learn and pursue their dreams.

New research shows that through NC’s expanded private school voucher program, thousands of wealthy families are receiving public money to send their kids to private or religious schools that can discriminate against students based on religion, disability status, or academic achievement. Public Schools First NC lays out how the voucher program drains resources from public schools on the taxpayers’ dime and provides critical county-specific data that people can use to advocate for their local public schools.

A recent study from University of Virginia confirms what communities in eastern NC have known for decades: pollution from factory farms is harming people, and communities of color are disproportionately affected. Environmental nonprofits including Cape Fear River Watch, CleanAIRE NC, Environmental Justice Community Action Network, NC Environmental Justice Network and the Southern Environmental Law Center are taking collective action to hold industrial polluters accountable (article in Spanish).

As part of their disaster response efforts, Pisgah Legal Services is helping Western North Carolina homeowners navigate insurance claims and FEMA assistance as they seek to rebuild their homes and lives after Hurricane Helene. Despite initial assurances from insurers, many homeowners are facing claim denials, highlighting North Carolinians’ economic vulnerability to the impacts of climate change. Experts emphasize the importance of carefully reviewing insurance policies and challenging denials when appropriate.

Following a judge’s recent order, 30 longstanding rules that guide development and protect natural resources along North Carolina’s coast will be returned to the NC Administrative Code, which provides instructions for how to administer and apply NC’s laws. The rules were removed in 2023, and the NC Coastal Federation, with support from the Southern Environmental Law Center, advocated for their reinstatement to ensure NC’s coastal areas are protected and developed sustainably.

ZSR partnered with the Leon Levine Foundation and the Anonymous Trust to host a virtual lunch and learn with the NC Community Schools Coalition. Through the evidence-based Community Schools model, public schools provide services that support whole families, from healthcare to housing to social connection. Services are created and run by families, educators, community organizations, local governments and the students themselves – all working together – and evidence shows that the model leads to academic growth for students. During the webinar, Community Schools announced an expansion throughout NC's Sandhills region in 2026.